2006: USC - 28 vs. Arizona State - 21
At the end of the Route 66 Trip the Boys had a Football "Jones" going on and had a change to catch USC at the Coliseum, one of footballs classic teams at a classic venue. Going to the campus the Boys again had one of their wonderful scams by find two tickets at face value, without having to stop and haggle, making the acquisition of game-day tickets a perfect 12 of 12 !!
Parking by a USC Cathouse !!!
Roamin' Coliseum
A little bit of Greece in the Coliseum !!!
The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a grand old stadium. USC has played football in the Coliseum ever since the stadium was built in 1923. In fact, the Trojans played in the first varsity football game ever held there (beating Pomona College, 23-7, on Oct. 6, 1923). That game was preceded that day by the USC freshman team's 30-0 win over Santa Ana High. Mike and Bone both noticed that in the front of the Coliseum there is a block from the Greek Coliseum that was donated by Greece for the 1932 Olympic Games, It is indeed a very cool venue
Viewing the Olympic Torch from the Boy's Seats
Once entering the Coliseum, the Boys knew they had scored great seats, since they were on the 10 yard line, straight across from the USC Marching Band !
Wolverines, disguised as Trojans on a Recon Trip !!!
Not wanting to stick out, the Boys "disguised" themselves as Trojans to ensure that someone would be willing to sell them tickets without scalping them too much !!!
The Spirit of Troy
One of the great USC traditions Bone wanted to see was the Trojan Marching Band, better known as “The Spirit of Troy” which has been named among the 8 best marching bands in the country by USA Today. Established in 1880, the band has played for seven Presidents and has appeared in numerous movies (including “Forrest Gump” and “The Naked Gun”), commercials and television shows (including twice at the Academy Awards and with OutKast’s Andre 3000 at the 2004 Grammy Awards, plus on “L.A. Law,” “Hollywood Squares” and MTV’s “Rock and Jock”). The band even earned platinum albums when it recorded the title track of the rock group Fleetwood Mac’s popular 1979 album, “Tusk,” and was on the group’s live 1996 reunion album, “The Dance.” And it has produced several albums of its own music (featuring the well-known “Conquest” and “Fight On”).
Among the many famous musicians who have played in the band as students was Herb Alpert of the Tijuana Brass (he was in the cornet section). And among the various guest artists who have appeared with the band were John Phillip Souza (in 1924), Henry Mancini, Quincy Jones, Chuck Mangione, Leonard Bernstein, Diana Ross, Neil Diamond, John Wayne, Kenny Rogers, Tower of Power, Bozo the Clown (Larry Harmon) and The Offspring’s Dexter Holland.
As with everything in life, the "Spirit of Troy has a strong Michigan connection. The Trojan Marching Band has tripled in size since Dr. Arthur C. Bartner became its director in 1969 (he is assisted by long-time arranger Tony Fox). A graduate of Michigan, Bartner brought with him a creative approach and the unique, contemporary “drive-it” style of marching, something that Michigan has always been known for !
Stealth Fighters, Buzzing the Coliseum !!
One of the cool things about the Pre-Game show was the very quiet buzzing of the stadium by two Stealth fighters, you could see them, but you couldn't hear them !!
Performing USC's Fight Song: "Conquest"
Another tradition is the famous USC song is the regal processional march, "Conquest," by Alfred Newman (also of Mad Magazine fame !) It is usually played after every USC score and victory. This stirring battle cry, from Newman's score to the 1947 motion picture classic "Captain from Castile," has become synonymous with the championship tradition of USC since the Trojans adopted it in 1954 during a basketball game against Oregon State. Newman, a legendary composer of film music, was the musical director of Twentieth Century-Fox Studios. The Boys noticed that the Band seem to play it continuously.
Game Time !!!
USC came out of the gates strong, forcing Arizona State to go three-and-out on its first possession before going on an impressive nine-play, 75-yard scoring drive that was capped by a 17-yard touchdown reception by Allen Bradford. The Trojans' next drive stalled on their own 42-yard line, but Terry Richardson muffed the punt for the Sun Devils and USC recovered on the ball at the Arizona State 11-yard line.
After a pass interference call gave the Trojans a first down on the two-yard line, Gable scored on a sweep to give USC a 14-0 lead with 3:25 left in the opening quarter.
By half-time USC had 21-0 lead, and way too much confidence.
The Boys Gracious Hosts !!!
During Half-Time, the Boys spent some time chatting with their benefactors for the evening. The younger fellow sold the Boys their tickets at cost, is a USC Medical Student graduate and newly minted Dentist, His father, who is also a Dentist, is a fourth-generation BYU Graduate and rabid BYU fan. Both were very gracious and fun the hang out with during the game.
A USC Fourth Quarter Tradition: Lighting the Olympic Torch
A famous and cool USC tradition is lighting the Olympic Torch at the beginning of the Fourth Quarter, which the Boys both thought was a tad bit classier than Miami's holding four fingers in the air !
Final Score: Southern Cal 28, Arizona State 21
Too much confidence makes for sloppy play. USC's first possession of the second half, Dexter Davis sacked Booty and forced the Trojans' quarterback to fumble the ball. The Sun Devils recovered and quickly made USC pay for the turnover when Carpenter hooked up with Zach Miller for an eight-yard strike with 9:45 left in the third. Then, after the teams traded punts, Keno Walter-White stepped in front of a Booty pass and ran it back 37 yards to tie the game at 21-21 with 3:18 left in the third. USC, though, answered with a Washington-led 14-play, 74-yard scoring march to regain the lead.
The Trojans were faced with a fourth and one on the Arizona State 36-yard line, but Booty ran for the first down on a QB sneak. Four straight Washington runs then gave USC a first down on the Sun Devils' 12-yard line. Three plays later, Washington crossed the goal line with 4:29 left to play to put the Trojans up 28-21. Washington, for his part, accounted for 64 yards on USC's game-winning drive. Arizona State's next drive stalled on their own 35-yard line and USC was able to run the clock out to survive the scare and preserve their victory.