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Family affair USC alum McKay joins dad in Rose Bowl Hall of Fame
Posted: Thursday December 31, 1998 06:49 PM
PASADENA, California (AP) -- The Rose Bowl Hall of Fame officially got its first father-and-son duo Thursday as former Southern California split end J.K. McKay joined his father John, the legendary former Trojan coach, as part of a six-member class inducted in a Rose Bowl ceremony. The class also included former UCLA quarterback Rick Neuheisel, currently Colorado's coach, former Oregon quarterback Jack Crabtree, former Michigan running back Butch Woolfolk, the late Oregon State halfback Don Durdan and the late Tournament of Roses Association President Bill Nicholas. The younger McKay played in the 1973, 1974 and 1975 Rose Bowls, catching 12 passes for a Rose Bowl-record 268 yards. His last catch was his most memorable, a 38-yard reception from quarterback Pat Haden in the corner of the end zone with 2:03 left in the 1975 game against Ohio State. "I called the play and I remember both Haden and Johnny saying, 'It won't work,' " the elder McKay said after the ceremony. "The defensive back was Neal Colzie, who later played for me with [the NFL's] Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Johnny said, 'He's staying way outside. I can never get to the corner on him.' I said, 'Just try it. See if he gets there.' He did, Pat threw a perfect pass and the rest is history." The touchdown set up Haden's two-point conversion pass to Shelton Diggs which gave USC an 18-17 victory. Haden and McKay shared Player of the Game honors. The elder McKay was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 1991, after coaching the Trojans to a record-tying five Rose Bowl victories in eight games, tied for second all-time with Ohio State's Woody Hayes, behind Bo Schembechler's 10 appearances. During his induction speech, the younger McKay said he was honored to be part of the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame. "I feel like I grew up in this stadium," said McKay, now an attorney involved in the effort to bring an NFL franchise to Los Angeles. "Our Christmas depended upon whether we were going to the Rose Bowl. If we weren't going to Rose Bowl, it wasn't going to be a good Christmas. Thankfully, we went a lot." Founded in 1989, the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame honors players, coaches and Tournament of Roses Association officials. The 1998 class increases its membership to 70, who are honored on plaques outside the stadium. The honorees are chosen by a Tournament of Roses Association committee in consultation with selected sports reporters and columnists.
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