The Coliseum Commission will review the latest sublease proposal from USC and also is expected to approve a rental agreement with the state today at its monthly meeting. USC and Coliseum negotiators have exchanged several proposals since early December, which would pump at least $50 million in infrastructure improvements into the building and secure USC as a long-term tenant… continue

The Coliseum Commission’s new rent agreement with the state could help facilitate talks that would keep USC in the Coliseum for the long haul. The commission will pay the state no less than $1 million in annual rent over the next 47 years, according to the new agreement. In each of the past 52 years, it has paid less than $100,000 annually, but the state could have asked for far more in the new deal… continue

The Coliseum Commission has reached a deal, just not the one USC fans are eagerly awaiting.

Governor Schwarzenegger's office announced today that Monday's negotiation between the California Science Center (which technically owns the Coliseum and is appointed by the Governor) and the Coliseum Commission produced an agreement that should become official in a few weeks. The two parties were essentially operating under an expired agreement that allowed the Commission to pay a small fraction of their rent.

Based on the Governor's press release, it appears the Commission's costs to lease the facility will jump from $80,000 to $1,000,000 per year, but that's still far below recent assessments that had valued the property's rent at $2,000,000.

The lease term of 47 years coincides with the life of the Commission's Joint Powers Agreement, which provides for the body's existence so long as a lease agreement is in place. USC, which essentially sub-leases from the Commission, has asked for a deal that would last as long as 75 years. The Commission can't lease the facility for longer than it has control over it.

Had this arrangement been in place last year, the Commission would have turned over most of their $1.46 million profit. Keep in mind that any money that the Commission makes gets pumped back into the facility and is not disbursed to any of the participating agencies, Commissioners, employees, etc. This is money that likely would have been put towards additional repairs or saved for deferred maintenance.

Since the State owns the Coliseum, they're essentially collecting their money immediately instead of letting it get re-invested in their property (and held temporarily in a City fund).

The Commission is proud of their independence and lack of outside funding, but this makes me wonder if they might have an argument for using State taxpayer dollars for any major upgrades since it would be an investment in the State's facility, not their own.

Photo by Karen Tapia-Andersen / LAT

The Coliseum Commission will forward a long-term lease proposal to USC today that would give the university the right to keep an NFL team from returning to the Coliseum, but would call for stadium operations to remain under the commission’s control, according to a source familiar with the document… continue

The Coliseum Commission came out of a closed-door meeting this evening and announced that they will extend a new offer to USC within the next 24 hours.

Coliseum General Manager Pat Lynch wouldn't elaborate on any details, but did indicate that the offer was "long term."

Members of the Commission were all smiles as they walked out, but had nothing else substantive to say. Lynch hurried off, presumably to prepare the formal offer to USC.

In an unrelated story, USC shifted the dates of two games next season. An away game at Oregon State will be played on Thursday, October 4 instead of November 22. A home game against Oregon will be played on October 4 instead of November 22. That means USC now has two home games scheduled on the same days as UCLA home games ... making it that much more difficult for the Trojans to play in the Rose Bowl next year.

The Coliseum Commission is willing to negotiate a long-term agreement with USC, it announced late Wednesday after a closed-door meeting. “We have evaluated our past proposals to USC, and their proposals to us, and are putting together what we believe are the best parts of these proposals,” President Bernard C. Parks said in a written statement… continue

But here's Dickey last October: ``It's a great college football stadium. It was earthquake retro-fitted in the mid-'90s and should be good to go for decades.
``There may be some seats that need to be replaced, but it's in pretty good shape. I don't hear any complaints from our people about the quality of the Coliseum.''

The Coliseum was rocking on Wednesday night for the final scrimmage of fall camp. Besides getting the players ready, it was also an opportunity for the Trojan Marching Band to get back into midseason form. USCFootball.com brings you video highlights of the team warm-up, the band and Song Girls and an awesome three minute highlight reel from the actual scrimmage… continue

Live from the Shrine Auditorium in the center of the universe -- sunny Los Angeles, California -- it's the TrojanWire 1,000th Post Spectacular Special. Featuring appearances by Reggie Bush, Salma Hayek, Matt Leinart, Paris Hilton, Pete Carroll, Carson Palmer, Stephen Colbert, Junior Seau, Snoop Dogg, Marcus Allen, Ted Knight, Bacon-wrapped Hot Dogs, Keith Rivers, Henry Winkler, Lofa Tatupu, Alyssa Milano, Charles White, Shrek, Anthony Davis, Kirsten Dunst, Oscar Lua, Judith Regan, and many more.

The Trojans face an upstart Washington team that's 4-1 overall (only loss coming against Oklahoma) and 2-0 in conference play. The Huskies come into the Coliseum off of consecutive victories against UCLA and Arizona that have some Huskies feeling confident enough to call the Trojans' "pretty beatable" in conversations with the press this week.

