Everything's Coming Up Roses
USC football is back. Not that it really went away.
Early struggles in Saturday's hot rivalry game against Cal mirrored the fan's inconsistent start this season. But just like Troy's lock-down defense and explosive offense did against the Bears, the fans have come roaring back to the Los Angeles Coliseum. USC now owns a record five consecutive Pac 10 Championships and the worst they can do this season is play in the Rose Bowl. The best? A fourth consecutive bowl game with the national championship on the line, this time in Glendale, Arizona against Ohio State.
We're excited to share a taste of what it's like to be in the thick of the student section during a raucous, come from behind 23-9 victory described by Coach Pete Carroll as "the loudest since he's been at USC."
Here's the crowd getting rowdy just before a huge defensive stop in the 4th quarter.
More video clips and pictures after the jump (::cough:: Song Girls ::cough::) ...
The Spirit of Troy is the only marching band with a platinum album (they recorded "Tusk" with Fleetwood Mac). Maybe that's why they get much better seats than the visitor's band (look up above the retired #5 jersey).
With the game winding down, CSC (private security dudes in bright yellow jackets) seem out of ideas on how to mess up this week (see "inconsistent start" link above).
The Olympic Torch lights the night sky above the Los Angeles Coliseum, the only Olympic stadium that hosts a major college football program. To the left, the scoreboard shows what will end up the final score, while below a Miller Lite sign reminds fans of golden days when the Coliseum still served the golden brew.
World's largest Chinese Finger Trap. Ever.
The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum holds 92,000 fans. That's about one person for each calorie you're going to consume this Thanksgiving.
As promised, the USC Song Girls (often called cheerleaders by mistake).
USC fans politely remind Cal fans that the game is over and it's time to go home. Don't forget your keys on the way out. Thank you for visiting the Coliseum.