Wednesday, September 17, 2008

USC – Ohio St. - Gameday Report

So it’s Monday 5 days before the big game and my high school buddy living in Chicago calls me at work – can I make it to the game if he has an extra ticket? Of course my answer is yes (after a subsequent clearance with the wife).

Saturday comes and after hanging with the boys all morning (3 ½ and 7 mos.), the wife takes over and I’m off to the Coliseum. I’m supposed to meet my buddy John at parking lot 4, 5, or 6, but in talking to an attendant, he learns they’re all full. I’m seeing private $100 parking lots ¾ full as I drive towards the stadium, not quite sure what the plan is. On a packed side street, I see a house trying to fill its driveway. At $60, they’re well under market and I nab a spot.

The density of cell phones and pda’s are causing cell connections to be very spotty at best, but I finally meet up with John and his two friends, very surprised to see all three of them wearing cardinal and gold (one friend is from New Jersey and works in N.Y., the other I’m not sure about). I realize shortly after that neutral colors/attire are virtually non-existent – this isn’t USC football circa 1999 anymore. I’m wearing my USC 2007 Rose Bowl golf shirt. I pondered wearing the Leinart jersey, but, he’s not even starting for the Cardinals.

We take our chest of beers and find my friends’ tailgate. Once there, we find that our beer choice (Becks, Heineken, and St. Pauli Girl) is quite popular amongst the many Coors and Bud Light drinkers – we quickly make lots of new friends. This being my first tailgate since the 2004 USC/UCLA game, I’m remembering what a blast they are, especially with such an electric atmosphere that a team like Ohio St. brings.

I talk to some OSU fans, and we quickly hit it off after I mention the last time I saw these two teams play was the 1985 Rose Bowl, when USC beat the Kieth Byars-led Buckeye team. They definitely appreciate diehard fans. The time comes to leave the party and enter the game, so we break out the 8 ziplock baggies I brought and fill them up with Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, subsequently stuffing them into our pockets to continue our buzz in the alcohol-free stadium.

John hands out the tickets while we’re in line, which is when we first discover that we’re in Row 1…nice!! I notice while in line and again once inside the stadium, there are basicaly no children here, just adults. Take the kids to the Arizona or Oregon St. games, Ohio St. is for the big boys. Before taking my seat, I chat with some ’08 SC grads outside tunnel 4. My most pressing advice, probably repeated 4 or 5 times, is to enjoy your 20’s and bachelorhood, don’t get hitched until at least a year or two after your 30th birthday.

I make it to the seats well before kickoff and see that we have 3 OSU fans to our left and the BCS Championship glass football trophy right in front of us. Our seats are right on the side of the endzone, opposite where Stanley Havili scored the first of USC’s 5 TD’s. A little pre-game discussion ensues between myself and the 3 Buckeye fans, and I close by noting that ‘we have a lot of athletes…a LOT’. They seem bothered and that ends the chat.

Finally the game starts and on their 2nd possession, Ohio St. marches down to kick a field goal and take the early 3-0 lead. USC fans are stone silent, while the various pockets of Buckeye Nation are loud and ecstatic. This doesn’t last long. First it’s the 35 yard TD pass to USC’s fullback Havili, then a 1 yarder to the backup TE and true freshman Blake Ayles. Once USC linebacker Rey Maualuga takes a pick 48 yards to make the score 21-3, the OSU faithful see the writing on the wall. The three Buckeyes next to me acknowledge that SC is dominating the trenches.

At halftime I have the spiciest Polish Cajun sausage ever, quite tasty. The OSU fans walking about have a dazed and confused look on their faces – I imagine the team might have that same look at this point. When USC scores its 4th TD halfway through the 3rd quarter, the three OSU fans leave their seats. My friends are marveling at #2 on the SC defense, so I tell them he’s Taylor Mays, our 230lb safety who runs a sub 4.4 40. They just shake their heads. Halfway through the 4th quarter we leave the stadium, convinced we’ve seen not only the future 2008 National Champions, but also quite possibly one of the best college football teams ever. Fight on, Trojans.

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Saturday, March 24, 2007

Living the Dream – Trojan Football

I am of course, the Speedburner, the little guy who loves being quicker than his competition in sports, and the man who’s world is 80% consumed by sports. It was USC football in the early 70’s that turned me on to sports. Anthony Davis, Ricky Bell, Charles White…since then I have been a diehard USC fan, and overall sports-consumed nut.

When USC football slipped in the mid to late 80’s and then was mostly mired in mediocrity & worse during the 90’s, neither I nor any other SC fans could have imagined what was coming next – our wettest dream.

Starting with the 2002 recruiting class – Mike Williams, Winston Justice, Darnell Bing, Dominique Byrd et al, Pete Carroll suddenly started recruiting multiple NFL bound players every year. Reggie Bush, Lendale White and Steve Smith came the next year in 03, along with NFL bound o-linemen Sam Baker and Ryan Kalil.

Same thing in 05, 06 & 07. Studly future pros, and many came with NFL-ready bodies as freshmen - see Taylor Mays, Brian Cushing, Ray Maualuga. USC just never lost for a few years, and suddenly sat as high atop the throne of college football as they ever had. I am still amazed and astounded at what has happened. Top players still come as they see depth charts stacked with 5 star recruits.

It defies all logic, but it’s happening – a dream.

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