Tonight’s Orange Bowl will have Juice in the stands

MIAMI – O.J. Simpson plans to root like crazy at the Orange Bowl.

“I’ll be in the stands cheering as loud as anybody for USC,” Simpson told the Associated Press in a telephone interview Monday.

“I can’t wait. I always follow SC – always have, always will,” he said.

Simpson said he hasn’t seen his alma mater play in person for about 10 years, though he has watched most of the Trojans’ games on television during that time.

But the lure of seeing No. 1 USC take on No. 2 Oklahoma for the national title tonight was too great for Simpson. The former Heisman Trophy winner lives about 30 miles southwest of Pro Player Stadium.

His attorney, Yale Galanter, monitored the telephone call and wouldn’t allow Simpson to say where he’ll be sitting inside the stadium.

Simpson played for Southern California in 1967-68, winning the Heisman his senior season. He then went on to become one of the best running backs in NFL history, mostly with the Buffalo Bills. After that, he was an actor, television football commentator and pitchman for Hertz.

Simpson was tried and acquitted of murder following the June 1994 slayings of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, in the Los Angeles suburb of Brentwood.

Simpson was found liable for the deaths in a later civil trial and ordered to pay $33.5 million to the families of the victims. His Heisman Trophy was sold to pay a portion of the judgment.

“I’m fine, the kids are happy, that makes me happy,” he said. “They’re doing terrific. My daughter’s in college now, my son is in school here.”