On Jan. 1, 1996, Keyshawn Johnson broke my heart.
Northwestern, my alma mater, was playing in its first Rose Bowl game in forever (literally). The Wildcats had enjoyed a dream season under Gary Barnett — until Johnson turned the stage coach into a pumpkin.
In honor of Johnson’s performance that day — 12 catches for 216 yards and a touchdown in USC’s 41-32 victory — he will be inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame at a luncheon the day before this season’s game.
Also being inducted are Virgil Lubberden, a USC athletic department official who served as the Rose Bowl’s game manager for more than 20 years, and Chuck Ortmann, who quarterbacked Michigan to victory over Cal in the 1951 game.
Johnson became the first pick in the ‘96 NFL draft, played on a Super Bowl-winning Tampa Bay team and made three Pro Bowls.
I’ll never forgive him for what he did to the Wildcats that day.
More from the USC blog:
- USC football: Recounting Hazelton’s star-crossed season
- USC football: Program-wide reaction to Hazelton’s departure
- USC football: Carroll glad to have timeout back
- USC football: Injuries kick Shoemate to fullback
- USC football: Injury updates, other tidbits
- USC football: Why Vidal Hazelton is leaving USC
- USC football: Jersey switch to cost just one timeout
- USC football: In Carroll’s words (with commentary)
- Sanchez, Matthews make Pac-10 All-Academic team
I cant believe they put him in there. Doesnt ANYONE remember he was later found to be academically ineligible for the Rose Bowl game that year? If it wasnt for Barnett being overly nice - USC would have had to give the win to NU!!!
COME ON!!!! This is college.
Thank you, Steve! I, too, remember….
I’ve been loudly and actively rooting against USC today, and my folks asked why. Just after I finished my “Keyshawn Johnson was academically ineligible!” rant, he appeared for that Hall of Fame segment, and I was floored. FLOORED, I TELL YOU! After a bit of hollering at the television, I felt compelled to do an internet search to seek out someone else who felt as I do. So, thank you.
Go Cats!
I have been looking for confirmation that Johnson was found to be academically ineligible. Can’t find any, so I am starting to doubt it. Could anyone provide a source for this claim?
I, also, didn’t remember Keyshawn being ruled ineligible. I searched and couldn’t find anything either. Apparently Sue was able to find confirmation from some guy named Steve. I guess that settles it. :)
The Los Angeles Times broke a story on possible academic impropriety on March 29, 1996. I don’t know that it involved Keyshawn Johnson specifically. The story and investigation never gained any traction because Gary Barnett told the media he didn’t wish to win the Rose Bowl by forfeit.