Johnny Baker (1997) - USC Athletics Hall of Fame

Johnny Baker

Induction:
1997

Johnny Baker provided one of the most dramatic moments in the early era of USC football. He kicked a 33-yard field goal with 1:00 remaining in the game to give USC a 16-14 victory at Notre Dame in 1931 (Troy's first-ever win in South Bend), snapping the Irish's 26-game unbeaten streak and propelling the Trojans to the national championship. Upon their return to Los Angeles, USC was greeted by a crowd of several hundred thousand Angelinos in a downtown tickertape parade. Baker, a 3-year letterman (1929-31) who played on 2 victorious Rose Bowl teams (1929 and 1931), also was a highly-regarded guard who earned All-American first team honors as a 1931 senior. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983. He went on to be a head football coach collegiately at Iowa State, Omaha, Denver and Sacramento State (he also served as Sacramento State's athletic director). He died on Feb. 6, 1979 at age 72.