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The phrase "USC Trojans," which is redirected here, also refers to the University of Southern California student body in general. The women's athletic teams are referred to as "The Women of Troy."

USC Athletics

The University of Southern California has a proud athletic heritage — and with good reason. Arguably, Troy could be regarded as the "Collegiate Athletic Program of the 20th Century." Consider: Trojan teams have won more national championships, 86 men’s (including a national-best 73 NCAA titles) and 20 women’s, than all but 1 other university totaling 106 overall national championships.*

USC athletics participates in the NCAA Division I-A Pacific Ten Conference and has won 106 total team national championships, 86 of which are NCAA National Championships. USC's cross-town rival is UCLA, with whom there is fierce athletic and scholastic competition. However, USC's rivalry with Notre Dame predates the UCLA rivalry by three years. The Notre Dame rivalry stems mainly from the annual football game played between these two universities and is considered the greatest intersectional rivalry of all college athletics.

Trojan athletic achievement

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  • The Trojan men have won more National Championships, 86 total (including a national-best 73 NCAA men's titles) than any other University.
  • The Women of Troy have earned 20 National Championships.
  • The Trojans won at least 1 national team title in 26 consecutive years (1959-60 to 1984-85).
  • USC won the National College All-Sports Championship an annual ranking by USA Today of the country’s top athletic programs — 6 times since its inception in 1971.
  • Trojan men athletes have won more individual NCAA titles (290) than those from any other school in the nation (the Women of Troy have brought home another 41 individual NCAA crowns).
  • Four Trojans have won the prestigious Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in America: diver Sammy Lee (1953), shot putter Parry O’Brien (1959), swimmer John Naber (1977) and swimmer Janet Evans (1989).
  • Two Women of Troy athletes have won the Honda-Broderick Cup as the top collegiate woman athlete of the year: Cheryl Miller (1983-84) and Angela Williams (2001-02). And Trojan women have won 8 Honda Awards, as the top female athlete in their sport.
  • USC won the Lexus Gauntlet Trophy, a year-long all-sports competition between Troy and crosstown rival UCLA, in its inaugural 2001-02 season and again in 2003-04 and 2005-06 .

Trojans in the Olympics

  • USC has a reputation and long tradition of nurturing Olympic athletes. From the 1904 Summer Olympics through the 2004 games, 375 Trojan athletes have competed in the Games, taking home 112 gold medals (with at least 1 gold in every summer Olympics since 1912), 64 silver and 58 bronze.
  • There have been more Trojans in the Olympics than from any other university in the world - in fact, if USC were its own nation in the Olympics, it would rank tied for 11th in the world in total gold medals earned.*.
  • USC sent 35 athletes to the 2004 Athens Olympics and won 17 medals: eight golds, five silvers and four bronzes.

Men's National Championships

86 Total Men's Titles

Women's National Championships

20 Total Women's Titles

Notable team history

Many teams from Troy have won national championships and the following is a brief history of the more notable teams at USC:

Football

USC Trojans Football started in 1888 and has amassed an all-time won-loss record of 732-298-54, giving the program a .700 winning percentage. A December 1998 SPORT magazine ranking listed USC as the No. 4 all-time college football program of the 20th century.

The USC Football team has been voted National Champions 11ibid times USC is also known for its Heisman Trophy winners. With the awarding of the 2005 Heisman to Reggie Bush, USC and Notre Dame are tied for the most Heisman winners at 7. Three of the last four Heisman winners have been Trojans - Reggie Bush (recently drafted by the New Orleans Saints) in 2005, Matt Leinart (drafted shortly after Bush by the Arizona Cardinals) in 2004, and Carson Palmer (now with the Cincinnati Bengals) in 2002. Four other Trojan tailbacks have won the coveted Heisman Trophy as college football’s outstanding player: Mike Garrett in 1965, O.J. Simpson in 1968, Charles White in 1979 and Marcus Allen in 1981 Also notable, The Pro Football Hall of Fame counts USC and Notre Dame tied as the universities with the most Hall of Famers at 10. USC’s record against Pac-10 opponents is 367-153-29 (.695), and the Trojans have winning records against all the other nine members.

