ELAC News articles
Contact: Mario Villegas, Public Affairs
323-265-8662
April 22, 2007
USC Athletic Director Mike Garrett, center, jokes with East Los Angeles
College Athletic Director Al Cone, left, and Academic Advisor Ralph
Valle who presented him a plaque of appreciation. Garrett was keynote
speaker at ELAC’s inaugural High School Athletic Administrator Symposium
held last Friday in the college auditorium. The goal of the event was to
exhibit ELAC’s academic and athletic programs and to promote a positive
and collegial atmosphere between the college and its feeder high
schools.
Two-time All-American Mike Garrett was the man who began the great
legacy of USC’s I-formation tailbacks.
He was the Trojans’ first, and only the West Coast’s second, Heisman winner when he beat out an outstanding field of candidates in 1965.
Mike set 14 NCAA conference and USC records in his three-year career, including an NCAA career rushing record of 3,221 yards in the days when 1,000-yard-a-season rushers were almost non-existent. He later starred for the Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers.
He was a two time pro bowler in 1966 and 1967. Garrett played in the first ever NFL Super Bowl (Super Bowl I) with the Chiefs after the 1966 season, and won a championship ring with them in Super Bowl IV. Garrett was the top rusher of Super Bowl IV with 11 carries for 39 yards and a touchdown, and caught 2 passes for 25 yards. In his 8 AFL/NFL seasons, Garrett rushed for 5,481 yards, caught 238 passes for 2,010 yards, returned 14 kickoffs for 323 yards, and returned 39 punts for 235 yards. Overall, Garrett gained a total of 8,049 yards and scored 49 touchdowns (35 rushing, 13 receiving and 1 punt return).
Mike Garrett returned to USC to become Athletic Director. He came under
fire when he hired the heavily-criticized Pete Carroll as head football
coach in 2001, but redeemed himself when USC returned to status as a
dominant football power.