The twists and turns of football history are fascinating to contemplate.
On Friday, we passed along a story told by Rick Anaya, the co-host of Trojan Conquest Live, the USC YouTube show which airs Sundays at 8 p.m. Eastern and 5 p.m. Pacific at The Voice of College Football. Anaya told this story during his interview — with co-host Tim Prangley — of USC legend Anthony Munoz.
Here’s the short story, for those who missed it:
“The day was January 1, 1980. USC, Anthony Munoz, and Charles White played No. 1 and unbeaten Ohio State in the 1980 Rose Bowl. Munoz talked about this game and many other subjects in his recent conversation at Trojan Conquest Live with co-hosts Rick Anaya and Tim Prangley.
“On this Anthony Munoz show, Rick Anaya mentioned that John Jackson — the USC receiver who was an important part of the late-1980s Rose Bowl teams under then-coach Larry Smith — was just 12 years old on New Year’s Day of 1980. Jackson told Anaya that he attended the 1980 Rose Bowl in person. Who was sitting next to him? None other than SMU running back Eric Dickerson, who played his freshman season with the Mustangs in 1979.”
Eric Dickerson watched USC coach John Robinson win a third Rose Bowl and finish in the national top two of the polls for the third time in four years. There was obviously some degree of mutual admiration, if not curiosity, between Robinson and Dickerson for the running back to make his way to the 1980 Rose Bowl Game and watch in person.
Well, a few short years later, the player and the coach would be united.
Robinson left USC after the 1982 season to coach the Los Angeles Rams over in Anaheim. Dickerson’s magnificent SMU career ended with the 1983 Cotton Bowl against another NFL legend-to-be, Dan Marino of the Pittsburgh Panthers.
Who was the first Ram taken in Robinson’s first NFL draft as the Rams’ head coach? Eric Dickerson with the No. 2 overall pick. Dickerson helped Robinson reach the NFC Championship Game in what was a very successful NFL run for the former USC coach. Had the Joe Montana-led San Francisco 49ers not become a dynasty in the 1980s, Robinson and the Rams probably would have made the Super Bowl at some point.
John Robinson and Eric Dickerson — both inside the stadium at the 1980 Rose Bowl — never worked together as player and coach in college, but their paths ultimately did intersect in the pros. They are both grateful it happened.
Be sure to catch the next episode of Trojan Conquest Live on Sunday, June 18, at 8 Eastern and 5 Pacific at The Voice of College Football.
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