Since 1959, the Trojans have won the conference championship 17 times and tied for the title on 6 other occasions. USC has the nation’s fourth best bowl winning percentage (.643) among the 65 schools which have made at least 10 bowl appearances and its 30 Rose Bowl appearances is an all-time best. USC players have been named first team All-American 129 times, with 44 consensus selections and 22 unanimous choices. *

Baseball

USC Trojans Baseball has a notable history in baseball: With 12 baseball national championships, Troy is far and away the leader in that category (no other school has more than 6). Since starting baseball in 1924, the Trojans have compiled a record of 2,221-1,093-15 (.669) against college opponents, and have captured outright or tied for 38 conference championships. USC's most notable baseball coach was Rod Dedeaux, coaching from 1942-86, who led the school to 11 of its NCAA crowns, including 5 straight from 1970-74.

USC boasts many successful major leaguers such as Ron Fairly, Don Buford, Tom Seaver, Dave Kingman, Fred Lynn, Roy Smalley, Steve Kemp, Mark McGwire, Randy Johnson, Bret Boone, Jeff Cirillo, Barry Zito, Geoff Jenkins, Aaron Boone, Jacque Jones and Mark Prior. In all, 89 Trojans have gone on to play in the major leagues and scores more in the minors. *

Men's Basketball

The men's USC Trojans Basketball program has a long tradition. Men's program is only one of about 4 dozen schools have more than 1,000 victories in college basketball, and USC is one of them. Since starting basketball in 1907, the Trojans have compiled a record of 1,357-984 (.580), winning 14 league championships. *

Women's Basketball

The women's USC Trojans Basketball program, after improving steadily, first reached the pinnacle of success in women’s basketball in 1983 and the Trojans have been near the top almost ever since, winning 2 national championships and playing in 4 Final Fours.

The Women of Troy have made the NCAA tourney 6 of the past 14 years, including advancing to the regionals 3 times. Lisa Leslie, who became an Olympic and pro star, won the Naismith Award in 1994 (she was the MVP of the first WNBA All-Star Game). Tina Thompson was the No. 1 pick in the 1997 WNBA draft. Cynthia Cooper was twice an Olympian and WNBA MVP. *

Men’s Golf

USC has one of the most successful golf programs in the nation, having produced 3 NCAA individual champions (Scott Simpson in 1976 and 1977, and Ron Commans in 1981), 19 Pac-10 individual champs, 20 All-American first teamers and numerous players who have gone on to successful professional careers, including $1 million winners like Al “Mr. 59” Geiberger, Dave Stockton, Craig Stadler and Scott Simpson. Troy has also been dominant in the Pac-10, winning 17 of the 46 conference championships to date.

Legendary coach Stan Wood (1955-79) compiled a career record of 462-37 (.926) and won 14 conference championships. He also guided the Trojans to an NCAA record 51 consecutive dual match wins from 1956-59. His teams finished third in the NCAA tourney 6 times.

Under coach Randy Lein (1984-92), USC continued its success, winning the conference championship in 1986. The 1991 Trojans finished seventh at the NCAAs. U.S. Amateur champion Sam Randolph, who finished as low amateur at the prestigious Masters golf tournament in 1985 and 1986, was a first team All-American for the third straight year in 1986 and was named college golf’s Player of the Year.

Former team captain Jim Empey took over as coach in 1993. Kurt Schuette became coach in 1995 and guided USC to an impressive fifth place finish at the NCAA tourney that season, Troy's best placing in 18 years, and then ninth in 1996, 14th in both 1997 and 2003 and sixth in 2005. His 2001 squad won the Pac-10 title, USC's first since 1986, and Troy repeated in 2002. Kevin Stadler, Craig's son, was the 2002 Pac-10 Golfer of the Year (USC's first honoree since 1986).

Women’s Golf

The USC women’s golf team is one of college’s finest, as witnessed by the program's first-ever NCAA team title in 2003. USC also has had second (twice), third, fourth (twice), fifth, seventh (3 times), ninth, 11th, 12th and 14th place finishes at the NCAA Championships in the past 21 years. The Women of Troy won the Pac-10 tourney in 1989 and the NCAA Regional in 1999 and 2006. Cathy Bright led USC to 5 Top 10 NCAA finishes in her 12 years as head coach (1982-93). Former Trojan player Renee (Mack) Baumgartner returned as head coach in 1994 and led USC to second place at the NCAAs in her first year. Andrea Gaston took over in 1997 (with men's coach Kurt Schuette serving as Director of Golf) and guided USC to 6 NCAA Top 10 finishes, including the 2003 NCAA title.

Jennifer Rosales won the 1998 NCAA individual title as a freshman, Mikaela Parmlid won as a senior in 2003 and Dewi-Claire Schreefel as a sophomore in 2006. Other top individuals have included Marta Figueras-Dotti, Denise Strebig, Kim Saiki, Tracy Nakamura, Jill McGill (the 1993 U.S. Amateur champion), Heidi Voorhees (the 1993 U.S. Amateur medalist), Jennifer Biehn (the 1994 Pac-10 champ), Candie Kung (the 2000 Pac-10 champ), Becky Lucidi (the 2002 U.S. Amateur and 2003 Mexican Amateur champion) and Irene Cho.

