Spring Break
Flag on the Play, Our First Home Game
Unnecessary Roughness Outside the Coliseum
Brianne Sanford
Issue date: 10/6/06 Section: Sports
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It's that time of year again. Students start to stand in line at 11am for a game with a five-thirty start. Thousands of yelling, screaming fans. The cardinal and gold war paint is out. That's right it's USC football baby! But this time the hard hitting action started outside the coliseum, not on the field. With all the recent changes to the L.A. Memorial Coliseum, from no alcohol to less student seats, the university was crazy to think there could be a smooth transition. Let's start by looking at my experience at the first home football game.
2:00 p.m. It's tailgate time. I stop by a tailgate too. For the first time I have to fill a survey out to get free food from one of the booths. I tell you, nothing is free anymore. I see a lot of people I know even those who will be watching the game from home. We are off to a good start. Everyone's cracking jokes, having fun, it's game day and there's no homework.
2:30 p.m. I get a call from a friend, "you better come quick the line is filling up!" So, I take the usual walk down Trousdale. It never fails people always have to kick that damn lamppost. Crossing guards are ready to stop the cardinal invasion of the streets. I pass on the random people trying to hustle their t-shirts. I smell the aroma from hot dog carts.
2:45 p.m. The line is halfway down the side of the Coliseum. People trying to beat the no alcohol rule inside the coliseum are already throwing up in trash cans. You can spot the freshmen who are awaiting the thrill of their first home game. The Cornhusker and Trojan fans have a little friendly banter here and there. You can spot people playing cards on the grass. It's like a festival.
4:15 p.m. The gates are about to open. Students rush to the front. There is shoving from left to right. DPS Officers and other game day officials take their mark. We borrow a stadium map from the DPS officer in front of us to map out our target location. I am at the front the line. I give instructions to my friend who would be allowed in first, "Alright you have to be ready to save them (the seats) for all of us just go be ready to beaugard some. Folks will be there shortly. I know you can hold us down."
2:00 p.m. It's tailgate time. I stop by a tailgate too. For the first time I have to fill a survey out to get free food from one of the booths. I tell you, nothing is free anymore. I see a lot of people I know even those who will be watching the game from home. We are off to a good start. Everyone's cracking jokes, having fun, it's game day and there's no homework.
2:30 p.m. I get a call from a friend, "you better come quick the line is filling up!" So, I take the usual walk down Trousdale. It never fails people always have to kick that damn lamppost. Crossing guards are ready to stop the cardinal invasion of the streets. I pass on the random people trying to hustle their t-shirts. I smell the aroma from hot dog carts.
2:45 p.m. The line is halfway down the side of the Coliseum. People trying to beat the no alcohol rule inside the coliseum are already throwing up in trash cans. You can spot the freshmen who are awaiting the thrill of their first home game. The Cornhusker and Trojan fans have a little friendly banter here and there. You can spot people playing cards on the grass. It's like a festival.
4:15 p.m. The gates are about to open. Students rush to the front. There is shoving from left to right. DPS Officers and other game day officials take their mark. We borrow a stadium map from the DPS officer in front of us to map out our target location. I am at the front the line. I give instructions to my friend who would be allowed in first, "Alright you have to be ready to save them (the seats) for all of us just go be ready to beaugard some. Folks will be there shortly. I know you can hold us down."
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