Southern California

Date: 11/14/2009

Opponent: #25 Stanford (55-21 Stanford)

Tailgating/Pregame: It's very difficult to do proper tailgating downtown, so it wasn't that great. There are a few restaurants that offer a place to eat and drink, but it certainly doesn't have the same feel. 

Crowd: Shockingly quiet. To be fair, this game was the worst loss ever at the LA Coliseum at the time. It was the beginning of Stanford really coming into prominence in the Pac 10, so I think it was a light crowd not really taking them seriously. 

Stadium experience: Walking in, I got the feeling of walking into a historic place. I've experienced this only in a few other stadiums (e.g. Notre Dame). Also, I'm a big sucker for the single-level bowl stadiums, because it's just one whole sea of humanity. 

Overall: Lots of history, but overall not too impressed. Also, years later, I think I still have the fight song stuck in my head.