TrojanWire - Coliseum

Rave On

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:12:03 -0800

Here's a story you won't find on usctrojans.com.
``Two people were arrested and paramedics transported at least 11 people to area hospitals following a rave-style concert and carnival at the Los Angeles Coliseum Saturday night, authorities said.
``A lot of these people are doing ecstasy," said Los Angeles police Sgt. Adrian Moody of the Southwest station.''

Will they clear up all the ecstasy in time for the season-opener against Ohio State?

LA LIVE PEACE 08

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:43:43 -0800

From Brian Center, Executive Director of A Better LA:

On August 2, we are hosting a "March for Kids" from 10 to noon at the Coliseum. The goal is to bring people together from all over Los Angeles to demonstrate unity and support for what is going on in our inner-cities, educate people about the great work that is going on to reduce violence, and express our hopes for the future. It should be a very nice event, and help build on Pete's vision to create a movement around what we are doing. Our thought is that this could become an annual event that continues to grow until we are filling the coliseum.

The March will be fairly short -- around about 1/2 of the Coliseum, and onto the field where there will be speeches and music. We need volunteers to be at tables, guide the crowd and press, hand out water and snacks, keep communication flowing, make sure parking is going well, taking care of VIPs and more. We need around 60 volunteers.

For more information on how to get involved or volunteer for this event call A Better LA at 213-749-0405 or email livepeace@abetterla.org.

Palmer "Cannot Stand" Ohio State

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:15:09 -0800

He may be Ohio's favorite quarterback, but there's no question where Carson Palmer's hate...er...heart lies. The former Trojan and Heisman trophy winner is not going to hold his tongue when it comes to the upcoming USC-Ohio State match up, no matter where he plays pro ball. Carson Palmer recentlty told Los Angeles based KLAC what he really thinks of Ohio State.

I don't watch what I say. I cannot stand the Buckeyes and having to live in Ohio and hear those people talk about their team, it drives me absolutely nuts...I just can’t wait for this game to get here so they can come to the Coliseum and experience L.A. and get an old fashioned, Pac 10 butt-whooping and go back to the Big Ten.

Nice way to represent. Fight on!

Best USC-Ohio State Deal Yet

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 10:47:39 -0800

Whoever said there's no such thing as a free lunch is about to eat their words -- or at least some prime rib.

By now you know that USC-Ohio State tickets are the hottest in the land. Forget face value. Cheap seats start online at well over $250. Some of the better spots are going for several thousand dollars a pop.

So how would you like to pay only $200 -- and get a full tailgate catered by one of the city's most popular restaurants? Score!!!

Lawry's The Prime Rib is hosting a tailgate at the Coliseum from 2-5 p.m. on September 13. The full package is $200 per person and includes a game ticket and tailgate with a full Lawry’s signature prime rib meal buffet, lounge seating with large umbrellas, and big screen TVs.

Tickets for the tailgate alone cost $65 per person. If you do the math a different way, you're getting into the game for about half of what it'll cost you from a ticket broker. And who doesn't want chow from a restaurant not only legendary in Los Angeles, but in the entire world of college football?

For tickets and more details, contact Summer Stearns at (310) 360-6281, ext 225. (I pity her voicemail this morning!)

Austin Murphy's "Fearless" Predictions

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 08:29:55 -0800

From the not going to happen department:

I predict the Buckeyes will launch their run at a third-consecutive national-title game by taking down USC at the L.A. Coliseum on September 13 in what will be the lowest-scoring game of the season for both teams. Laurinaitis, fellow LB Marcus Freeman & Co. will stifle the Trojans' rushing attack, inviting first-year starter Mark Sanchez to beat them with the pass. He won't.

An additional 1,607 fans will welcome a different outcome as the Coliseum announced an increased seating capacity for the coming season — from 92,000 to 93,607.

Fearless predictions for the 2008-2009 NCAA Season [SI.com]

Landmark’s Name Is up for Sale

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:44:35 -0800

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum has been the home to the National Football League’s Rams and Raiders, baseball’s Dodgers, college football’s USC Trojans and the 1932 and 1984 Summer Olympics. Now, the company willing to shell out the most money will be able to stake a claim to the stadium, too. Officials with the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission, the public agency that operates the 85-year-old stadium, said Monday they are putting the name of the building on the market in an effort to finance more than $100 million in renovations.

Coliseum deal

Wed, 14 May 2008 18:35:32 -0800

USC announced it officially reached agreement with the Coliseum today, as expected.
Here's two interesting deal points:
*USC will retain right of consent over any amateur or professional football team desiring to play in the Coliseum.
*USC will pay the Coliseum Commission 8 percent of revenue collected from live television broadcast of football games which are attended by less than 70,000 people.

