Charles White watched Caleb Williams join him as a USC Heisman Trophy winner
There are many great players who put on the USC Trojans uniform. One of them is running back Charles White, the 1979 Heisman Trophy winner.
White passed away earlier this month and will always be remembered by the program despite an uneasy last few years.
In a feature by Bill Plaschke of The Los Angeles Times, White’s ex-wife, Judi White-Basch, said he was a Trojan until the very end:
“He had to be in agony but he never showed it, never talked about it, never even grimaced. Until his last breath, he was a true Trojan,” White-Basch said.
Judi also spoke about the time when they were watching the 2022 Heisman Trophy ceremony on television, and White gave one simple word that showed how much he loved USC:
“We were watching the Heisman Trophy ceremony and he pointed to the TV and said one word. He said, ‘Caleb.’”
If that doesn’t give you goosebumps, nothing will.
Charles White was the third Heisman Trophy winner for USC due to an unbelievable season in 1979, finishing with 1,803 yards and 18 scores and finishing his entire USC career with 5,598 yards and 53 touchdowns.
White’s last few years weren’t easy for anybody, but his love for USC never wavered and he was a Trojan through and through. Despite his pain and physical suffering, he was able to connect to USC’s great football players of the present day, showing his support for Caleb Williams and the young men who carry on the proud tradition of Trojan football.
Listen to our Charles White tribute podcast, and check out our Charles White tribute articles as well in the search field at the top of our website:
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A Trojan tribute to Charles White: 1958-2023