Women’s Rowing

The women’s rowing team has been active since the early 1970s, but scholarships were first awarded in 1998 and USC has emerged as one of the nation's top programs. The varsity, junior varsity and novice eight teams train all year long for regattas from coast to coast. George Jenkins guided USC to national prominence during his 9 years as head coach (1994-2002). Kelly Babraj took over as head coach for the 2003 season, with husband Zenon Babraj serving as director of rowing.

At the 1998 NCAA meet, the Women of Troy rowers captured their first-ever national championship race (the varsity fours). In 2005, USC made its first-ever NCAA Championships appearance as a team, placing 11th.

Women’s Soccer

The women's soccer team began competing in 1993. Karen Stanley coached the team for the first 3 seasons. Jim Millinder took over in 1996 and guided 7 of his squads (1998-2003) into the NCAA tourney (USC won the 1998 Pac-10 title).

Isabelle Harvey, the 1998 Pac-10 Player of the Year, was USC's first All-American first teamer (in 2000).

Men’s Swimming & Diving

The type of dominance USC has had in this sport was best exemplified by Troy’s performance in the 1976 Olympic Games, when Trojan swimmers won more golds and more total medals than any country in swimming except the United States.

Over the years, USC men's swimmers have made Olympic teams 122 times, winning 38 gold, 23 silver and 18 bronze medals. Gold medal winners have included Lenny Krayzelburg, John Naber, Bruce Furniss and Murray Rose.

Since beginning swimming in 1929, the Trojans have captured 9 NCAA championships, all under coach Peter Daland, who retired in 1992 after 35 years at Troy. USC swimmers and divers have won 110 NCAA meet individual and relay titles (including Erik Vendt, who won 5 individual titles in the 2000, 2002 and 2003 meets) and have earned All-American honors an amazing 562 times. Under Daland, USC won 17 Pac-10 championships and amassed an impressive dual meet record of 318-31-1 (.917). Three of his last 6 squads had runner-up finishes at the NCAA meet.

Four-time U.S. Olympic coach Mark Schubert, winner of 2 NCAA titles with the Texas women, succeeded Daland (he also served as the head coach of the Women of Troy). His men’s teams placed in the Top 10 at the NCAAs 12 times in his 14 years at USC. Dave Salo takes over for Schubert in both roles in 2007.

Women’s Swimming & Diving

USC has likewise built a successful swimming program on the women’s side. In fact, the Women of Troy have finished in the top 10 nationally 25 of the last 30 years — including winning the NCAA title in 1997 — and have produced 233 All-Americans in that span. They have won conference championships in 1979, 1980, 1982 and 1985.

Among USC’s more famous women’s swimmers are Michelle Ford, Sue Habernigg, Cynthia Woodhead, Sue Hinderaker, Debbie Rudd, Kristine Quance (she won 9 NCAA titles), Lindsay Benko (who won 5 NCAA titles), Kaitlin Sandeno (she won 2 races at the 2003 NCAAs) and diver Blythe Hartley (she won 5 NCAA titles).

Men’s Tennis

USC’s men’s tennis legacy has produced numerous national titlists, including 16 team champions (second most in the country), 13 singles champions (tied for second most in the country), and 20 doubles champs (more than any other school). Cecil Mamiit won the 1996 NCAA singles crown as a freshman.

George Toley (1954-80) guided the Trojans for 26 years before resigning during the 1980 season. His career record was 430-92-4 (.821) with 10 NCAA titles. Dick Leach succeeded Toley and posted a 535-133 (.801) mark in 23 years. His 1991, 1993, 1994 and 2002 teams won the NCAA tourney (his 2002 No. 11-seeded Cinderella team was the lowest seed ever to win the NCAA title and did so a month after Leach announced his retirement) and 8 of his other teams finished fourth or better. He was succeeded by ex-Pepperdine, Fresno State and Long Beach State coach Peter Smith for the 2003 season.

Overall, USC players have been named to All-American teams 137 times, with many also enjoying successful pro careers, including Stan Smith, Bob Lutz, Raul Ramirez and Dennis Ralston.

Women’s Tennis

The most successful women’s program at USC, in terms of national titles, is the tennis team. The Women of Troy have won 7 national championships.

