University Southern California Trojans
Paul Hackett Tours Enthusiastic Trojan Clubs
June 21, 1999 | Football
June 12, 1998
For the past two months, new Head Football Coach Paul Hackett has toured Trojan clubs thoughout California beaming with enthusiasm and wearing a suspicious light blue blazer.
"My theme," Hackett says, "has been to do this together. For USC to mobilize all its forces. Its been a great deal of fun."
The fun started in early May with an extremely enthusiastic reception from the Orange County Trojan club in Irvine and concluded recently at the San Gabriel Valley Club in Arcadia.
In between time, Hackett and his coaching staff made stops as far north as San Francisco and south to San Diego. He greeted boosters and explained the message behind his light blue blazer.
TROJAN FAMILY "AWESOME"
What was most rewarding about the tour? "The ex-players -- Paul MacDonald, Rod Martin, Vince Evans, Duane Bickett -- have really stepped up asked, 'How can I help'. That's been great.
"Plus, the amount of emotion," Hackett says, referring to the legion of loyal boosters. "They were awesome."
Throughout the tour, Hackett showed video hi-lites of spring practice (Chad Morton's long touchdown run was a crowd-pleaser) and talked about incoming recruits. And always, always he brought down the house with his explaination of that light blue blazer.
Hackett said he wore the light blue blazer because (what?) it reminded him of UCLA. He said he wants it to remind him that he must to do something EVERY DAY day to b-e-a-t the Bruins.
The line may have generated enough robust laughter to last until the first day freshman report on Wednesday, August 5th.
