'Trojan Walk' is USC football team tradition
USC FOOTBALL
The pregame ritual started with Coach Pete Carroll; it happened again Thursday -- before a practice game.
It wasn't the first time that hundreds of fans had gathered outside the Coliseum hours before kickoff, waiting for the USC team bus to arrive.
But this time they had come for a preseason scrimmage. On a weekday afternoon.
They showed up early Thursday to take part in the "Trojan Walk," a tradition that has taken root over the last seven years. Forming a path from the bus to the stadium, they clapped and shouted as the team walked through.
"I just want to see the players up close," said James Espinoza, 30, of Rosemead. "I love it."
The pregame ritual dates back to Coach Pete Carroll's debut, the 2001 season opener against San Jose State. Back then, Carroll explained, "walking into the Coliseum is a very special experience. I want [the players] to see that."
As seasons passed, the program transforming itself from mediocre to formidable, more fans joined in.
"I didn't know what it was going to be like," Carroll said Thursday. "Did I hope it was going to be great? Yeah."
The crowd for the scrimmage -- on a weekday, after all -- was about the size of the group that showed up for that first San Jose State game: Relatively small compared with the throngs that have shown up before games the last few seasons.
Carroll gathered his players and told them to imagine what it will be like on Sept. 13 when they face Ohio State in a game with national championship implications.
"You can't help but feed off the energy," senior receiver Patrick Turner said. "The fans feel like they can pour their hearts out."
david.wharton@latimes.com