Those national crowns all came under Dave Borelli, who coached USC from 1974 to 1988. In duals, Borelli’s record was phenomenal: his teams went 300-43 (.875).

Five times Trojans have won national singles titles, along with a doubles champ and 74 All-Americans. Prominent USC stars include Barbara Hallquist, Diane Desfor, Lea Antonopolis, Leslie Allen, Sheila McInerney, Stacy Margolin, Trey Lewis, the Fernandez sisters, Kelly Henry, Beth Herr, Caroline Kuhlman, Trisha Laux, Jewel Peterson and Lindsey Nelson.

Cheryl Woods, a former Trojan player, took over for Borelli in 1989. Richard Gallien, a successful player and coach at Pepperdine, became head coach in 1996. His 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2005 teams advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals and he got to the NCAA semifinals in 2006.

Men’s Track & Field

The Trojans have won an unprecedented 26 NCAA titles (including 9 straight, 1935-43) in the 85-year history of NCAA outdoor track, plus 2 indoor NCAA titles and 35 Pacific Coast or Pac-10 crowns, including a string of 15 straight (1936-55). They have had 39 unbeaten and untied seasons, including a string of 16 in a row (1946-61). Since starting track and field in 1900, USC has compiled a dual-meet record of 410-116-4 (.777).

Outstanding coaches include Dean Cromwell (1909-48), who won a record 12 NCAA titles and had a dual meet mark of 109-48-1; Jess Mortensen, who never lost a dual meet (64-0) in 11 years and won 7 NCAA titles; and Vern Wolfe, who retired after the 1984 season with 7 national titles and a dual meet record of 106-17-1 (.859). Jim Bush, who won 5 NCAA titles while at crosstown rival UCLA, became USC's head coach in 1991. His 1992 Trojans finished third at the NCAAs with only a 6-man team. Ron Allice, who won 11 state titles at Long Beach City College, took over the combined men's and women's programs in 1995 (the men were fourth at the 1995 NCAA meet, 10th in 1996, third in 1997 while winning the Pac-10 title, seventh in 1998, fifth in 1999 while winning the Pac-10 crown, tied for seventh in 2000 while winning the Pac-10 title, tied for 12th in 2001, tied for 11th in 2002, third in 2003 while winning the Pac-10 title, sixth in 2005 while winning the NCAA West Regional crown and tied for ninth in 2006 while winning the Pac-10 and NCAA West Regional meets).

Sixty USC tracksters have won 88 places on U.S. Olympic teams over the years. Trojans have won 26 individual Olympic titles and shared in 8 relay wins. Gold medal winners include long jumper Randy Williams, pole vaulter Bob Seagren, sprinter Charles Paddock and hurdler Felix Sanchez.

Since 1912, 61 USC trackmen have equalled or bettered world records, and there have been 110 NCAA outdoor individual or relay winners from Troy--including 2005 and 2006 NCAA high jump champ Jesse Williams (he also won indoors both years).

The Trojans also have a long history of successful distance running, including 9 Olympians and NCAA champions Julio Marin and Ole Oleson.

Women’s Track & Field, Cross Country

The women’s track program at USC has developed into one of the nation’s finest. The Trojans have placed in the Top 10 of the NCAA Championships 12 times, including winning the program's first-ever NCAA team title in 2001. The Women of Troy also finished third in 1987, seventh in 1996 (while winning the Pac-10 title), fifth in 1998, third in 1999 (just 4 points from first place), second in 2000 (again just 4 points out of first place), third in 2002, seventh in 2005 and second in 2006 (while winning the NCAA West Regional title).

The women’s track and field heritage begins with Sherry Calvert, the former head coach. Calvert, a 4-time All-American javelin thrower at USC who participated in the 1972 and 1976 Olympics, started the program as an undergraduate and coached through 1983. Fred LaPlante succeeded her from 1984 through 1988. Barbara Edmonson was coach in 1992 through 1994. In 1995, Ron Allice took over as the combined men's and women's coach.

Troy has had many other successful track and field athletes. Patty Van Wolvelaere won a pair of national titles in the 100-meter hurdles. Kerry Bell was an All-American heptathlete for 3 years. 1988 NCAA heptathlon champion Wendy Brown and Yvette Bates set world bests in the triple jump during their USC careers. Ashley Selman won the 1990 NCAA javelin title. Angela Williams became the first athlete, male or female, at any level to win 4 consecutive NCAA 100-meter dashes when she did so in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002. Natasha Danvers won the 2000 NCAA 400-meter intermediate hurdles. The Women of Troy won the NCAA 1600-meter relay in 1987 and the 400-meter relay in 2000. Brigita Langerholc took the 800 meters and Inga Stasiulionyte captured the javelin, both in the 2001 NCAAs. Natasha Mayers won the NCAA 200 meters in 2002. Virginia Powell won the 2005 and 2006 NCAA indoor and outdoor high hurdles (she also set the collegiate record in the outdoor race).

