#11 belongs to my favorite USC Trojan of all time. However, he wore #10 at USC and then #11 in the NFL. Only Glenn probably knows who I am talking about. Patrick Capper “Pat” Haden, Jr., had a terrific career in High School, College, and the NFL. Haden went to Bishop Amat High, which is located in a town right next to the town I grew up in. He also graduated one year after I did, so I was well aware of his high school career where he set a national record for TD passes in a high school career. He held that record for a long time, but he doesn’t hold it anymore.
When he was went to USC I was ecstatic. In his three years there, he won two out of three Rose Bowls and 2 National Championships. Not bad for a QB that only stood about 5’11”. Then he was drafted by the LA Rams, and again I was as happy as a puppy in a room full of rubber balls. He almost led the Rams to the Super Bowl, but he never won in the NFC title game.
He is now the current AD at USC, and us Trojans are very happy to have him back where he belongs. Here’s a funny story about Haden. My oldest brother had moved to Council, Idaho to take a teaching job. In December of 1972, my other brother and myself went up there for Christmas and New Years. USC was playing in the Rose Bowl that New Years day where they would beat the Ohio State Buckeyes 42-17. The funny story comes from the New Years Eve party we were at in the clubhouse at the golf course. I was feeling no pain after a few too many drinks, and I was tooting one of those plastic horns and yelling out “ Patty Haden” in anticipation of tomorrow’s game. Finally, after many toots and Patty Haden shout-outs, a friend of my brother’s came up to him and asked, “Who is this Patty person? Is that his girlfriend?” My brother just laughed and told him it was USC’s quarterback. The man got a puzzled look on his face and walked away.
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