Bob Chandler
Football, Track & Basketbal
University of Southern California
USC Trojans
Oakland Raiders 1980/81
A Life in Sport
1965–1967
- Quarterback & key defensive halfback
- Leading scorer on basketball team
- All-Pacific League — offense & defense
- Football team captain
- All CIF in football & basketball
- Three-year track letterman
"What a skinny little kid."
Wide Receiver & Team Captain
- USC Football Captain
- 1970 Rose Bowl MVP
- Landed scholarship from one extra spot
- Joined after basketball performance caught coach’s eye
"I couldn't figure out a way for Bobby to pass and catch the ball."
NFL Wide Receiver
- Drafted into the NFL
- Multi-team NFL career
- Joined Oakland Raiders
- Super Bowl Champion 1980/81
"Bobby has no pain threshold and a heart bigger than his body."
Bob Chandler - Whittier HS 1965-1967
In his senior year, Chandler played quarterback and key defensive halfback on the football team. When Chandler showed up at Whittier High, Coach Vic Lopez recalls thinking, “What a skinny little kid.” But by the time Chandler was a senior, Coach Lopez said his biggest problem with Chandler was “I couldn’t figure out a way for Bobby to pass and catch the ball.”
In his senior year, Chandler played quarterback and key defensive halfback on the football team and was the leading scorer on the basketball team. He garnered first team All-Pacific League team offense and defense in football, was the football team captain, a two-year football and basketball letterman, He was All CIF in football and basketball. In addition, Chandler was a three-year track letterman where he competed in the high jump, the hurdles, shot put, long jump and discus.
Only two universities were interested in his athletic abilities: BYU and Whittier College. “What nobody understood,” said Coach Lopez, “is that Bobby has no pain threshold and a heart bigger than his body.” At the last minute USC found itself with one extra scholarship and Trojan Assistant Coach Rod Humenuik recommended Chandler after seeing him play basketball. “I think he liked the way I knocked down a guy who had just knocked me down,” says Chandler.
