Random Post 1

USC Football is Back! 

Today I will be talking about the return of USC football! On Thursday afternoon, it was announced that USC football would be returning after being postponed. Like most football fans, I was excited! Fortunately, due to the daily testing system received, the Pac-12 was able to make this decision. However, this decision excites me personally because I work as a student manager for the football team which means I will be joining them soon. There will be football in the fall after all!

I remember last spring when spring football was first postponed due to COVID-19. No one could have ever imagined what would transpire afterward. The team had its first practice of the spring and coincidentally the NBA postponed basketball later that day. Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz tested positive for COVID-19 and the league made its decision. This was very important because this was the first major sport to postpone any of its leagues. There was concern starting to arise within the team. Was this going to happen to us? What does this mean for football? We were supposed to have practice the next day. One of the coaches actually texted me what he needed for practice that day, but then the news broke. The Pac-12 had decided to postpone spring sports until further notice. No one really knew what this meant. Postponed for a couple weeks? Months? 

During this summer, I kept going back and forth on whether or not we would have college football in the fall. Part of me said maybe, but part of me said no. At one point, I was certain that it would be very difficult to play in the fall. As time went by, players were allowed on campus to work out in small groups. Then it was announced that the season would be shortened and we would play only Pac-12 schools, so the season was back on. A couple weeks later, the season was postponed in hopes of playing in the spring. It was a mixture of emotions all throughout the summer not knowing what was going to happen. Some people wanted to play and some didn't. Of course, at the end of the day, the priority has always been the health and safety of the players and staff. 

Now we’re getting ready to have a football season at USC! I’m glad to know that I’ll be having one more football season before I graduate. Things are going to be very different this time around. Everyone will be wearing masks. Equipment will have to be sanitized. No fans will be allowed at the games. This is going to be the biggest thing I will miss. I will always remember being down on the field during the games hearing the Coliseum get loud with all the fans cheering on the team. It’s an experience like no other! It gets so loud you just get chills. You become part of the atmosphere. Despite all the differences, the goal doesn’t change. We have a legit shot at the Pac-12 championship. Practice starts in a few weeks, so it's time to prepare for that and for an exciting season. I’m excited to start the season and making it a memorable one!