University Southern California Trojans
Cover Boy
August 09, 2017 | Football, USC Ripsit Blog, Features
USC QB Sam Darnold makes his first Sports Illustrated cover.
USC QB Sam Darnold made his debut on the cover of Sports Illustated this week, marking the 138th time a Trojan has been pictured on the front of the magazine.
The honor has become commonplace for USC quarterbacks as the last seven consistent starters (annual passing leader) have graced the cover, beginning with Carson Palmer in 2003. Among that group, Matt Leinart leads the way with four cover appearances.
USC's cover history with Sports Illustrated, a magazine which began in 1954, dates back to March 21, 1955, when shot putter Parry O'Brien earned a solo spot between his Olympic gold medals (1952 and 1956). While you may not know the name, O'Brien won 116 straight finals and broke the world record 17 times.
Super slugger Mark McGwire holds the USC record with 11 SI cover shots. In 1998 alone, he made it eight times, culminating in the SI Sportsman of the Year award.
McGwire is one of three Trojans to win SI Sportsman of the Year, and they are all USC baseball alums. Randy Johnson won the annual award in 2001, while Tom Seaver earned it back in 1969. In fact, baseball accounts for 31 of the 138 USC covers, only trumped by football's 80.
Darnold's first appearance is accompanied by a beautifully written profile from Lee Jenkins.
The honor has become commonplace for USC quarterbacks as the last seven consistent starters (annual passing leader) have graced the cover, beginning with Carson Palmer in 2003. Among that group, Matt Leinart leads the way with four cover appearances.
USC's cover history with Sports Illustrated, a magazine which began in 1954, dates back to March 21, 1955, when shot putter Parry O'Brien earned a solo spot between his Olympic gold medals (1952 and 1956). While you may not know the name, O'Brien won 116 straight finals and broke the world record 17 times.
Super slugger Mark McGwire holds the USC record with 11 SI cover shots. In 1998 alone, he made it eight times, culminating in the SI Sportsman of the Year award.
McGwire is one of three Trojans to win SI Sportsman of the Year, and they are all USC baseball alums. Randy Johnson won the annual award in 2001, while Tom Seaver earned it back in 1969. In fact, baseball accounts for 31 of the 138 USC covers, only trumped by football's 80.
Darnold's first appearance is accompanied by a beautifully written profile from Lee Jenkins.
Players Mentioned
QB
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