Mike Scarpace, 74, earned All Pac-8 honors as a USC blocker
After a stint in the NFL, he went on to coaching positions at schools including UCLA, Glendale Community College and Long Beach Poly High.
Mike Scarpace, who played football for USC from 1965 to 1967, died Tuesday after a long illness. He was 74.
Scarpace started his football career at Birmingham High School in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley, where he was an integral part of the 1963 Los Angeles City Championship Team. He also excelled as a thrower on the track team.
At USC, Scarpace played three seasons blocking for Heisman Trophy winners Mike Garrett and O.J. Simpson and earning All Pac-8 honors.
After a short stint in the NFL, Scarpace returned to USC where he earned his Master’s in Education. He went on to coaching positions at schools including UCLA, Glendale Community College, Los Angeles Valley College and Long Beach Poly High School.
Scarpace is survived by his wife, Teresa, and sons Travis, Garrett, Shane and Aidan. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Scarpace’s name to the Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center at the Boston University School of Medicine, 72 E. Concord St., Suite B-7800, Boston, MA 02118.
