USC All-American back Frank Gifford, a member of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame who became a noted television sports announcer, died Sunday (Aug. 9) in Greenwich, Connecticut of natural causes. He was 84.
Gifford was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1975 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977, and also was a member of the 1994 inaugural class of USC’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
After starring at Bakersfield (Calif.) High and Bakersfield Junior College, Gifford lettered for 3 seasons at USC (1949-51). He was Troy’s leading rusher and scorer in his 1951 All-American and All-Conference season, and he also served as the Trojans’ placekicker (he made 25-of-31 extra points in 1949 and his 22-yard field goal at California that season was USC’s first field goal since 1935).