Q&A with USC Athletics Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu
May 15, 2018 | Football, USC Ripsit Blog, Features
Troy Polamalu, Trojan football legend, is known for many things during his time at USC.
From 1999 to 2002, the All-American safety excited Trojan fans with his sacks, interceptions, and passion for the game. His abilities on the field won over the Trojan Family, but his unique sense of calm, dedication to his family and teammates and integrity off the field won their hearts.
Polamalu went on to be drafted in the first round (No. 16 overall) by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2003. In his 12 seasons with the Steelers, Polamalu was selected to eight Pro Bowls, won Defensive Player of the Year in 2010 and won two Super Bowl rings.
During his NFL career, he even made time to go back to USC to finish his schooling, earning his Bachelor's degree in history in 2011.
Clearly Polamalu has earned his title as a Trojan great. But it will become official this coming Saturday when Polamalu officially becomes a member of the USC Athletics Hall of Fame, along with the 17 other talented Trojans in the 2018 class.
Q: What does it mean to you to be joining the Hall of Fame for USC?
A: It's something that you don't really ever think about while you're living the process. I don't really think about my career when I think about USC. I think about my teammates and I think about the time we had living it with my teammates at 1013. That is what I think about. I think about in the locker room stuff. I don't think about anything really regarding sports or anything that happened on the field.
Q: Do you have a specific memory with your teammates that stands out most from your time at USC?
A: Yeah, the barbecues. The barbecues, the summer workouts…I think those were the most fun times that we had: going to class, doing our workouts, going to breakfast every weekend. I think it was Pamela's we used to go to every weekend… just kind of that daily playing dominos on the porch of our house that we rented out. Those are the best memories that I have.
Q: What are the lessons from playing at USC and being a Trojan that you have carried with you?
A: [USC] is really where I kind of learned my work ethic. The teammates that I had and meeting quite a few people, meeting my wife at USC of course, but meeting some teammates that really helped develop my work ethic and how to work hard and those sort of things.
Q: What does it mean to you to be a Trojan?
A: Well, I have some Trojan lineage that are currently there and some that were before me. Being part of that family is very special. To be someone to play and follow the footsteps of that Polynesian lineage… and even just from the academic side to those that earn scholarships from the islands. Just connecting with that community and just being a Trojan as a whole, it has been really special to represent that because you look at all the names that are attached to [USC] from a football perspective and from an athletic perspective, the influence on politics, the influence on architecture, the influence on business. It is really nice to be connected to that family.
Q: You have been described as many things, including "a football anomaly." You are so aggressive and powerful on the field, but so calm and so grounded off the field. Where does this sense of calm and spirituality come from?
A: I feel like it is just passion. I just try to live my life outside the field with a certain passion —how I serve my wife, my children and the example I want to be to them. In the same way, I try to play football with a passion. And that is just trying to leave it all on the field, trying not to let your brother next to you down.
Q: What was your reaction when you heard that you were a part of the 2018 Hall of Fame class?
A: First of all, who I heard it from and just the connection that I have with Lynn Swan, was an honor. His connection with the Steelers, the NFL, USC and now having that dream position of going back and really helping our university. So, it is really an honor to hear from somebody like that and to be connected with this amazing class and the previous Hall of Famers.
Q: In three words, describe what it means to you to be joining the USC Hall of Fame.
A: Victory. Humbled. Honored.
Q: You've said before that because your name is "Troy" you were destined to be a Trojan. Do you still stand by that?
A: (Laughing) Yes, absolutely, without a doubt. Not only that, marrying my wife and her family, just a total family of Greeks and Trojans. Her older brother being one of my teammates and her younger brother following in the family footsteps.
Q: What is your most memorable on-field USC memory?
A: The first time we made it to a bowl game. It was the Las Vegas Bowl. It was a really exciting time for us. It was the first time that we had made it to a bowl game and it was my junior year so it was just really exciting. It's funny how the expectations get higher and higher as time progresses and times change.
Q: What are your biggest takeaways from your USC career?
A: It was just such a great time to be able to be part of the shift from the Paul Hackett era to the Pete Carroll era. To go from no bowl, to the Las Vegas Bowl and then to winning the Orange Bowl was great. To be able to be coached by Coach Carroll and to be able to have the awesome teammates that create long-lasting memories. It's life experience, you know, and best of all to meet my wife there.
Q: How has USC stayed a part of your life since graduating?
A: Just going back to USC was really, really awesome. It was really a special experience for me to actually go back and finish the degree and finish what I promised my aunt and uncle that I would do and fulfill the example that my wife and I want to set for our children.
Q: Would you say your children are future Trojans?
A: Well, that is up to them. I am going to do everything I can to raise them with the qualities and characteristics that embody what somebody like USC is looking for and they can earn it that way.
Q: Do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring Trojans?
A: Be unique, be different, be true to yourself.
Q: You are very humble but you have all these accomplishments under your belt, is there one that you are most proud of?
A: That I met my wife at USC.
Q: Why do you do what you do?
A: I try to just be the best father I can be. I try to be the best husband that I can be. I try to be the best example to them that I can be. I really want them to make a huge difference in this world and I really want to be an example to them in that.
