Friday, November 14, 2008
Page 15
AT THE SIDEBAR (Column)
Homecoming Game Motivates Future Trojan
By J’AMY PACHECO
By the tender age of six, my daughter had mapped out her future. She decided she would graduate from the University of Southern California, and then become a Disney Imagineer. No ifs, ands or buts; no “Plan B.”
Since I know few adults who have this kind of focus, I’m happy my daughter has set such lofty goals. Since I know our budget is more along the lines of trade school than private college, I think she’s going to need to earn a scholarship.
That’s why I do everything I can to keep her moving toward her goals. Getting in to USC is going to be challenging, both academically and financially. She’s going to need some serious motivation to keep working hard in middle school and high school.
So when the opportunity to attend USC’s homecoming football game arose, I jumped at it. I’d been told it would be crazy and crowded – 100,000 fans were expected – but I wasn’t afraid. As a frequent guest at Disneyland, and someone who experienced the insanity of ComiCon this past summer, I know crazy and crowded.
We arrived hours early to shop in the school’s bookstore – and to make sure we got a parking spot.
The first thing I noticed when emerging from the parking structure was an unbelievable number of picnics going on. They were everywhere! Some people had wheeled barbecues onto open grass areas, plopped down lawn chairs, and prepared to spend the afternoon. Others had more elaborate setups. I saw, for example, a long, low table set with linens, china, crystal and candles, but no chairs. The revelers sat on the grass.
The second thing I noticed was that my clothing was out of place. I’d worn khaki pants and a brown knit vest. I knew it was boring when I put it on. But I quickly realized I was noticeably out of place, because everyone else, pets and babies included, wore USC’s colors, cardinal and gold. I felt like a traitor.
We hurried to the bookstore, where I was lucky enough to snag one of the last homecoming t-shirts on the racks. Although I was just along for the ride as the mother of a future Trojan, the proper attire made me feel at home.
We were fortunate to be able to attend an alumni picnic. It had a luau theme, and I knew it was going to be cool when somebody hung a cardinal lei around my neck as we entered. Under grass huts, we found food everywhere, from whole roast pigs to pineapple upside-down cake. It was pretty impressive, and my future Trojan ate like a football player.
The crowd began to buzz when somebody brought out a tall ladder for the band leader. We heard strains of music, and before long, the Spirit of Troy was at our picnic. Song leaders stood so close to us that they could have kicked us. Shoulder to shoulder in a sea of cardinal and gold, we did the Trojan “V” with our fingers as the notes of “Conquest” wafted over the campus.
If anybody left that picnic uninspired, they must have had too many margaritas. The pageantry and spectacle was enough to make ME want to be a Trojan.
Just as the picnic ended, it started to rain. We managed to miss a downpour that took place while were in a restroom, but made the trek to the Coliseum under drizzling skies.
On the way over, we kept hearing a metallic “thunk.” We soon realized that everyone in front of us was kicking a metal flagpole as they passed. We were told it was for good luck, so we, too, kicked the flagpole.
It must have worked, because the other team never did score during the game. I know that, because our seats were so amazing that I could see not only the Huskies’ mistakes, but the disappointment on their players’ faces.
USC, on the other hand, scored 56 points. At first, every time they crossed the goal line, their spectacular mascot, Traveler, raced across the field. It was positively majestic.
Around halftime, Traveler stopped coming out. We weren’t sure if it was because of the rain, or if the horse was just plain worn out from the frequent touchdowns.
At one point, my future Trojan – who knows nothing about football – told me she thought the game would be more exciting. Laughing, I explained that football isn’t usually so easy.
But now that she’s seen a decisive Trojan victory, she assumes that her team will always win, just the way she assumes she will someday be one of them.
Earning the right to be a Trojan will be a challenge, but I think she’s up to it. And if I start having doubts, I know now where I can go to get a little luck…
Copyright 2008, Metropolitan News Company