My good friends Sandy and Rex Johnston invited me to the USC Football Alumni Club Salute to Troy Pre-Party that was held in the Bashor Lounge of Heritage Hall. Trojan Candy brought my grandson Zane with me to the reception. The Football teams of 1968 (50th Reunion) and 1993 (25th Reunion) were being honored.
Zane and I arrived at Heritage Hall at 3:30 pm. I had two cameras ready for pictures and videos. We walked into the Bashor Lounge, found a center table, and Trojan Candy started taking pictures.
Now, Trojan Candy walked around the lounge looking for former USC football players.
My husband Jim, my grandson Zane and I arrived at the John McKay Center at 10:30 am. Trojan Candy had an inkling that the USC Football Team Pictures were going to be taken this morning around that time. I was right about the day, but wrong about the time. There were no stands for the team to stand on for the team picture. There was no one in sight! We found out that the pictures were taken at 8:45 am. My grandson was SO disappointed, and I was even more disappointed...no blog article this year.
Jim and I decided to let Zane stay for a while and try to get some autographs. Zane and I stood at the top of the west ramp from Loker Stadium to John McKay Center so that we could see the ramp and the front door of McKay Center. Jim waited at the bottom of the ramp to watch for players coming out of McKay Center. Then, we saw Jim talking to an offensive lineman(?). The lineman told Jim that J.T. Daniels was just riding by on his bike in the street near the ramp. Next thing, we saw Jim call out to Freshman J.T. Daniels while motioning to us to come down the ramp. Zane and I ran down the ramp. J.T. turned his bike around and pushed right up to the three of us!
Naturally, Trojan Candy took a picture of J.T. signing Zane's picture. Then, I took a picture of both of them.
As I asked to interview J.T. for my blog, he said that Coach Helton told him that he can't be interviewed for another week. Bummer for Trojan Candy! But, I'll interview him at another event. Thanks for your time, your autograph and FIGHT ON, J.T.!
Zane was literally beside himself. We decided to stay for fifteen more minutes to see if he could get some more autographs. Trojan Candy was hoping that I could interview a USC football player for my blog.
My wish came true. I stopped a young man coming up the ramp and asked to interview him. My intuition told me that he was a football player, and I was right. First, Trojan Candy took this picture of Chris Edmondson with Zane. Then, he said that he didn't have the time, but I told him it would only take a few minutes.
Chris Edmondson, a Sophomore tailback, stayed for my interview. He is a fellow Texan from San Antonio, but Chris said that he spent a lot of time in Houston, my hometown. Chris is majoring in Sociology and minoring in Occupational Therapy. He played many sports as a young child. Chris ran track first and then changed to boxing when he was injured. He said that he really liked boxing. In middle school, Chris started playing football. He played defensive end and offensive line. More personally, his favorite food is steak and broccoli. "Pirates of the Caribbean" is his favorite movie since childhood, and Chris likes 90's Hip Hop music the best. So nice to meet you, Chris, and FIGHT ON!
Just as we were getting ready to leave, another USC football player rode up right between Zane and me. I asked to take his picture. Wide receiver Devon Williams gave Zane his autograph. Next I asked to interview him. Devon, like J.T., said that Coach Helton told all the freshmen not to do any interviews. Then he posed for a picture that I can use in my blog when I get to interview him. FIGHT ON, Devon!
Now it was time for us to leave for home. Zane and I will see J.T., Chris and Devon later today when we return for Football Salute to Troy.