From TributeToTroy

The 1931 edition of Howard Jones’ “Thundering Herd” was the team that captured the imagination of college football fans everywhere, and the hearts of the citizens of Los Angeles. More than 300,000 welcomed the Trojans home from a thrilling 16-14 victory over Notre Dame in South Bend—a victory clinched by what sportswriter Maxwell Stiles called “Johnny Baker’s 10 little toes, and three BIG points.”

USC trailed the Irish 14-0 at the outset of the final stanza, but stormed back behind the running of Gus Shaver and the passing of Orv Mohler. Baker’s 33-yard field goal with one minute remaining made the difference. The win snapped Notre Dame’s 26-game unbeaten streak and was the Trojans’ first victory in South Bend.

The season started inauspiciously enough with a 13-7 loss to St. Mary’s. “I have no alibis to offer,” said Jones afterward. But Troy then proceeded to roll over its next 10 opponents by a combined score of 356 to 39. There were six shutouts.

“(USC is) the greatest team I have ever seen,” said Georgia coach Harry Mehre, after his Bulldogs were blanked, 60-0. The usually taciturn Jones agreed, calling his team “the greatest offensive machine I have ever coached.”

USC capped the season with a 21-12 victory over Tulane in the 1932 Rose Bowl to clinch its second national championship. Four Trojans garnered All-American acclaim: Baker, Shaver, Erny Pinckert and team captain Stan Williamson.