The Women of Troy also compete in cross country in the fall under coach Tom Walsh.

Men’s Volleyball

The USC men’s volleyball team has made 11 NCAA Final Four appearances since scholarships were first awarded by Troy in the sport in 1977. The Trojans have won 4 NCAA titles (1977, 1980, 1988 and 1990) and have finished second on 6 other occasions (1979-81-85-86-87-91).

Ernie Hix, who retired as head coach after the 1981 season, turned USC into one of the top volleyball powers in the nation. Hix’s 8-year record was an impressive 146-47 (.756) with 2 national crowns.

Twenty-four Trojans have played on the U.S. National team and USC volleyballers have been named first team All-Americans 27 times. In the 1984 Olympics, Steve Timmons, Dusty Dvorak and Pat Powers all helped lead the United States to its first gold medal ever in the sport, while Timmons repeated with the 1988 U.S. squad.

Timmons, Bryan Ivie, Nick Becker and Dan Greenbaum won bronze medals with the U.S. in 1992. Tim Hovland, Celso Kalache, Adam Johnson, former coach Bob Yoder (a 3-time All-American who coached Troy to an NCAA title in 1988), Donald Suxho and Brook Billings also are key figures in USC’s volleyball heritage. Jim McLaughlin took over for Yoder in 1990 and led Troy to an NCAA title in his initial year. Powers became head coach in 1997, Turhan Douglas succeeded him in 2003 and Bill Ferguson takes over for 2007.

Women’s Volleyball

USC has won 6 national crowns in women’s volleyball, the first 4 under coach Chuck Erbe. Erbe, who dominated the sport during his 12-year USC coaching tenure which began in 1976, posted a career record of 310-121-3 (.718). He coached the 1976, 1977 and 1980 AIAW champions and the 1981 NCAA titlists. His 1976 team registered the first perfect season (38-0) in women’s volleyball history.

Lisa Love, who coached at Texas-Arlington for 7 years, took over for Erbe in 1989 and guided USC into the NCAAs in 9 of her 10 seasons before retiring after the 1998 season. Jerritt Elliott served as interim head coach in 1999 and 2000, guiding the 2000 club to the NCAA Final Four. Mick Haley, head coach of the 2000 U.S. women's Olympic team who won 2 national crowns in the 1980s while at Texas, took over in 2001 and advanced to that season's NCAA regional final. Then, in 2002 and 2003, his teams won the NCAA crown, with the 2003 club going 35-0. USC got to the NCAA Final Four in 2004.

In 1978, Debbie Green won the prestigious Broderick Award in volleyball. Trojans have been named All-American 53 times and 12 have been members of the U.S. Olympic team (including Green, Sue Woodstra, Paula Weishoff, Carolyn Becker and Kim Ruddins).

Men’s Water Polo

Since starting water polo in 1922, the Trojans have compiled a 984-492-7 (.666) record, winning 14 conference championships along the way.

Longtime coach John Williams led the Trojans to national prominence since during his tenure from 1973 to 1998. Nineteen of his last 22 teams finished the season in the top 7 nationally, including the 1998 NCAA championship team and the 1987, 1993, 1994, 1996 and 1997 squads which placed second in the NCAA tourney.

Jovan Vavic, who joined as co-head coach in 1995, took over as head coach in 1999. His 2003 and 2005 teams won the NCAA championship.

Seventeen USC poloists have participated in the Olympics and Trojans have made various All-American teams 140 times. Some of the more prominent names in USC water polo history are Ron Severa, Wally Wolf, Charles Bittick, Greg Fults, Zach Stimson, Craig Furniss, Charles Harris, Robert Lynn, Drew Netherton, Hrvoje Cizmic, Marko Zagar, Simun Cimerman, Marko Pintaric, George Csaszar, Pedraj Damjanov, Bozidar Damjanovic and Juraj Zatovic (who in 2005 was USC's first-ever male winner of the Peter J. Cutino Award as the National Player of the Year).

