When it comes to dedication, Joe Essy can compete with any Trojan fan. In 1967, Joe bought his first season ticket to USC football after buying individual games from friends for so long.
"I was a young guy back then and I had to scrape enough money together to even get the tickets," said Essy.
But for Essy, his experiences at the Coliseum and on the road with the Trojans have made up for every penny. And even though Essy's witnessed the breathtaking wins, he's also stuck with the team through the losses.
"There were a lot of down seasons by Trojan standards, but we always re-upped and I always came back."
Essy's Favorite Moments:
- "First of all, the last Rose Bowl. The Sam Darnold Rose Bowl. I mean, that was incredible and Leon McQuay making that interception making the field goal possible..."
- "But as terrific as that game was, the game with Ohio State going for two in the '75 Rose Bowl, beating Ohio State, 18-17. When you beat Woody Hayes, it's pretty sweet."
- "There's been so many with John McKay -- the 1969 Stanford game where Ron Ayala kicks that 34-yard field goal and we beat Stanford, 26-24. Stanford in those days was still the Indians, the Stanford players after that ball went through were laying on the field in the Coliseum, heads down, pounding their fists."
