The Friday USC Notes Column Supplement

Welcome to the Friday USC notes column supplement.

Let’s take a closer look at a player mentioned in today’s column: Rich Dimler.

Marv Goux called Dimler “the toughest player I’ve seen in 22 years of coaching.

“Rich pays the price to be a good football player — he works extremely hard at it," Goux said. "He knows what he has to do and does it. He plays football the way the game was designed to be played."

In 1978, he had 106 yackles in the first 11 games, which led the Trojans.

Said USC defensive lineman Don Lindsey: “He's probably the best defensive noseman in the conference. We wouldn't trade Rich for any or all of them."

"I don't know that there is a better nose guard in the country than Dimler,” Notre Dame coach Dan Devine said.

Dimler was a Parade All-American at Bayonne High School in New Jersey. He chose USC over Pitt and Penn State.

“I decided to go for it all and come to 'SC because of their winning tradition and the Rose Bowl. Some people back East had doubts of my potential; and I figured if I can come here and play I must be good enough to play anywhere in the country."

It’s no surprise Dimler nicknamed the bar at California Pizza and Pasta Co. the “502 club” after he apparently hung out at bars in high school.

Here’s what he said about getting recruited in New Jersey.

"I was promised things from all of them," he said. "They used to bother my girlfriend, they used to come right into the bar where I used to hang out. They really hassled me."

Dimler was all-Pac-10 in 1978 and a fifth-round pick by the Cleveland Browns. He also played with the Green Bay Packers and in the USFL.

Dimler died at the age of 44 on Sept. 30, 2000 from pancreatitis.

Rich Dimler (92) pursues Cal QB Rich Campbell.