Former USC Football Player, National Champion Dead At 78

The USC Trojans had sad news to share this Tuesday regarding one of their former players. 

Former All-American safety Mike Battle has passed away at the age of 78. He was on the 1967 USC team that won the national championship. His alma mater revealed that he actually died of natural causes last Thursday in Nellysford, Virginia. 

Over the course of his USC career, Battle had 13 interceptions. That led to him joining the New York Jets during the 1969 season. 

Battle was more than just a prolific defensive back at USC, he was a respectable punt returner. In fact, he was the team’s punt return leader from 1966-1968. 

From USC’s press release: 

Battle was USC’s annual punt return leader in 1966 (18 returns for 176 yards [9.8 avg.]), 1967 (49 returns for 608 yards [12.4 avg.]) and 1968 (32 returns for 230 yards [7.2 avg.]). Battle was the NCAA statistical champion for punt returns in 1967 and currently holds the USC record for most punts returned in a season. His 608 punt return yards are also a USC record. He is currently second on USC’s career punt return list (99 returns for 1,014 yards [10.2 avg.] and 3 TDs), and he holds the USC record for most punts returned with 99 between 1966-68. 

Outside of playing football, Battle appeared in the 1970 film C.C. and Company, which starred former Jets quarterback Joe Namath. 

Battle is survived by his wife Laura and his seven children. Details regarding his memorial service have not yet been revealed. 

Our thoughts are with the Battle family at this time. 

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