Women’s Water Polo

USC’s newest sport, the women's water polo team began play in 1995 under head coach Jovan Vavic. In 1999, in just their fifth year of existence, the Women of Troy--led by National Player of the Year and 2000 U.S. Olympic goalie Bernice Orwig--won the national championship in an exciting 5-overtime sudden death victory over Stanford. USC then was second in the national tourney in 2000. Then in 2004, USC--behind National Player of the Year Moriah Van Norman--turned in the sport's first undefeated season (29-0) in winning the NCAA title. USC was third in the 2005 NCAAs and second in 2006.

Besides Orwig and Van Norman, other top players have included Aniko Pelle (the 2000 National Player of the Year), Nina Wengst, Olympian Sofia Konoukh, Katrin Dierolf, Kelly Graff, Lauren Wenger (the 2006 National Player of the Year) and Brittany Hayes.

Trophies

Victory Bell

The 295-pound bell, which originally rang atop a Southern Pacific locomotive, was given to the UCLA student body in 1939 as a gift from the school's alumni association. For 2 seasons, cheerleaders rang the bell after each Bruin point. However, during the opening game of UCLA's 1941 season, six members of USC's SigEp fraternity (who were also members of the Trojan Knights) infiltrated the Bruin rooting section, assisted in loading the bell aboard a truck headed back to Westwood, took the key to the truck, and escaped with the bell. The bell remained hidden from UCLA students for more than a year, first in SigEp’s basement, then in the Hollywood Hills, Santa Ana and other locations. At one point, it was even concealed beneath a haystack. Bruin students tried to locate the bell, but to no avail.

The controversy died down until 1942, when a photograph of the bell was printed in "The Wampus," a USC magazine. This resulted in an uproar, with UCLA students painting the Tommy Trojan statue at USC and Trojan students retaliating by burning USC initials on UCLA lawns. Police had to be called several times. The conflict got so out of hand that Dr. Rufus B. von Kleinsmid, then USC's president, threatened to cancel the USC-UCLA game if any further disorders occurred.

On Nov. 12, 1942, the bell was wheeled in front of Tommy Trojan and the student body presidents of both schools - USC's Bill McKay and UCLA's Bill Farrer - signed an agreement stating that thereafter the annual winner of the Trojan-Bruin gridiron clash would keep the bell for the following year. In the case of a tie, the bell would be retained by the school that won the previous year's game. The USC Alumni Association later repaid the UCLA Alumni Association for half the cost of the bell.

At the time, the arrangement might have seemed like a bad deal for the Bruins, since they had yet to defeat USC. But that first year, 1942, UCLA beat USC, 14-7.

Before home games, the bell is along Trousdale Parkway for fans to ring as they particiapte in the "Trojan Walk" to the L.A. Coliseum. During home games, and whenever USC faces UCLA at the Rose Bowl, the Victory Bell is displayed at the edge of the field for the first three quarters of the game. Members of the Trojan Knights and USC Helenes ring the bell every time the Trojans score.

The Victory Bell has been won by USC for the past seven football seasons and USC has a overall record of 41-27-7 in the Crosstown Series. Complete USC Football records against all opponents, College Football Data Warehouse.

The Shillelagh

A jeweled shillelagh is passed between the annual winner of the USC - Notre Dame game, perhaps the finest intersectional rivalry in college football.

A shillelagh (pronounced "shuh-LAY-lee") is a Gaelic war club made of oak or blackthorn saplings from Ireland. Those are the only woods used because, it is said, they are the only ones tougher than an Irish skull.

The foot-long shillelagh has ruby-adorned Trojan heads with the year and game score representing USC victories, while emerald-studded shamrocks stand for Notre Dame wins. For tie games, a combined Trojan head/shamrock medallion is used. On the end of the club is engraved, "From the Emerald Isle." The victor of the Trojan-Irish game gains year-long possession of the trophy.

Upon its initial presentation in 1952 by the Notre Dame Alumni Club of Los Angeles, it was said that "this shillelagh will serve to symbolize in part the high tradition, the keen rivalry and above all the sincere respect which these two great universities have for each other."

The original shillelagh was flown from Ireland by Howard Hughes' pilot, according to legend. It was devised by the Notre Dame Alumni Club of Los Angeles, based on a suggestion by Vern Rickard. John Groen designed it. Although the shillelagh was introduced in 1952, the medallions go back to the start of the series in 1926.

When the original shillelagh ran out of space for the Trojan heads and shamrocks after the 1989 game, it was retired and is permanently displayed at Notre Dame.

A new shillelagh - slightly longer than the original - was commissioned by Jim Gillis, a former baseball player at both USC and Notre Dame and a one-time president of the Notre Dame Club of Los Angeles, and handcrafted in 1997 in County Leitrim, Ireland. It contains medallions beginning with the 1990 game.

