National attention was drawn to a September, 1977 game between Wilson and its rival Lincoln High School. The Wilson Mules gained a 63-0 lead by half time and in response the Lincoln team got on its bus and went home, forfeiting the game instead of taking the field for the second half. This triggered national debate over unsportsmanlike behavior on both sides. Criticism was leveled at Lincoln for quitting while Wilson was criticized for unnecessarily running up the score and taking advantage of an undermatched team. At the time, the Los Angeles City Interscholatic Athletic Committee investigated the matter and called both coaches to testify. The controversy was even noted in Coach Vic Cuccia's obituary over 30 years later.