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USC icon, Patriots HOFer Cunningham, 71, dies
USC football great Sam "Bam" Cunningham, who went on to become the New England Patriots' all-time leading rusher, died Tuesday in Inglewood, California. He was 71.
www.espn.com
Cunningham, who was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992, is widely recognized for helping speed up the process of integration in football programs across the south. Cunningham ran for 135 yards and two touchdowns as USC beat an all-white Alabama team to open the 1970 season. That performance, coupled with those of his Black teammates, was pivotal in Alabama coach Bear Bryant's decision to recruit Black players.
One of Cunningham's best performances for the Trojans came in the 1973 Rose Bowl, when he ran for four touchdowns, earning MVP honors, in a 42-17 win.