There are now 42 shamrocks, 30 Trojan heads and 5 combined medallions on the shillelaghs. *

Gauntlet Trophy

USC won the Lexus Gauntlet Trophy, a year-long all-sports competition between Troy and crosstown rival UCLA, in its inaugural 2001-02 season and again in 2003-04 and 2005-06.

Athletic facilities

USC is home to many athletic facilities including the world famous Memorial Coliseum and the state of the art Galen Center but USC is home to many other athletic sites as well. USC's other on-campus athletic facilities include the McDonald's Swim Stadium (site of the 1984 Olympic swimming and diving competition), Marks Tennis Stadium, Cromwell Track and Field (which includes the 3,000-seat Katherine B. Locker Stadium), the McAlister Soccer Field, the 1,500-seat Lyon Center (a campus recreation center which hosts some Trojan intercollegiate events) and the Physical Education Building (housing the 1,000-seat North Gym).

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is one of the largest stadiums in America. However, the stadium's size makes it difficult for most fans to view the playing field. USC has played football in the Coliseum ever since the grand 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). The Coliseum was the site of the 1932 Olympic Games and hosted the opening and closing ceremonies and track events of the 1984 Olympic Games. Over the years, the Coliseum has been home to many sports teams besides the Trojans, including UCLA football, Los Angeles Rams, Raiders, and Los Angeles Dodgers baseball. The Coliseum has hosted various other events, from concerts and speeches to track meets and motorcycle races. The Coliseum has a present full-capacity of 92,000 seats (almost all are chair-back seats). The Coliseum is located on 17 acres in Exposition Park, which also houses museums, gardens and the Los Angeles Sports Arena. *

Galen Center

Scheduled to open in September of 2006, the Galen Center will be the basketball and volleyball facility for the University of Southern California Trojans. Located at the southeast corner of Jefferson Boulevard and Figueroa Street in the Exposition Park area of Los Angeles, it will be right across the street from the campus and near the Shrine Auditorium. The facility will be 255,000 square feet, with a 45,000 square feet pavilion, which will have three practice courts and offices. The seating capacity will be 10,258. There will also be 22 private suites. Galen Center construction will cost an estimated $147 million, which includes the arena, team offices, and a state of the art practice facility. Additionally, this facility could play host should Los Angeles receive the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Dedeaux Field

Opened on March 20, 1974 as one of the nation's finest collegiate baseball structures, Dedeaux Field has continually been improved over recent years with the grandest project taking place before the 2002 season. A $4 million project signified the largest improvement made to the facility as a new clubhouse and players' lounge were added on the first base side. Expanded offices for the coaching staff and new Hall of Fame were also part of the project, along with a new pavilion. Prior Plaza, named after Jerry and Millie Prior (parents of former Trojan Mark Prior), is located on the first base side and features USC's All-Americans and players who have played in the majors.

A new bleacher section was added on the first base side, pushing capacity to 2,500 at Dedeaux Field. With dimensions of 335 feet down the right and left field lines, 365 in the right field power alleys and 375 to the left field power alleys, and 395 to straightaway center, Dedeaux Field is a natural grass field. The outfield fences stand 10 feet high.

Trojan Fight Songs

"FIGHT ON"

Fight On for ol' SC Our men Fight On to victory. Our Alma Mater dear, looks up to you Fight On and win For ol' SC Fight On to victory Fight On!

This song is usually played after first downs and touchdowns. The music for USC's fight song, "Fight On," was composed in 1922 by USC dental student Milo Sweet (with lyrics by Sweet and Glen Grant) as an entry in a Trojan spirit contest. In addition to inspiring generations of Trojan fans and players, the song has been used in numerous recordings and movies. Legend has it that during World War II in the Pacific, an American task force attacked an island held by the Japanese. As the Americans stormed the beach, "Fight On" blared from the deck of one of the transports. The U.S. men let out a tremendous roar and eventually won the island.

"ALL HAIL"

All hail to Alma Mater, To thy glory we sing; All hail to Southern California, Loud let thy praises ring; Where Western sky meets Western sea Our college stands in majesty. Sing our love to Alma Mater, Hail, all hail to thee.

The words and music to USC's alma mater, "All Hail," were composed in the early 1920s by Al Wesson, Troy's longtime sports information director. He wrote the song as a student member of the Trojan Marching Band for the finale of a 1923 campus show.

"CONQUEST"

Another famous USC song is the regal processional march, "Conquest," by Alfred Newman. 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.

