Southern California Trojans — it’s a ‘lifestyle!’

Two Tough Trojans? Laura and Me at the USC-UCLA Game!
Me and my Sweetheart!

The other day I was walking down our town — San Luis Obispo, California — wearing a t-shirt from my Alma Mater and a cyclist ( probably someone training for a local triathalon) passed me by and yelled, “Fight On!”. For those of you not connected to sport, this is a salutory greeting from one Trojan to another! I looked up to see him riding by all decked out in Trojan cycling attire and for one brief moment — I was transported back home to Troy, the Business School and to those I helped learn the art of ‘burn outs’ in weightlifting…. fun times. Oh yes, then, there were the football games!

Laura, Karen and Kristin @ USC vs. Fresno State in 2005

Dear reader, you have to understand that sports really isn’t a big thing here in little San Luis Obispo. The rumor is that Bear Bryant’s widow moved his body to Cal Poly to get him as far away from football and sports as possibile. She succeeded.

Anyway, back to sport. This year, we finally bought season tickets to the Southern Cal football games after paying small treasures to ‘ticket resalers’ over the past few years. We’re now less that a month away from the home first game! I think it was some knowledgeable sports writer who — in reviewing the upcoming collegiate season said,” new back, new quarterback… but same old USC!” The first home game is Nebraska, so it should be a great one! There’s a lot more head butting than the World Cup, and they don’t fall down and cry like babies. This is a game played by real men.
Southern Cal Track & Field 2006

Southern Cal has one of the finest histories in collegiate sports and Trojan athletes are recognized around the nation and around the world. 

BELIEVE IT OR NOT! There once existed a huge “Trojan Club” in Tehran, Iran before the I-ah-told-you-so’s outlawed fun.

Track and field has a wonderful story and this last year alone, the Trojans did themselves proud bringing a lot of hardware home. My daughter Karen set the school record in the shot put, joined the Trojan Legions as an All-American and, yes, she beat UCLA in their ‘signature event’ in the dual meet — all my daughters get this from their tough mom. I have the scars to prove it!

Karen promotes ‘SC on her web site and her Public Relations Blog! Check it out!

So excuse me if I show a little Trojan Pride… it was my alma mater for two masters degrees.

GO TROJANS!

Roger Freberg