USC ATHLETICS

inside the heritage initiative ONE TEAM. ONE HERITAGE. ONE FUTURE.

FALL 2013 / ISSUE 2

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0FF THE TOP OF HIS HEAD:

A MESSAGE FROM THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

SENIOR ASSOCIATE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR DON WINSTON ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS

MY TOP FIVE FOR FALL

How are Heritage Hall and the Uytengsu Aquatics Center progressing? Both buildings are on schedule for occupancy sometime in January 2014 with dedications to follow probably in February. I might add that we have approximately 60 offices yet to be named at $25,000 each in both buildings. Please contact anyone in our office for more information on how to support these projects.

With the beginning of each academic year comes great anticipation and renewed enthusiasm among our student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans. I want to share a few things – my Top Five – of what I look forward to this fall, and hope you, too, will share in these celebrations with us! 1. The 125th Anniversary of USC Athletics and Reunion Weekends - Since fielding a football team in 1888, USC has had an unparalleled athletic tradition, including 120 national team championships, an unprecedented 419 Olympians and 52 NCAA Postgraduate Scholars. At each home football game during the 2013 season, alumni from USC’s 21 men’s and women’s sports (along with several sports that Troy no longer sponsors) will have pre-game reunions and will be saluted during an on-field ceremony. Please visit www.usctrojans.com/reunions to see how you can help us celebrate 125! 2. Heritage Initiative Progress – I am thrilled with the exciting progress we have made and continue to make to our Athletics facilities. Our student-athletes are the best in the world and deserve state-of-theart buildings like the John McKay Center and the future Uytengsu Aquatics Center to provide them with all of the tools to be successful. For a complete update, please read our Heritage Initiative Campaign CoChair John Robinson’s article. I do encourage you to support the Heritage Initiative with a gift of any size to help us realize our dreams of providing our student-athletes and fans with the best facilities in the country. If you would like to donate, please call USC Athletics Development at 213.740.4155. Naming opportunities are available from $25,000 and can be paid over a period up to five years. For online donations, please visit www.trojanathleticfund.com. Cont. on pg. 7

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Are there Lockers available for naming in Heritage Hall and the Uytengsu Aquatics Center? We originally had 400 lockers in all for these projects at $2,500 each. At present we have approximately 300 left in both buildings. I feel this would be a wonderful gift for a spouse, child or loved one for that “special” occasion.

Aerial view of the new Uytengsu Aquatics Center set to open January 2014.

HERITAGE INITIATIVE UPDATE

BUILDING OUR FUTURE By John Robinson

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s I look back over the past 9 months, I am in awe of the transformation taking place here. With major renovations well underway at Heritage Hall and the Uytengsu Aquatics Center, there is a buzz of excitement as crews remodel two of our beloved facilities which are set to open in early 2014. Unveiled in 1971 at a cost of $2.8 million, Heritage Hall has served as the home of USC’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics for more than 40 years. The landmark building is undergoing a $35 million renovation thanks to the generous support of our donors and will be transformed into a world-class museum and visitors center – showcasing USC’s

extraordinary achievements across 21 women’s and men’s sports. Heritage Hall will feature interactive digital displays that will educate and inspire visitors of all ages. Lobby displays will tell our great Trojan story and include our AllAmericans, Olympic heritage, men’s and women’s championships, coaching legends and academic excellence. It will be a must see – a place where alumni and fans can explore the rich history and traditions of USC Athletics! Giving to Heritage Hall Several donors have stepped up with major gifts of $1 million or more. Long-time supporters, the Centofante family provided the lead gift for the Don Winston Development Wing, Charles Griffin Cale named the Athletic Director Suite, and James and Dianne Bashor named the first floor Event Wing which includes a state-of-the-art multi-purpose room and catering kitchen. I believe that to be able to participate in the history of USC Athletics so dramatically makes you want to give back. I think the opportunity to be involved is what interested these families. The Trojan Family has a very strong bond that creates a lifelong love and connection to the university.

Fred Uytengsu Gives Back The Uytengsu Aquatics Center is also undergoing a $16 million renovation, made possible by a record $8 million lead gift by former walk-on swimmer and 1983 swim captain Fred Uytengsu. His contribution will enable us to once again, provide a state-of-the-art complex for our championship Swimming, Diving and Water Polo teams. Upon completion, it is slated to host several U.S. and international swim meets. The center will feature a new stadium entrance, two shaded seating pavilions, diving and dryland training areas, men’s and women’s locker rooms, coaches’ offices, a new scoreboard, and renovation of the diving tower and pool deck. It is because of generous gifts like Fred’s, the largest ever given to the department by a former student-athlete, that we are able to improve our facilities to be some of the best in the country. At the request of Uytengsu, the center’s swimming pool will be named after Peter Daland, to honor the coach he deeply admires and respects. “Coach Daland was a man of few words. He led by example. He urged you to do the right thing and do it right the first time,” said Fred Uytengsu. “This is why I feel Peter did a lot more than win

nine NCAA titles and coach Olympic and national champions. He deserves to be recognized for developing student-athletes for the next stage of life while getting the best performance they were capable of in the pool.” How can I participate? There are still many naming opportunities available for both facilities. All gifts, of any size, will help us realize our dreams of providing our student-athletes with the best collegiate training center in the country.

