Charles White, USC Heisman Trophy winner and national champion, dies at age 64

Within the lengthy line of dynamic ballcarriers to don the cardinal and gold of USC, none over the previous half century have confirmed fairly as prolific as Charles White.

A bruising, battering ram of a tailback, White barreled his technique to some of the adorned careers, not simply in USC historical past, however the historical past of faculty soccer. The Los Angeles native helped carry USC to a nationwide championship in 1978, received the Heisman Trophy in 1979 and set 22 faculty, Pac-12, NCAA and Rose Bowl data over a storied four-year run that also ranks atop the file books for profession dashing yards at USC.

However the reckless abandon with which White performed and the ferociousness for which he’d perpetually be remembered would additionally precise a worth, one which loomed over the remainder of his life.

White died in Newport Seashore on Wednesday from most cancers. He was 64. He’d spent the final a number of years of his life in an assisted residing facility, his thoughts diminishing from the consequences of dementia, virtually actually attributable to the years of collisions he endured as a participant.

It was that bodily type that first made White a star at San Fernando Excessive and caught the eye of John Robinson, the Trojans coach.

“He was the hardest participant I’ve ever coached,” mentioned Robinson, who additionally coached White with the Rams. “He was actually uncommon in that regard. He was a fantastic participant and simply beloved taking part in the sport.”

White would rush for six,245 yards throughout his four-year profession at USC, a file that has by no means been eclipsed on the faculty and ranks fifth in NCAA historical past. In his ultimate season, White rushed for two,050 yards, the second-most by a Trojans operating again, on his technique to profitable the Heisman Trophy, the third as much as that point by a USC participant.

White was drafted within the first spherical by the Cleveland Browns and later went on to guide the NFL in dashing with the Rams in the course of the 1987 season. However his spiral into drug and alcohol habit had already begun earlier than he launched into his professional profession. It worsened with the Browns, the place he entered into a number of drug and alcohol rehabilitation applications.

At the same time as he continued to wrestle with habit, White obtained a second probability from his former coach, Robinson, to play with the Rams. However after reemerging as one of many NFL’s most efficient backs, White washed out of the league after the 1988 season.

USC provided the legend a touchdown spot, handing him a job in 1990 as particular assistant to the athletic director. He later grew to become the Trojans operating backs coach from 1993 to ’97. However the return to his alma mater couldn’t stem the tide of his habit. As White continued to spiral, the connection with USC deteriorated.

A couple of 12 months after the college minimize ties, White was found outdoors his residence constructing, disoriented and unaware of his environment. Quickly after, following years of erratic habits, White was recognized with dementia.

“Everyone thought his issues have been strictly drug-related, now we discover out that it might have been immediately associated to the traumatic mind harm,” Judi White-Basch, White’s ex-wife, advised The Occasions in July. “For therefore a few years it didn’t make sense; now it is smart.”

White spent the final two years of his life in an assisted residing facility, the place an inventory of his accomplishments sat on a lampshade subsequent to his mattress and photographs of his glory days at USC adorned the partitions. When The Occasions visited White in July, he was nonetheless properly conscious of what he’d achieved for the college he nonetheless beloved, even when it had been years for the reason that college had related with the legendary again.

“I do know I as soon as did one thing good, one thing nice, one thing unbelievable for USC,” White advised The Occasions.

His household had hoped the connection with USC is perhaps mended. After years of separation, the college lately reconnected with White and his household previous to his demise, doing what it might for the legendary operating again in his ultimate days.

On Wednesday, within the wake of his demise, USC athletic director Mike Bohn known as White “one of many all-time nice Trojans.”

“He’ll at all times be remembered by the Trojan Household for the historical past he made on the soccer discipline and the legacy he left at Troy,” Bohn mentioned.

Along with White-Basch, White is survived by their youngsters Nicole White, Julian White, Tara White, Ashton White, Sophia White and granddaughter Giovanna Hemmen.