RICHARD WOOD

Batman Begins

By USC Athletics Black History Month

February 10^th, 2015

By Jordan Moore

The “Batman” origin story began in Elizabeth, New Jersey, a blue collar city in the shadow of Gotham. From that hard working community, Richard Wood emerged with the mindset and discipline to be a champion.

As a young offensive lineman playing for Thomas Jefferson High School, Wood drew the eye of USC head coach John McKay who had previously been focused on the team‘s running back Gil Chapman. While the tailback ended up at Michigan, Wood was ready to leave the hustle and bustle of the “megalopolis” for sunnier pastures in Southern California and a new role playing linebacker.

The 1960’s were “an era of turmoil in the inner city. There was quite a bit of stuff going on in our time,” recalled Wood. But, he largely avoided any trouble thanks to “a good family, quite a good solid foundation.”

The Vietnam War was chief among the “stuff” facing teenagers leaving high school. “I was going to join the military out of high school,” said Wood, who has two brothers that made the Air Force their careers. “They tried to keep me out of it and steer me towards college.”

College meant USC. Despite the 3,000-mile gap, Los Angeles felt like home - albeit a little calmer and cleaner. Hollywood provided the space for “Batman” to spread his wings.

For freshman football orientation, the wide-eyed pups assembled at Julie’s Restaurant under the leadership of Hudson Houck. Wood stood last in a line of teenagers with “stoic faces trying to look tough” as they belted out their name and hometown to the room.

Sensing the moment needed a little levity, “I stood up and said, ‘I’m Batman from Gotham City.’” and so the legend was born.

The moniker stuck thanks to his teammates, and once the Trojan Family saw that “Batman” could fly, the name echoed around the Coliseum.

“He was the first of a kind. He had freakish speed for a linebacker,“ said 1974 co-captain Pat Haden.

Speed was Wood’s primary superpower, but he did not happen upon it thanks to a radioactive spider, he earned every step in a tiny room underneath Heritage Hall. Today, they call it a weight room, and John McKay Center features a state-of-the-art version led by one of the nation’s top strength and conditioning staffs. Back then, things were different. Heritage Hall did not have a weight room. It had a room with weights in it…

“I was the only guy down there training,” said Wood. “I had to get the trainers to come spot me because there were no players around. I spent my time in that little room down in Heritage Hall and did my thing.”

Wood’s revolutionary routine consisted of bench press, inclines, dead lifts, squats and other exercises which are commonplace now.

“Richard was in remarkable shape, but I had no idea how he did it because I was never in a weight room,” said Haden. “I’m not kidding. I don‘t think I lifted one weight, while I was at USC. He was ahead of the curve.”

“Batman” made achieving a sound mind and body a 24/7 pursuit. He built a utility belt for life that could combat any perilous situation. He studied judo in high school, kung fu in college and became a third degree black belt in tae kwon do later in life. He played the drums and built race car engines in his spare time.

“My wife always told me I did too much,” joked Wood, who met his bride at USC. “Believe me, it made me a different person.”

Wood’s varied off-the-field pursuits were not a distraction, but a means to greater “flexibility, speed and concentration” on the football field. He strived for “consistency” above all else, which matched his teammates’ championship mentality.

From 1972-74, USC went 31-2-2 with three Rose Bowl appearances. The Trojans captured national championships under John McKay in 1972 and 1974.

“My thing was, I was raised to be a champion,” said Wood. “I wanted to go to the Rose Bowl three times. We could have went four times too, but back then, freshmen could not play.

“I played with some great athletes. We did not accomplish anything without each other. Also, I had great coaches. To come there and win almost 100% of your games, that‘s quite a feat.”

In the process, Wood was named USC’s first three-year All-American first teamer and the first ever three-year selectee by the AP on the West Coast. He was at the core of the golden age of USC football.

“USC was the envy of the nation,“ Wood stated as fact. “We are Trojans and that‘s it. It‘s Southern California.”

“Batman” went on to grow his legend in the NFL over 10 productive seasons primarily with the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He remained in Florida to coach high school football and work with kids.

Like any superhero, time exaggerated the mythology. Wood did not paint a band of black across his nose and eyes to intimidate opponents.

“I didn’t paint my face,” Wood laughed. “I don’t know where that came from. I just wore regular eye black.”

But while Bruce Wayne hid behind his alter-ego, Richard Wood embraced the role of “Batman.” He is proud of the boy from Gotham who grew into a champion at USC.