Tough guys. (L.A. Stories).

With the USC Trojans off to a strong start and ranked among the top teams in the nation (at this writing), it was in high spirits that the university unveiled a tribute to the school's star defensive line of the late 1960s.

The 10-foot long, 8-foot high, bronze statue depicts the five-person line, dubbed the "Wild Bunch" after the 1969 movie of the same name. The "Wild Bunch" helped lead the Trojans to 10-0 record during the 1969 season, as well as a 10-3 victory over Michigan in the Rose Bowl.

"It's a statue not of Heisman Trophy winners, but of the guys in the trenches who don't get a lot of tribute," said Don Winston, senior associate director of athletics at USC.

Winston said the statue was planned as the first in a series representing various sports that will reside at USC's new event center.

The "Wild Bunch" were: Charles Weaver, Jimmy Gunn, Al Cowlings, Tody Smith and Willard "Bubba" Scott. Smith died in 1999 at age 50, and Scott died in 2000 at 53.

The 12,000-pound statue in front of Heritage Hall on campus was sculpted by Don Winton, who sculpted Ronald Reagan's bust at his presidential library.