More photos » by Lori Shepler - AP 19 days ago: In this Sept. 5, 2009, file photo, Southern California quarterback Matt Barkley (7) and coach Pete Carroll shake hands during practice before an NCAA college football game against San Jose in Los Angeles. Carroll is hoping the return of perhaps USC's two most important players will put the... more »
Be in the know. Here's the valuable Trojan Football news you need to charm the ladies and impress your boss into giving you that *guaranteed promotion. (*Promotion not guaranteed).
1) Penn State's 81 year old Joe Paterno was signed to a three-year contract extension. So now you don't have to feel bad about destroying his team in the last game of his career. His heart will have a reason to keep ticking away.
2) Rey Maualuga was named the team MVP at the Trojans annual awards banquet.
3) Carson's Morrell Presley, one of the most-recruited tight ends in the country, made the worst mistake of his life - switching his commitment from USC to UCLA.
4) USC alumnus Rick Caruso, owner and designer of The Americana at Brand, will host the USC pep rally on Monday, December 29 at 6 p.m., free to the public, in preparation for the Rose Bowl .The event will feature the USC Marching Band, Song Girls, Yell Leaders, Tommy Trojan and the USC mascot Traveler.
The Trojan Marching Band, USC Song Girls, Traveler, Trojan Olympians and former Trojan football greats will convene this Thursday, September 11th at 7:30 PM at the Grove in LA.
And as if you needed another reminder about Onedegree's tailgate Saturday, September 13th in the Fan Fest area from 12:00-5:00 PM. You must have an account and a valid photo ID to enter.
ESPN is on a quest to name the "Face of the Program" for college football teams around the nation. They ask, "Is it that fabled coach? A legendary player? A memorable play? A unique mascot?" Some of the suggestions that have come up for USC: Pete Carroll John McKay Tommy Trojan Traveler #55 Mike Garrett 4th and 9 To... more »
Traveler is taking up permanent residence inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. A 14-foot-by-14-foot mural is being installed at the edge of the stadium's tunnel and will be visible to most of the crowd during football games. Dubbed "Tradition," the artwork features USC's mascot being ridden back from another championship at the Rose Bowl (symbolized by a bed of... more »
After taking several hundred photos at the Rose Bowl, I've only used a few in this blog. To do the Granddaddy of Them All some justice, here's a photo essay showing what it was like to be there on game day. Crews put the finishing touches on the stadium in the early morning on January 1. The Illini fanatic... more »
Ben Malcolmson, USCRipsIt He hears it coming. Every time. “He knows that when he hears the song “Conquest” it’s time to make an entrance onto the field and run,” said Hector Aguilar, Traveler’s handler and rider. “He’ll get amped up.” Just a day in the life of the world’s most famous horse. The iconic mascot of USC, Traveler gallantly... more »
As we continue our countdown toward the 2007 season, we are now only 21 days away from seeing Traveler gallop up and down the Coliseum as the Trojans score touchdown after touchdown. Representing #21 for the Trojans this season is junior tailback Allen Bradford. Bradford is a BEAST. Better yet, Bradford is a Renaissance Beast. He can beat you... more »
Can Florida repeat? According to the offshore book Pinnacle Sports, the team to beat for the 2008 Bowl Championship Series title is USC. Pinnacle made the Trojans a 5-to-2 favorite (win $5 for every $2 bet) when it posted odds last week. Michigan, the Trojans' opponent in the Rose Bowl, was second at 13/2. Then came the Gators at... more »
Yesterday, the good people at SI on Campus favored us with tales of mascots gone wild, including the fight (above) between Northwestern State mascot Vic the Demon and Louisiana-Monroe's Chief Brave Spirit, and the incident (earlier this year) when the Stanford tree had a little too much firewater during a Cal-Stanford basketball game. Something about spending 3+ hours inside a foam suit apparently makes people a little crazy. Whoda thunk it?
Not surprisingly, the always well-behaved Traveler is absent from the manifest of mascot shenanigans.
This is the 14th Bevo that the Longhorns have had. And USC is on its 7th Traveler.
Bevo XIV's real name is Sunrise Studly.
Traveler has been ridden by celebrities including Salma Hayek (and Fabio!)
Sure, these might be what you call "Sunday fluff pieces". But quite honestly, I'm just happy to read a piece about the game that doesn't talk about Reggie Bush going pro or how the 2005 Trojans would have done against a team from the 1950's.
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The L.A. Times' Bill Plaschke and David Wharton break down the all-important battle of the mascots at the 2006 Rose Bowl -- Plaschke describing being 
