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USC issues statement on poor home opener attendance after images of empty LA Coliseum go viral
Awful Announcing ^ | August 30, 2026 | Drew Lerner

Posted on 08/30/2026 5:03:51 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican

It seems that everyone has now seen pictures of a barren Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for USC’s home opener against the San Jose State Spartans on Saturday. In fact, the poor attendance for Lincoln Riley’s Trojan squad got so much attention that the university itself felt the need to issue a statement in response.

In a statement to USA Today, USC reiterated the “high expectations” it has for its home crowds and reassured the public that LA Coliseum will have a better atmosphere throughout the rest of the season.

“We understand the factors that impacted Saturday’s attendance,” the statement read. “We have high expectations and a premier home schedule this season, and we know the competitive advantage an electric Coliseum atmosphere can provide our program. We thank our fans who showed up Saturday and look forward to seeing increased attendance the rest of the season.”

Several non-football factors were partly to blame for the lackluster crowd on Saturday. For one, it was a Week 0 game that kicked off at noon local time. Football season hasn’t even begun in earnest, and it clearly wasn’t front of mind for those in Southern California on Saturday. Quality of the opponent also played a role.

(Excerpt) Read more at awfulannouncing.com ...


TOPICS: Society; Sports
KEYWORDS: bigotry
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To: bray
Los Angeles don’t care about college Football

LA once had two great college football teams, the Occidental College Tigers and the USC Trojans. The Tigers' last victory over the Trojans was in 1918, and the Occidental College Glee Club still sings, "USC, we've got you beat. Today, you'll meet defeat from Oxy and the Black & Gold."

Sadly, Occidental dropped football a few years ago.

41 posted on 08/30/2026 8:06:33 PM PDT by Fiji Hill
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To: Fiji Hill

I would restore the Pac 8, Big 8, and the Southwest Conference, if I had my way.


42 posted on 08/30/2026 8:08:25 PM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: Fiji Hill

There is only one college FB town on the West Coast and that is Eugene. They live and die Ducks.


43 posted on 08/30/2026 8:12:52 PM PDT by bray (Thank God for Israel)
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To: MinorityRepublican
It doesn't help that LA is a terrible city to visit now days and that the Colosseum is a horrid place to see a football game or any other event. I've been there for games, it truly sucks!
44 posted on 08/30/2026 8:13:56 PM PDT by Bullish (My tagline ran off with another man, but it's okay... I wasn't married to it.)
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To: dfwgator
I would restore the Pac 8, Big 8, and the Southwest Conference, if I had my way.

I would, too. Let's get rid of transcontinental leagues.

45 posted on 08/30/2026 8:15:06 PM PDT by Fiji Hill
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To: Fiji Hill

Oct. 16, 1988 — Richmond vs. Boston University — London, England — 2,500
Nov. 19, 1988 — Boston College vs. Army — Dublin, Ireland — 42,525
Oct. 28, 1989 — Villanova vs. Rhode Island — Milan, Italy — 5,000
Dec. 2, 1989 — Pittsburgh vs. Rutgers — Dublin, Ireland — 19,800
Nov. 16, 1991 — Holy Cross vs. Fordham — Limerick, Ireland — 12,000
Nov. 2, 1996 — Notre Dame vs. Navy — Dublin, Ireland — 38,651
Sept. 1, 2012 — Notre Dame vs. Navy — Dublin, Ireland — 48,820
Aug. 30, 2014 — Penn State vs. UCF — Dublin, Ireland — 53,304
Sept. 3, 2016 — Boston College vs. Georgia Tech — Dublin, Ireland — 40,562
Aug. 27, 2022 — Northwestern vs. Nebraska — Dublin, Ireland — 42,699
Aug. 26, 2023 — Notre Dame vs. Navy — Dublin, Ireland — 49,000
Aug. 24, 2024 — Georgia Tech vs. Florida State — Dublin, Ireland — 47,998
Aug. 23, 2025 — Iowa State vs. Kansas State — Dublin, Ireland — 47,221
Aug. 29, 2026 — TCU vs. North Carolina — Dublin, Ireland — attendance not yet confirmed.


46 posted on 08/30/2026 8:41:36 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: Inyo-Mono

South central has been a bad neighborhood since at least the Watts Riots.


47 posted on 08/30/2026 9:29:41 PM PDT by RitchieAprile (available monkeys looking for the change..)
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To: sphinx

“How many people?”

In Boone? They must have had 4 people come into town and wander into the game. Let’s face it, when the big tourist attractions in Boone are the Tweetsie Railroad and the Hickory Ridge History museum they are starved for entertainment of any kind. They get excited watching nails rust.

wy69


48 posted on 08/30/2026 9:51:34 PM PDT by whitney69 (`)
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To: BenLurkin

LIKE


49 posted on 08/30/2026 11:07:03 PM PDT by dennisw ("If they make something really good, they will inevitably stop making it." - Robert Quine)
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To: God luvs America

Coliseum and Rose Bowl are big stadiums, with 90-100k seats, so they look empty even when there is a decent crowd.

51,131 was the USC WSU attendance.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1995_USC_Trojans_football_team

43,798 was the UCLA AZ attdendance

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1995_UCLA_Bruins_football_team


50 posted on 08/30/2026 11:38:56 PM PDT by Wayne07
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To: MinorityRepublican

Musta been the weather...you know how southern CA gets this time of year...


51 posted on 08/31/2026 2:43:39 AM PDT by Adder ("A pack of jackasses led by a lion is superior to a pack of lions led by a jackass.” GW.)
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To: AppyPappy

App State fans are ride or die! I’ve been up there and seen it. Very loyal group.


52 posted on 08/31/2026 3:12:29 AM PDT by Mathews (I have faith Malachi is right!!! Any day now...)
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To: BenLurkin

Lol


53 posted on 08/31/2026 3:23:57 AM PDT by blitz128
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To: dfwgator

Haaaa!


54 posted on 08/31/2026 4:24:27 AM PDT by subterfuge (Sorry, I don't read taglines. Just say what you gotta say.)
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To: God luvs America

Very cool. I remember back in the 90s watching major league baseball the LA fans would stroll in around the 2nd inning and the announcers would always say it was because there was “so many other things to do in sunny California.”


55 posted on 08/31/2026 4:29:37 AM PDT by subterfuge (Sorry, I don't read taglines. Just say what you gotta say.)
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To: Wayne07

reported attendance and ticket sales are completely different from actual fannies in the seats....the number of tickets sold for SJSU-USC was probably three times the amount of people who showed up....


56 posted on 08/31/2026 4:31:48 AM PDT by God luvs America
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To: subterfuge

Yup- San Diego State football was even worse...i went to see a few games when they played at Jack Murphy stadium....the few people who went to the games always had a drink in their hands and barely watched the game...


57 posted on 08/31/2026 4:33:29 AM PDT by God luvs America
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To: RetiredArmy

but he keeps getting hired....


58 posted on 08/31/2026 4:34:42 AM PDT by God luvs America
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To: God luvs America

Lol. Gotta get their buzz on before the game!


59 posted on 08/31/2026 4:36:35 AM PDT by subterfuge (Sorry, I don't read taglines. Just say what you gotta say.)
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To: dfwgator

Yes, and just like LA there are a multitude of activities that compete for entertainment $s, Unlike Gainesville, where football and smelling cow shit is all there is. You celebrate home attendance, we celebrate wins and championships. We are not the same.


60 posted on 08/31/2026 4:37:27 AM PDT by Emcane
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