It's Time For The USC Notes Column Supplement

Welcome to the Friday USC Notes Column Supplement.

Can you name the player who led USC in minutes played in both 1976 and 1977?

Keep in mind there were players like Clay Matthews, Brad Budde, Pat Howell, Dennis Thurman, Randy Simmrin, Mosi Tatupu and Walt Underwood on those teams.

But the Trojan who was on the field the most those two seasons was tight end William Gay.

“Gay is the best blocking tight end I’ve ever seen,” USC coach John Robinson said.

Gay was an All-American in 1977.

“You know why I came here,” Gay said. “USC was the only university that wanted me.”

Like a lot of USC greats, Gay was a JC transfer. He went to Hoover High School in San Diego and transferred to San Diego City College, where he played outside linebacker in one season there.

He was a second round pick in the NFL Draft and traded to the Detroit Lions. He was converted to defensive end and enjoyed a successful career with the Lions from 1978-87.

In 2015, he was rated No. 89 in a list of top 100 Detroit Lions. He finished his career with the Minnesota Vikings in 1988.