O.J. Simpson Announced As '60s Finalist For Rose Bowl All-Century Class

PASADENA (CBSLA.com) — O.J. Simpson has been announced as a finalist from the 1960s for the Rose Bowl Game All-Century Class, alongside former USC football coach John McKay and former Wisconsin quarterback Ron VanderKelen.

Simpson, 66, has served five years at Lovelock Correctional Center in Nevada, following his conviction on the charges of armed robbery.

In 1994, Simpson's heavily-publicized murder trial, concerning the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman, brought the former tailback to national attention. The trial, which lasted eight months, resulted in his acquittal.

Simpson was named Player of the Game in the 1968 Rose Bowl, in which he ran for 128 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns in the Trojans' 14-3 win over Indiana, giving USC the 1967 National Championship.

In 1969, Simpson ran for 171 yards on 28 carries as USC lost the Rose Bowl to Ohio State 27-16.

The controversial former football star, who also saw some fame on the big screen, is also reportedly interesting in becoming a televangelist upon his anticipated release from prison, according to his manager, Norman Pardo,

McKay, who was five Rose Bowl Games as a coach, is tied for the record of most Rose Bowl wins for a coach with fellow Trojan, Howard Jones. His eight appearances as a coach also ties the late Woody Hayes of Ohio State for second, behind the late Bo Schembechler of Michigan, who made 10 appearances.

VanderKelen set three Rose Bowl records in 1963, including passing yards (401), completions (33), and attempts (48) in the Badgers 42-37 loss to USC.

A number of players and coaches representing each decade, selected by a committee consisting of members of the Football Writers Association of America, is to be announced each Sunday through the remainder of the 2013 college football regular season, in anticipation of the 100th Rose Bowl Game.

The All-Century Class will be announced on December 8, in which one representative from each decade, along with one player and one coach to be selected as the greatest in the history of the oldest bowl game in college football.

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