Tyrone Willingham's offensive attack is going to center around quarterback Isaiah Stanback, who's amassed an impressive 951 passing yards and 306 rushing yards through five games. The Trojans will need a more effective pass rush than they showed against the Cougars at Martin Stadium last week; which makes the timing of the return of nose tackle and top pass rusher Sedrick Ellis all the more fortuitous. Establishing that pass rush, and running the ball effectively on offense and controlling the clock more effectively will go a long way towards a Trojan W tomorrow.

Ok, enough prognosticating from us for one day; let's take our weekly tour around the mediasphere:

The Kids Are Alright: Gary Klein's talking about the (injury-forced) youth movement at USC, where "Youth will be served" has become the mantra. [L.A. Times]

He Could Have Been Our QB DB or WR: USC recruited Washington quarterback Isaiah Stanback when he was in high school, complete with a Stanback visit to Trojan summer camp; but Coach Carroll wanted to convert the athletic Stanback to a DB or wideout, and Stanback wasn't having it. [L.A. Daily News]

In a move sure to make the Department Of Homeland Security cringe and groms everywhere puke, Reef has introduced the Dram -- a sandal with a flask capable of holding up to three ounces of liquor, err, liquid encapsulated in the heel.

The Dram -- a common term for measuring one ounce of liquid -- is the latest addition to Reef's "thirst-quenching technology" line. Following the success of the Fanning sandal, which conceals a bottle opener in the heel, the Dram ups the ante on drunken-delinquent footwear. Features include a hidden plastic canteen in the heel with a screw cap that can be opened by using a key that is included, a miniature funnel to insure a clean pour, and a measuring bar on the footbed that shows how much booze is left in your shoe. The sandal also features a martini-shaker tread pattern.

Sorry to get your "spirits" up, but all those hoping to literally wear their booze to USC home games this year, will have to wait; the Dram is not due to hit retail shelves until March 1, 2007.

Do The Dram Thing [Transworld Business Magazine]

Less than a month before kickoff now.... and here is what Pete has to look forward to this season....

The entire team, with the exception of walk-on safety Justin Hart (tonsillitis), reported Wednesday.

"The Coliseum is sold out for every game for the first time ever."

"What is unique about this team is that we have the culmination of three very big recruiting years, and those classes have a sense of what this is all about already," said Pete Carroll (at Pac-10 media day).

This is the most talented USC team to play under Carroll.

ComPETE is the name of the game and there will be plenty of it to bring about the best.

Notable position battles include quarterback (John David Booty vs. Mark Sanchez), tailback (Chauncey Washington vs. Michael Coleman and a stable of incoming freshmen) and all linebacker spots (Rey Maualuga vs. Oscar Lua, Dallas Sartz vs. Brian Cushing, Keith Rivers vs. Kaluka Maiava).

Team speed?

"Somebody put a stopwatch on them recently," Carroll says, with a hint of a smile. "We think we have nine guys who run 10.7 or better (in the 100-yard dash)."

Oh, and lest we forget, the man pictured here. Nick Holt will be returning to replace Jethro Franklin in coaching the defensive line AND will be holding the title of defensive coordinator--the first other than Pete in the Pete Carroll era. You think he is good? He is better than good!

Fall Camp Begins [USCFootball.com]
USC reloading, not rebuilding [OCRegister]
Carroll doesn't wonder 'what if ...' [OCRegister]
Don't Worry, Be Happy [DailyBreeze]
Camp Check-In [BrandonHancock.com]

1. USC (18)
2. California (7)
3. Oregon (3)
4. Arizona State (1)
5. UCLA
6. Arizona
7. Oregon State
8. Washington State
9. Stanford
10. Washington

All the coaches were interviewed at the Sheraton near LAX and here's what Pete Carroll had to say about the upcoming season.

"It's great to be back here. We find ourselves in a position where we were a few years back. Three years ago we lost our quarterback, a running back and many other key players and we are now facing those same issues again. Hopefully we will respond just as well. The Coliseum is sold out for every game next year for the first time ever. What is unique about this team is that we have the culmination of three very big recruiting years, and those classes have a sense of what this is all about already. We have a lot of guys that can play and battle for playing time. There are a lot of exciting things that are going to unfold for us at camp ... It doesn't seem to be different this year as compared to last. Being the No. 1 team going in didn't put any pressure on us last year and it's not going to change how we are right now if we don't have that ranking. There are different issues each season, new challenges, exciting challenges. I'm refreshed that there are so many things to be determined this season ... This Conference is so loaded with offense, I don't know how it could get more productive than it's been, but we'll see how everyone can get better."

USC favored to win Pac-10 [OC Register]
2006 Kickoff: Football Media Day Quotes [Pac-10.org]