From TributeToTroy

RICKY BELL, TB-FB, 6-2, 218, Los Angeles (Fremont), #42

2-time unanimous All-American (1975-76)...1973-74-75-76 letterman...USC went 38-8-2 in his career...Was a member of USC’s 1974 national championship team...USC was eighth in the final AP poll in 1973, 17th in 1975 and second in 1976...Played in three Rose Bowls (1974, 1975 and 1977) and 1975 Liberty Bowl (was game’s MVP with a 76-yard TD reception)...USC captain in 1976...Inducted into National Football Foundation’s College Football Hall of Fame in 2003...Was Heisman Trophy runnerup in 1976 (was third in 1975)...Won 1976 Voit Trophy (given to the outstanding player on the Pacific Coast)...Won 1976 Pop Warner Award (given to the most valuable senior on the Pacific Coast)...Was 1976 Pac-10 Player of the Year...Was a 2-time All-Conference first teamer (1975-76)...Was USC’s MVP in 1975 and 1976...Won USC’s Back of the Year Award in 1975...Won USC’s Player of the Game versus Notre Dame Award in 1975...Won USC’s Player of the Game versus UCLA Award in 1975 and 1976...Played in the 1977 Hula Bowl and Japan Bowl...Was a 1976 Playboy Pre-Season All-American...USC’s rushing leader in 1975 (1957 yards, third on USC’s season list) and 1976 (1433 yards, 11th on USC’s season list)...USC’s total offense leader in 1975 (1957 yards)...USC’s scoring leader in 1975 (88 points) and 1976 (86 points)...Is fourth on USC’s career rushing list (3689 yards)...Is 16th on USC’s career total offense list (3689 yards)...Owns Pac-10 season rushing record for juniors (1957 yards in 1975)...Owns USC game records for rushing yards and carries (347 yards on 51 carries at Washington State in 1976)...Had 16 100-yard rushing games...Led Pac-8 in rushing in 1975 (170.5 average, tops in the NCAA) and 1976 (141.7 average)...Was chosen by the Buccaneers as the No. 1 pick of the 1977 NFL draft and played for the Buccaneers (1977-81) and Chargers (1982)...Inducted into USC Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997...Born 4-8-55 in Houston, Texas...After USC and NFL, was a restaurant owner...Died 11-28-84 in Inglewood, California, of heart disease.