Why is Endowment giving important? A strong Endowment is the backbone for all academic and athletic programs if they are to be successful. It takes over $1 million to endow an athletic scholarship today. Even though our athletic endowment has grown from $3 million to over $140 million we are still highly dependent on our annual giving to cover any shortfall. I look forward to meeting with any of you who are interested in endowing athletic scholarships for any amount through a trust or through your estate. Now that we can move forward with the Coliseum, what can USC fans expect? We will make every effort to make the Coliseum more fan friendly. Restrooms and concession stands will be improved and millions will be spent to improve seating and comfort for all Trojans. If I had a disc on the railings in Heritage Hall, what happened to it? We are trying to locate all recipients or their family so we can send their disc to them. Hopefully we will have them sent by early Fall.

If you would like to donate, please call USC Athletic Development at 213.740.4155. Naming opportunities are available from $25,000 and can be paid over a period up to five years. For online donations, please visit our Trojan Athletic Fund website: www.trojanathleticfund.com.

What events are being planned to celebrate 125 years of USC Athletics? Our 125 years of Trojan Athletics will be highlighted with reunion weekends for all of our men’s and women’s teams. Various teams of alumni will be honored at all seven home football games this year along with pre-game picnics before each game. 3

giving back BECOMING A PART OF THE SUPPORT GROUP FAMILY by Scott Jacobson

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s we close out the summer and squeeze in that one last vacation before the fall hits and school is back in session, many of us turn our attention to the start of Trojan Football season. We start to think about our favorite Trojan T-shirt we are going to wear for the first game that will undoubtedly bring good luck for the whole season. We are reminded of that promise a friend made to us last season that the first round of celebratory drinks at the 901 club are on them (we all miss Julie’s)! For us in USC Athletics it is a time to reflect on the previous year of giving and look forward to the upcoming year. Thanks to the USC Athletics family we enjoyed another great year of support. Did you know that over 4,000 parents, alumni, and friends are members of one of our

support groups? From Trojan Club to Scholarship Club, all of you made it possible for us to recruit the world’s finest athletes and provide 350 scholarships for our studentathletes. I am often asked about the benefits of joining a support group and as you might guess we talk about priority seating, parking benefits, invitations to special events like the Cardinal and Gold Pre-game parties, but there is one benefit that often is overlooked and, in my eyes, it is the most important. That is the benefit of becoming part of the Trojan Athletic support group family! When I ask our members why they like being a part of Cardinal and Gold or Women of Troy they talk about the memorable times they have shared with other support group members—the away game trips they have gone on together (yes, as a member you get access to away and bowl games), the table they shared at the Cardinal and Gold pre-game where their sons and daughters met for the first time, the time a group of them from Orange County got together to watch the away game, or the time they did a business venture together and it paid off ! Becoming a support group member does get you access to wonderful benefits, but the most important one you won’t find on a benefit chart list. It is the opportunity to give back to USC Athletics while becoming a part of a wonderful network and family. So for those of you that are not members of a support group and have been on the fence, sign up to get to know 4,000 other friends that share a common desire to make USC Athletics the best program in the country and have fun while doing it. We will see you at the 9-0 and don’t forget to wear that lucky Trojan shirt! Fight On! Scott Jacobson Associate Athletic Director

MEET COACH MUNDAY by Mark Jackson

After months of research, interviews and fielding interest from some of the top collegiate women’s lacrosse coaches in the country about launching the sport at USC, it did not take Lindsey Munday very long to impress Pat Haden and convince him that she was the candidate he was looking for to guide the inaugural program. After 10 minutes into her initial interview, Haden called me outside his office and simply stated, “Lindsey is the one!” As one of the most distinguished players in the history of the sport, the same characteristics and qualities that impressed Haden initially are the same ones that are driving our program and impacting our student-athletes today. Munday’s clear focus and intense competitiveness is evidenced on the field and in the classroom. Not only has her team exceeded everyone’s expectations and finished in the top four in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF), the team also qualified for the

conference tournament in only its firstyear. Comprised of primarily freshmen and sophomores, USC’s first Women’s Lacrosse team is also proudly one of our department’s leaders in cumulative GPA and community service hours. While most coaches have one job to do, Munday has another major responsibility. As captain of Team USA, she is representing our country this summer in the World Cup in Canada. She hopes to take the Gold back to Troy as the lead attacker on the most talented team in the country. Munday is a world-class player and a world-class coach, which makes her a perfect fit at USC. As a student-athlete herself at Northwestern, Munday was a key element in launching the program. During her tenure, she helped secure five National Championships as a player and as an assistant coach. She has the blueprint on how to build a program from the ground up and as this past season indicated, coupled with the incredibly talented recruited classes coming to campus, it will not be long before USC is considered amongst the nation’s elite in the sport. Mark Jackson is Senior Associate Athletic Director and Sport Administrator for Women’s Lacrosse.

