Black Voices

Issue date: 9/13/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: usc.edu

Nothing was more appropriate to finish off the first week of school than a home football game. Students, alumni, family and fans came out to show their Trojan pride at the Coliseum for the game against Idaho on Saturday, Sept.1.

The Black Law Student Association was among the many organizations that hosted a tailgate party on campus before the big game. There was not a place on campus where you did not see people sporting cardinal and gold anxiously waiting for the game to begin.

Even with the tailgate parties going on, the line to get into the student section of the Coliseum was still packed with students waiting for the clock to hit 4:30 p.m., the time when the gates opened and they could stake their claim to the best seats that they could find in the student section.

An hour and a half before the gate was set to open the line went beyond the barricades that the Department of Public Safety (DPS) set up.

Unlike last year's first home football game, DPS was much more prepared for the crowd of spirited students and were able to avoid the mayhem of the previous year. There was no pushing and shoving, no one lost their toenails or passed out from the chaos of the crowd.

"Last year I almost passed out and had to fight my way out of line. This year I wanted to avoid any possibility of that, so I got here early to get a spot in the front of the line" said junior Nikki Manibhai.

Not long after they opened the gates to the Coliseum it nearly reached capacity. Before the start of the game, a tribute was given to former Trojan place-kicker, Mario Danelo, who died just days after the 2007 Rose Bowl game after falling over a cliff near his San Pedro home.Danelo was honored through a video tribute in a pre-game ceremony.

In addition, head coach Pete Carroll and athletic director Mike Garrett presented Danelo's family with a framed jersey. The nearly 100,000 fans hushed from their football excitement to have a moment of silence for Danelo. The game goal-posts were adorned with Danelo's number, 19, and his mantra, "Livin' the dream."

After the tribute to Danelo the game started and USC had no problem conquering their opponent, the Idaho Vandals. The student section started to dwindle down after halftime, the point at which students realized the game was secure and their beloved Trojans were sure to win. Trojans beat Idaho 38-10, extending their home game winning streak to 34 wins in a row.

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