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Reggie-Gate and Mayo-Gate has led to unpleasant and tenuous recent days for Trojan alums like myself, but at least the image of football games taking place anywhere but the Coliseum (or worse, alternating with UCLA at the Rose Bowl) is no longer reason to grimace. The University of Southern California and the stadium came to terms on a new lease that will keep the squad on their downtown field for the next twenty-five seasons (with the possibility of an extension running another twenty-seven). ‘SC gets veto power over an NFL team sharing real estate, along with seats on the California Science Center Board and the Coliseum Commission. In return, the stadium’s eventual naming rights are allowed into include USC in prominent fashion. There are also agreements in place if promised improvements to the building don’t begin in timely enough form.    

It remains to be seen how good will the team playing there be if any fall out from Bush and/or Mayo turns horribly sour. But as someone who attended nearly every home game during the ugly 3-8 1991 season featuring once in a decade (thank God) QB Reggie Perry, I know this much. The Coliseum environment is capable of milking whatever fun can be found in a loss. Be the entertainment so crumbled, there’s still no place like home.

AK

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