Polamalu will be officially inducted into the USC Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday, May 19. Click here for more information or call (213) 740-4155 to RSVP!
From 1999 to 2002, the All-American safety excited Trojan fans with his sacks, interceptions, and passion for the game. His abilities on the field won over the Trojan Family, but his unique sense of calm, dedication to his family and teammates and integrity off the field won their hearts.
Polamalu went on to be drafted in the first round (No. 16 overall) by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2003. In his 12 seasons with the Steelers, Polamalu was selected to eight Pro Bowls, won Defensive Player of the Year in 2010 and won two Super Bowl rings.
During his NFL career, he even made time to go back to USC to finish his schooling, earning his Bachelor's degree in history in 2011.
Clearly Polamalu has earned his title as a Trojan great. But it will become official this coming Saturday when Polamalu officially becomes a member of the USC Athletics Hall of Fame, along with the 17 other talented Trojans in the 2018 class.
Q: What does it mean to you to be joining the Hall of Fame for USC?A: It's something that you don't really ever think about while you're living the process. I don't really think about my career when I think about USC. I think about my teammates and I think about the time we had living it with my teammates at 1013. That is what I think about. I think about in the locker room stuff. I don't think about anything really regarding sports or anything that happened on the field.
Q: Do you have a specific memory with your teammates that stands out most from your time at USC?
A: Yeah, the barbecues. The barbecues, the summer workouts…I think those were the most fun times that we had: going to class, doing our workouts, going to breakfast every weekend. I think it was Pamela's we used to go to every weekend… just kind of that daily playing dominos on the porch of our house that we rented out. Those are the best memories that I have.
Q: What are the lessons from playing at USC and being a Trojan that you have carried with you?
A: [USC] is really where I kind of learned my work ethic. The teammates that I had and meeting quite a few people, meeting my wife at USC of course, but meeting some teammates that really helped develop my work ethic and how to work hard and those sort of things.
Q: What does it mean to you to be a Trojan?
A: Well, I have some Trojan lineage that are currently there and some that were before me. Being part of that family is very special. To be someone to play and follow the footsteps of that Polynesian lineage… and even just from the academic side to those that earn scholarships from the islands. Just connecting with that community and just being a Trojan as a whole, it has been really special to represent that because you look at all the names that are attached to [USC] from a football perspective and from an athletic perspective, the influence on politics, the influence on architecture, the influence on business. It is really nice to be connected to that family.
Q: You have been described as many things, including "a football anomaly." You are so aggressive and powerful on the field, but so calm and so grounded off the field. Where does this sense of calm and spirituality come from?
A: I feel like it is just passion. I just try to live my life outside the field with a certain passion —how I serve my wife, my children and the example I want to be to them. In the same way, I try to play football with a passion. And that is just trying to leave it all on the field, trying not to let your brother next to you down.
Q: What was your reaction when you heard that you were a part of the 2018 Hall of Fame class?
A: First of all, who I heard it from and just the connection that I have with Lynn Swan, was an honor. His connection with the Steelers, the NFL, USC and now having that dream position of going back and really helping our university. So, it is really an honor to hear from somebody like that and to be connected with this amazing class and the previous Hall of Famers.
Q: In three words, describe what it means to you to be joining the USC Hall of Fame.
A: Victory. Humbled. Honored.
Q: You've said before that because your name is "Troy" you were destined to be a Trojan. Do you still stand by that?
A: (Laughing) Yes, absolutely, without a doubt. Not only that, marrying my wife and her family, just a total family of Greeks and Trojans. Her older brother being one of my teammates and her younger brother following in the family footsteps.
Q: What is your most memorable on-field USC memory?
A: The first time we made it to a bowl game. It was the Las Vegas Bowl. It was a really exciting time for us. It was the first time that we had made it to a bowl game and it was my junior year so it was just really exciting. It's funny how the expectations get higher and higher as time progresses and times change.
Q: What are your biggest takeaways from your USC career?
A: It was just such a great time to be able to be part of the shift from the Paul Hackett era to the Pete Carroll era. To go from no bowl, to the Las Vegas Bowl and then to winning the Orange Bowl was great. To be able to be coached by Coach Carroll and to be able to have the awesome teammates that create long-lasting memories. It's life experience, you know, and best of all to meet my wife there.
Q: How has USC stayed a part of your life since graduating?
A: Just going back to USC was really, really awesome. It was really a special experience for me to actually go back and finish the degree and finish what I promised my aunt and uncle that I would do and fulfill the example that my wife and I want to set for our children.
Q: Would you say your children are future Trojans?
A: Well, that is up to them. I am going to do everything I can to raise them with the qualities and characteristics that embody what somebody like USC is looking for and they can earn it that way.
Q: Do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring Trojans?
A: Be unique, be different, be true to yourself.
Q: You are very humble but you have all these accomplishments under your belt, is there one that you are most proud of?
A: That I met my wife at USC.
Q: Why do you do what you do?
A: I try to just be the best father I can be. I try to be the best husband that I can be. I try to be the best example to them that I can be. I really want them to make a huge difference in this world and I really want to be an example to them in that.
Polamalu will be officially inducted into the USC Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday, May 19. Click here for more information or call (213) 740-4155 to RSVP!
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