USC

The Fan Teaser: Week 97 Solution

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In honor of college football ramping up we provide you with this
Fan Teaser image. One could presume this lineman played at Duke
University … or did he?

Apparently a middling high school football player at Glendale (CA) High School, Marion “Duke” Morrison, parlayed his size, over 6-foot-4, into a tuition scholarship at the University of Southern California to play some football. He played on the freshman team in 1925 and then found his way to varsity as a spot player.

John Wayne
This photo of Marion Morrison – later known by his stage name, John Wayne – was
from his playing days at the University of Southern California, probably in 1925.

Allegedly, Morrison broke his collarbone while bodysurfing in the Pacific Ocean between season and the injury left him too weak to perform on the field and, ultimately, had his scholarship revoked.

He found his way to Hollywood as an extra in some westerns directed by John Ford and, eventually, became known to the rest of the world as John Wayne.

Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation ofr former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.

The Fan Teaser: Week 58 Solution

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And then … poof … he was gone. Who is it and why did he “disappear?”

That shin, that calf, the impeccable lace work on the cleats … yep, it’s University of Southern California’s all-everything tailback, Reggie Bush.

Bush had a tremendous 2005 season (from which this photo was taken by Peter Read Miller), amassing over 2,200 total yards from scrimmage that junior season (1,740 rushing and 481 receiving). All totaled, he accounted for 222.3 yards per game that season when his punt and kick returns were factored in.

Bush was named the Heisman Tropher winner, topping Texas quarterback Vince Young and USC teammate, Matt Leinart. Then, a year later, reports circulated that Bush and his family had received financial gifts from a sports agent who later sued the family and cooperated with an NCAA investigation. Ultimately, Bush’s time at USC was redacted and his Heisman Trophy vacated and the Trojans’ program placed on four years probation and their scholarship allocation reduced by 10 per season over three years.

Reggie Bush
USC Trojan running back, Reggie Bush, goes airborne over UCLA defender, Marcus Cassel, during the team’s annual rivalry game on December 3, 2005. Photo by Peter Read Miller
A compilation some of Reggie Bush’s collegiate highlights.

Just to review, The Fan Teaser comes courtesy of longtime buddy, Pat Schutte. The cropped photo below and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.