Other Songs

“Tribute To Troy,” the incessant stanza of pounding drums and blaring horns, is played after every defensive stop. “Fanfare” is the introduction to “Tribute To Troy” and is played when the band takes the field. “All Right Now” is played after USC gets a turnover. “Another One Bites the Dust” is played after USC gets a sack. The “William Tell Overture” is played at the start of the fourth quarter. "The Emperor's Theme" from Star Wars is played when USC is flagged for a major penalty.

Heritage Hall

Heritage Hall, which sits in the middle of the University of Southern California campus, houses the University's athletic department and celebrates the glorious Trojan athletic heritage. USC has produced 359 Olympic athletes, won 106 national team championships and developed 50 NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship recipients.

Originally 48,000 square feet and built at a cost of $2.8 million, the 3-level brick and concrete colonnaded building opened in 1971. Heritage Hall was designed by Grillias, Savage and Alves of Santa Ana, Calif. Myers Brothers Construction Company, Inc., of Los Angeles was the general contractor. Initial construction began in Feb. 5, 1970. It has been expanded three times: in 1984 (a 6,000-square foot addition to the weight room), in 1992 (a 13,500-square foot expansion that houses the Academic Resource Center) and in 1998 (a 3,000-square foot addition to the Jess Hill Weight Room). Heritage Hall is located close to USC's various athletic practice and competition on-campus facilities.

Between the north and south wings on the building's ground level are some of USC's numerous athletic trophies, including various NCAA team championships, 6 Heisman Trophies and the jerseys of Troy's winners (Mike Garrett, O.J. Simpson, Charles White, Marcus Allen, Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart), swimmer John Naber's Sullivan Award, Angela Williams' Honda-Broderick Cup and updated displays honoring recent successful Trojan athletes. There are also busts of USC athletic directors Willis O. Hunter and Jess Hill, football coaches Howard Jones and John McKay, and track coach Dean Cromwell, as well as one of actor John Wayne (who played football at USC in the 1920s under his real name, Marion Morrison). Wall plaques acknowledge special financial contributors to the USC athletic program. The north wing houses a 200-seat auditorium and a formal lounge, while some coaches and administrators have offices in the south wing. A patio area extends outside to the west (placed in the patio floor are plaques commemorating the members of USC's Athletic Hall of Fame).

Heritage Hall's upper level is the home to many administrative and coaches' offices (located on the south "Jess Hill Wing" and north "John McKay Wing," respectively). The Honors Rail, which encircles the open-air foyer above the first floor lobby, has bronze medallions saluting every Trojan who won an Olympic gold medal, captured an NCAA individual championship or was named a first team All-American in an NCAA sport in which there are no individual champions (i.e. football, basketball, baseball, volleyball, water polo). Also on the second floor are busts of USC football running backs Morley Drury ("The Noblest Trojan of Them All") and Ricky Bell. Like on the ground floor, tucked in alcoves on both ends of this floor are other athletic trophies and team displays.

The underground lower level of Heritage Hall houses various locker rooms, plus the equipment room, medical training room, the Jess Hill Weight Room, and the McAlister Academic Resource Center (which features tutoring, counseling, study and computer rooms for USC's student-athletes).

Because of space limitations, USC's golf, swimming, water polo and women's soccer coaches are located in the nearby Kennedy Aquatics Building, while the baseball staff has offices at Dedeaux Field (the baseball stadium) and the track and field staff has offices in Loker Stadium.

Outside the northwest corner of Heritage Hall, the $3-million Galen Center--a popular sports-themed dining and activity center--opened in early 1999.

The USC football team practices at nearby Howard Jones Field, which was expanded in the fall of 1998 to include Brian Kennedy Field. In early 1999, Goux's Gate--named after the late popular long-time former assistant coach Marv Goux--was erected at the entrance to the practice field.

USC's other on-campus athletic facilities include the McDonald's Swim Stadium (site of the 1984 Olympic swimming and diving competition), Marks Tennis Stadium, Cromwell Track and Field (which includes the 3,000-seat Katherine B. Locker Stadium), the McAlister Soccer Field, the 1,500-seat Lyon Center (a campus recreation center which hosts some Trojan intercollegiate events) and the Physical Education Building (housing the 1,000-seat North Gym).

Coming in the summer of 2006 will be the 10,000-seat, $147-million on-campus Galen Center that will be home to the Trojan basketball and volleyball teams, as well as the site of various cultural events. *

External links

USC Trojans athletics

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "USC Athletics".

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