Former USC star linebacker and WeAreSC columnist Kevin Bruce passes away after a long battle with cancer
Kevin Bruce, a former 1975 USC football team captain and WeAre columnist, passed away on Wednesday morning after a long battle with cancer. He was 68.
Kevin, who wrote an extremely popular column, Defensively Speaking, and appeared on the WeAreSC video/podcast show “Inside the Trojan’s Huddle”, will be remembered by all that came in contact with him both as a decorated USC player, successful businessman, and cardinal and gold to his core.
Few readers or listeners were aware that Kevin has battled this horrendous disease for nearly 10 years. He suffered from battling brain cancer and had numerous surgeries to try and stop this it from spreading. It should be noted that because of treatments, his voice quality became very hoarse. He, however, battled on through it all.
KB found his strength to battle his medical condition through his religious beliefs, and during his adult life for seven years was a monthly speaker for Campus Crusade for Christ.
Known by some as “El Capitan”, he came onto the local football scene as an All-CIF high school star lineman at La Canada (Calif.) St. Francis High, an all-boys school in the San Gabriel Valley, before getting a scholarship offer to attend USC under legendary head football coach John McKay.
As just a 17-year-old freshman, Kevin played on the undefeated 1972 varsity USC team that won the National Championship and was voted one of the best football teams in modern college history. As a junior, Troy captured another National Championship, which was set up by a dramatic comeback victory over Notre Dame at the L.A. Coliseum. During the defeat of Notre Dame, Kevin helped the Men of Troy out of a 24-0 deficit by recovering two fumbles and forcing an interception that were all converted to touchdowns in the second half. USC came out on top, 55-24. The Trojans went on to the 1975 Rose Bowl where they defeated Ohio State, 18-17, to capture another exciting season.
Kevin played in three Rose Bowls, all against Ohio State. Senior Co-captain Kevin and the No.1 ranked USC squad defeated Joe Montana at Notre Dame Stadium 24-17. Kevin’s final game with at SC was the Liberty Bowl versus Texas A&M, which ended in a winning 20-0 shutout.
Kevin received his BS and MBA from the USC Marshall School of Business and went on to have a highly successful career in taking drowning businesses and turning them around. He spent the latter portion of his adult life as a senior managing director for Accordion, which is based in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
Kevin was married to his USC college sweetheart, Patty.
Funeral plans have yet to be announced.
