Traveler Traveler, the noble white horse that appears at all USC home football games with a regal Trojan warrior astride, is one of the most famous college mascots. Traveler first made an appearance at USC football games in 1961. Bob Jani, then USC’s director of special events, and Eddie Tannenbaum, then a junior at USC, had spotted Richard Saukko riding his white horse, Traveler I, in the 1961 Rose Parade. They persuaded Saukko to ride his white horse during USC games, serving as a mascot. Ever since, whenever USC scores, the band plays “Conquest” and Traveler gallops around the Coliseum. The current Trojan mascot is Traveler VII. Even though the breed of horse may have changed over the years — Travelers I through VI ranged from an Arabian/Tennessee Walker to a pure-bred Tennessee Walker to a pure-bred Arabian to an Andalusian — Traveler’s color has always remained pure white. In the fall of 2004, USC alumnus Bill Tilley ('61) and his wife, Nadine, donated $2 million to provide a permanent endowment to support Traveler. Besides the horses, USC once even had a canine mascot. A mutt named George Tirebiter I (famous for chasing cars through the USC campus) first appeared at football games in 1940. He survived a publicized dognapping by UCLA in 1947, but succumbed under the tires of an automobile in 1950. He was succeeded by George II for three years(1950-52), then George III for one year (1953) and finally George IV for one year (1957).
Tommy Trojan In the center of the USC campus stands one of the most famous collegiate landmarks in the country: Tommy Trojan. Since being unveiled in 1930 for USC’s 50th jubilee, the statue of the bronzed Trojan warrior has served not only as a popular meeting place on campus, but as a symbol of the university’s fighting spirit. Sculpted by Roger Noble Burnham, Tommy Trojan cost $10,000 to build. A $1 surcharge then on season football tickets helped pay for it. The statue is a composite of many USC football players from the late 20s, most notably 1930 Rose Bowl Player of the Game Russ Saunders and
All-American Erny Pinckert. Inscribed on the statue’s base is “THE TROJAN” and the university’s seal, with the Latin motto “Palmam qui meruit ferat (Let him who deserves it bear away the palm).” Below the seal are inscribed the qualities of the ideal Trojan: “Faithful, Scholarly, Skillful, Courageous and Ambitious.”
Cardinal and Gold Before 1895, the official color of USC was gold. The official color of the College of Liberal Arts was cardinal. The college had its own official color because it was the largest academic unit in the University. In 1895, both colors were adopted as USC’s official colors.
“Trojans” USC’s nickname, “Trojans,” originated in 1912. Up to that time, USC’s teams were called the Methodists or Wesleyans, nicknames which were not looked upon with favor by university officials. So, Warren Bovard, director of athletics and son of university president Dr. George Bovard, asked Los Angeles Times sports editor Owen Bird to select an appropriate nickname. “At this time, the athletes and coaches of the university were under terrific handicaps,” recalled Bird. “They were facing teams that were bigger and better-equipped, yet they had splendid fighting spirit. The name ‘Trojans’ fitted them.”
The Spirit Of Troy The Trojan Marching Band - known as “The Spirit of Troy” - is perhaps the most dynamic and innovative collegiate band in the nation. Named among the eight best marching bands in the country by USA Today, the band is one of the most visible tools of the University. Established in 1880, the band has played for seven Presidents, appeared in numerous movies, commercials and television shows, and has even produced several records of its own music. The band marches upwards of 80 miles a year while traveling across the land supporting almost every USC athletic team. A typical football halftime show by the band takes more than 4,000 work hours to prepare. Now 300-plus members strong, the Trojan Marching Band has tripled in size since Dr. Arthur C. Bartner became its director in 1969.
Notable Alumni Herb Alpert, Musician Neil Armstrong, Astronaut Art Buchwald, Columnist LeVar Burton, Actor Leo Buscaglia, Author/Educator Jerry Buss, Owner - LA Lakers Julie Chen, TV Broadcaster Warren Christopher, former U.S. Secretary of State Frank Gehry, Architect Frank Gifford, Sportscaster Lionel Hampton, Musician Marilyn Horne, Opera Star Ron Howard, Director/Actor Keyshawn Johnson, NFL Randy Johnson, MLB Michael Landon, Actor Lisa Leslie, WNBA George Lucas, Film Director Paul Mazursky, Director Cheryl Miller, Sportscaster Paul Orphala, Founder - Kinkos Linda Johnson Rice, CEO Ebony, Jet Magazines John Ritter, Actor Barney Rosenzweig, Producer Edward P. Roski - Co-Owner - LA Kings and LA Lakers Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf Tom Selleck, Actor Ally Sheedy, Actress Cybill Shepard, Actress John Singleton, Director Lynn Swann, Sportscaster Marlo Thomas, Actress John Wayne, Actor Forest Whitaker, Actor David L. Wolper, Producer Robert Zemeckis, Film Director