Mike Battle, USC All-American and National Champion, Dies
March 11, 2025 | Football
LOS ANGELES --Â Mike Battle, an All-American and a member of USC's 1967 national championship team, died last Thursday (March 6) in Nellysford, Va. of natural causes. He was 78.
Battle, a three-year letterman (1966-68), helped USC with three conference titles and was 26-6-1 in his Trojan career. He played in three Rose Bowls (1967, 1968 and 1969).Â
In the 1967 national championship season, Battle led a defense which only allowed 87 points all season. He was also a 1967 All-Conference first teamer.Â
Battle was named a 1968 All-American defensive back and the Trojans finished the season ranked fourth in the final AP Poll.
Battle was USC's annual punt return leader in 1966 (18 returns for 176 yards [9.8 avg.]), 1967 (49 returns for 608 yards [12.4 avg.]) and 1968 (32 returns for 230 yards [7.2 avg.]). Battle was the NCAA statistical champion for punt returns in 1967 and currently holds the USC record for most punts returned in a season. His 608 punt return yards are also a USC record. He is currently second on USC's career punt return list (99 returns for 1,014 yards [10.2 avg.] and 3 TDs), and he holds the USC record for most punts returned with 99 between 1966-68.Â
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Defensively, Battle was USC's interception leader in 1967 with 5 returned for 87 yards. He is tied for sixth on USC's career interception list (13 interceptions for 148 yards).
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He was drafted in the 12th round of the 1969 NFL Draft by the New York Jets and played for two seasons (1969-70).Â
He appeared in the 1970 film "C.C. and Company" starring then New York Jets quarterback, Joe Namath and actress Ann-Margret.Â
Battle is survived by his wife, Laura, and his seven children: Christian Michael, Hunter, Frank, Michael, Kathleen, Murphy and Annie.
Memorial service details are pending.Â
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Battle, a three-year letterman (1966-68), helped USC with three conference titles and was 26-6-1 in his Trojan career. He played in three Rose Bowls (1967, 1968 and 1969).Â
In the 1967 national championship season, Battle led a defense which only allowed 87 points all season. He was also a 1967 All-Conference first teamer.Â
Battle was named a 1968 All-American defensive back and the Trojans finished the season ranked fourth in the final AP Poll.
Battle was USC's annual punt return leader in 1966 (18 returns for 176 yards [9.8 avg.]), 1967 (49 returns for 608 yards [12.4 avg.]) and 1968 (32 returns for 230 yards [7.2 avg.]). Battle was the NCAA statistical champion for punt returns in 1967 and currently holds the USC record for most punts returned in a season. His 608 punt return yards are also a USC record. He is currently second on USC's career punt return list (99 returns for 1,014 yards [10.2 avg.] and 3 TDs), and he holds the USC record for most punts returned with 99 between 1966-68.Â
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Defensively, Battle was USC's interception leader in 1967 with 5 returned for 87 yards. He is tied for sixth on USC's career interception list (13 interceptions for 148 yards).
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He was drafted in the 12th round of the 1969 NFL Draft by the New York Jets and played for two seasons (1969-70).Â
He appeared in the 1970 film "C.C. and Company" starring then New York Jets quarterback, Joe Namath and actress Ann-Margret.Â
Battle is survived by his wife, Laura, and his seven children: Christian Michael, Hunter, Frank, Michael, Kathleen, Murphy and Annie.
Memorial service details are pending.Â
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