USC signs new 25-year lease with Coliseum

Wed, 14 May 2008 18:34:30 -0800

Southern California has signed a new 25-year lease that will keep the Trojans' football team in the Los Angeles Coliseum and include improvements in the stadium.

Coliseum Commission unanimously approves long-term lease for USC

Tue, 13 May 2008 08:48:41 -0800

In a special meeting this morning, the Coliseum Commission voted unanimously to approve a long-term lease that will keep USC playing football at the historic stadium for decades to come. The agreement now goes to the USC finance committee, which will vote Wednesday on whether to give the school’s final approval. It is the first long-term agreement in a relationship between USC and the Coliseum that spans more than 80 years. The 25-year lease can be extended to 47 years.

USC, Coliseum Commission on verge of long-term deal

Tue, 06 May 2008 14:55:55 -0800

Lawyers for the two sides complete a 25-year lease agreement that will go to university and commission officials for final approval.

Lawyers for USC and the Coliseum Commission have completed a long-term lease agreement that will be presented Wednesday to both parties for final approval and signing, officials from both sides confirmed.

USC Reloads for Another Run at Title

Fri, 02 May 2008 11:16:53 -0800

Our tour of spring drills would not be complete without a stop at the L.A. Coliseum, home of the USC Trojans.

Offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, left, had a difficult decision this spring, having to choose between Mark Sanchez or Mitch Mustain as the starting quarterback.

Sanchez eventually won the job, but Mustain, who is eligible after transferring from Arkansas, showed his progress in the April 19 spring game, which drew a crowd of 22,000.
Sanchez, above, completed 16 of 24 passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns and Mustain, below, completed six of 10 for 111 yards and two scores.Mustain, who was 8-0 as a freshman starter at Arkansas in 2006, made his intentions clear after the scrimmage. "I didn't come here to be a backup," he said.
Pete Carroll greets fans and signs autographs after the scrimmage.
It's important to keep your eyes on the sidelines at Trojan events.
That's former USC tailback Petros Papadakis making the rounds. Papadakis is host of a local radio show in L.A. and is a color analyst for Pacific 10 Conference games on Fox Sports Net.
Gary Klein of the L.A. Times and Scott Wolf of the L.A. Daily News patrol the sidelines.
Bruce Feldman of ESPN.com and ESPN The Magazine talks with Klein during the closing minutes of the scrimmage.

At Nebraska, Bo Knows

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:56:12 -0800

The Bill Callahan hangover is over and they're ready for the Bo Pelini era to start at Nebraska, where 80,149 packed Memorial Stadium last Saturday for the spring game. At $10 a ticket, the Cornhuskers cashed in. So did some scalpers, who were asking up to $150 for a ticket on StubHub.

The momentum is carrying over to the fall. A check of StubHub at the time of this post showed two tickets for the Sept. 27 game against Virginia Tech going for $1,500 each. Yes, Ethanol must be driving up corn prices.
Before kickoff, members of the Husker Nation packed the Coliseum to listen to athletic director Tom Osborne, Pelini and baseball coach Mike Anderson deliver a sermon.

These images are courtesy of Big Red Network and Husker Mike's Blasphemy and we thank each of these sites. Pay them a visit for more images.
Quarterback Joe Ganz, the expected starter this fall, charged onto the field ahead of the Red team. Running back Quentin Castille blows through a hole on the left-side of the line ...
... then has the ball stripped by defensive back Prince Amukamara.
Offensive tackle Lydon Murtha gets inside on a defender. The offensive line is expected to be one of the strengths of the Cornhuskers.

Pelini is likely looking forward to the Nov. 15 game at Kansas State. Pelini was Nebraska's defensive coordinator in 2003 when the Cornhuskers suffered an embarrassing 38-9 loss to the Wildcats in Lincoln. Afterward, Pelini accused Bill Snyder of running up the score.

VIDEO: Trojan Huddle Highlights

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:28:15 -0800

Watch the Trojans in action during the 2008 Trojan Huddle at the Coliseum.

Trojan Huddle Photos

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:22:33 -0800

Trojan spring practice ended on a high note, with a double overtime thriller at the Coliseum. 22,000 fans came out on Saturday for the Trojan Huddle, the annual USC spring game, to see the White team defeat the Cardinal team 39-33. Inside: 149 action photos from the Huddl

Same as it ever was

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:14:45 -0800

Three weeks after a baseball game, the Coliseum looks like its usual old self once again. Just in the nick of time. Wrkers recently finished laying sod and have been pampering the grass all day Friday in preparation for Saturday’s Trojan Huddle at 11 a.m. The football field lines have been painted on and the baseball diamond has been covered with pristine sod, making the turf unblemished and whole for the first time in months.