University Southern California Trojans
Ex-USC & NFL Great Ronnie Lott Endows USC Scholarship To Honor Eric Scoggins, Challenge Others To Support The Cause
November 21, 2019 | Football, Trojan Athletic Fund, Features
The scholarship will be designated for a current Trojan football player who exemplifies the characteristics of Scoggins, whose motto was "If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything."
With his gift, Lott is urging his fellow former USC football teammates, as well as all former Trojan student-athletes and USC alumni, to add to the Scoggins Endowed Scholarship.
Scoggins was a defensive teammate of Lott's at USC, including on the 1978 national championship team, and on the San Francisco 49ers. They remained lifelong friends until Scoggins' passing in 2009 at age 49 due to amytrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease).
At USC's Nov. 23 home football game against UCLA, fans at the Coliseum will be urged to donate a gift via text to the Scoggins Endowed Scholarship. USC also will conduct a phone campaign for donations in the week leading up to the game. To donate online, go to usctrojans.com/ets.
"I'm asking Trojan fans and alumni to stand for something, to join me and others to be a part of this scholarship," said Lott, who after his football and broadcasting careers started a successful Bay Area auto dealership. "There are so many moments in life where you have a chance to make a difference. Here, I have a chance, with all Trojans, to stand with Eric Scoggins. Eric gave us more than just playing the game of football. He gave us character and values and he gave us the idea of how to Fight On. But the best thing he gave us is how to stand for something.
"When I think about being a Trojan and providing scholarships for future Trojans, I find myself realizing that I'm trying to make the world better. Because when I came to USC, I became better. I found myself always trying to find ways to excel and be the best that I can be. That characteristic of fighting on is still with me.
"We get to change a person's life with this scholarship. So I hope Trojans will see the best in themselves by helping somebody, just find a way to reach in their pocket to make a difference."
Lott was a 4-year (1977-80) letterman at USC, helping the Trojans to a pair of Rose Bowl victories. He was a 2-time (1979-80) All-Pac-10 first teamer and captained the 1980 team when he was Troy's MVP and a first team All-American. He had 14 career interceptions at USC. He was inducted into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995 and the Pac-12 Hall of Honor in 2019, and was named the Pac-12's Defensive Player of the Century in 2015.
He was the eighth pick of the 1981 NFL Draft and played 15 years in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers (1981-90), Los Angeles Raiders (1991-92), New York Jets (1993-94) and Kansas City Chiefs (1995). He was a member of 4 Super Bowl championship teams with the 49ers. He played in 10 Pro Bowls and was an 8-time All-Pro selection. In his pro career, he had 63 interceptions and 1,146 tackles.
Lott is the latest former Trojan student-athlete to give back to the University by making a significant financial gift.
Former Trojan defensive lineman Matt Koart gave the largest endowment gift by a former USC student-athlete with his $1 million gift in 2015 for the Koart Family Endowed Scholarship for a Trojan football player. Former USC swimmer Fred Uytengsu's $8 million lead gift in 2012 for the Uytengsu Aquatics Center was the largest ever by a former Trojan student-athlete. Heliane Steden, an All-American on a pair of USC tennis NCAA championship teams, provided the largest gift by a former USC female student-athlete from the Title IX era when she endowed a scholarship in her name in 2013 for an international player on the Women of Troy tennis program. Former USC track and field athlete John Colich and his wife, Janine, provided the lead gift for the renovation of the track and field facility in 2019 (the first phase was completed this past spring), while Trojan track and field alumnus Joe Antunovich designed the project.
The Trojan Athletic Fund comprises a global network of more than 5,000 alumni, parents, former student-athletes, and friends who directly contribute to the success of USC's student-athletes. Those who give to the Trojan Athletic Fund not only impact the overall success of USC's student-athletes, but receive exclusive benefits such as priority seating for football and basketball, preferred parking at the Coliseum, the Ultimate Sports Card (free admission to all USC sports excluding football and basketball), opportunities to purchase football away, bowl game and championship tickets, and invitations to special TAF donor events throughout the year.
For information regarding the Trojan Athletic Fund, call 213-740-4155 or visit www.trojanathleticfund.com.