TROJAN ATHLETIC FUND MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

MELANIE FITCH

ANSWERS THE PROUST QUESTIONNAIRE What is your idea of perfect happiness? 50-0 What would you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Parking at the Rose Bowl Which historical figure do you most identify with? Annie Oakley Which living person do you most admire? My dad, Paul Salata What is your favorite journey? When I rode my bicycle across the United States What is your greatest regret? I don’t hear very well. What or who is the greatest love of your life? Can’t say...they may be reading this When and where were you happiest? At my wedding Which talent would you most like to have? To be fluent in even more languages What do you consider your greatest achievement? Helping others to improve their lives What do you appreciate most in your friends? That they laugh What is your present state of mind? California, fifty miles south of USC If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I would be nicer to Bruins...no, never mind What is your motto? Do something nice for someone for no reason

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WOMEN OF TROY EXCEL ON THE SAND By Karen Bowman

USC ATHLETICS ESTABLISHES FIRST COMMUNITY SERVICE ENDOWMENT By Alexandra Bitterlin In March 2013, USC Athletics received a transformational gift from the Otis Booth Foundation—a gift which established the Otis Booth Community Service Endowment for USC Athletics—the first of its kind among collegiate athletic programs nationwide. The Otis Booth Community Service Endowment for USC Athletics will provide long-term funding for the program, which supports Trojan studentathletes’ volunteer efforts to engage and inspire elementary age children in the neighborhoods surrounding USC. In the last three years alone, USC’s 650plus student-athletes have collectively completed more than 8,000 hours of community service, volunteering with a variety of organizations, including Marathon for Kids, Swim With Mike, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, South Central Community Center, Best Buddies and Skid Row homeless shelters, in addition to several elementary schools in south central Los Angeles.

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Currently USC’s community service program consists of special events led by student-athletes, such as the Commu-

nity Bowl, which focuses on elementary school beautification, mural projects and classroom activities. A Day in Troy brings children to campus for tours to encourage them to consider college and sports activities to promote health and well-being. In 2012, more than 5,000 children participated.

hire the first-ever Community Service Director for a collegiate athletic program. And there is no one more appropriate for whom this position is named than former star quarterback Matt Barkley. This is a small way for to honor all that he has done to better the lives of others throughout his time at USC. From humanitarian trips to Nigeria, Another major program element is The South Africa and Haiti to weekly visits SCORE Initiative (Servicing Commuto Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, nity through Outreach, Recreation and Matt and his family embody the true Education). The Initiative meaning of “others before is comprised of “4 SCORE self.” The “Matt Barkley 650-PLUS STUDENTQuarters,” each focused on Community Service ATHLETES HAVE Director” will coordinate promoting a different area of personal well-being: the COLLECTIVELY all volunteer programs importance of education, COMPLETED MORE and events for maximum healthy living and exercise, Congratulations THAN 8,000 HOURS impact. successful decision-making to Matt for this welland being involved in one’s OF COMMUNITY deserved recognition. community. These programs SERVICE enable student-athletes to For more information on incorporate their personal the Otis Booth Community Service experiences as a team player and leverEndowment for USC Athletics, please age the platform they have as role contact Matt Ackels on [email protected] or models, inspiring children to set and (213) 740-3843. achieve personal goals. In addition to endowing the program, this gift has allowed the department to

In just its second year as a USC varsity sport, Women’s Sand Volleyball is already on its way to the top. In May, the No. 4-ranked Women of Troy returned from the 2013 American Volleyball Coaches Association Collegiate Sand Volleyball National Championship with a third place team finish and the pairs sensation of Kirby Burnham and Stevi Robinson won the National Pairs Championship, becoming USC’s firstever Sand Volleyball All-Americans. In the team competition, USC lost a heartbreaker in the semifinals to eventual national champs Long Beach State, 3-2. In as tight of a dual match ending as you can have, USC lost in the day’s only 3-set match. LBSU’s senior duo outlasted USC walk-ons Kati Duddridge/Brooke Fournier, 18-21, 21-19, 15-13, on a court surrounded by several hundred spectators and CBS Sports Network cameras. It was Duddridge and Fournier’s first year playing on the sand and they didn’t become a pair until just three weeks prior. Their third set was tied at 14-14 before LBSU captured the final 2 points to send their team into the title match. Following team play, USC’s top women’s duo of Burnham/Robinson, were cheered on by fellow teammates as they captured the pairs national title with a hard-fought 21-19, 21-19 win over Long Beach State’s Caitlin Ledoux/Tara Roenicke. Robinson, a graduate student, has used up her eligibility, while Burnham, a junior, has two more years and will partner with incoming freshman Sara Hughes, who won the 2011 AAU Junior National Beach Championship and placed fourth at the 2012 FIVB Junior World Championships. Burnham has lofty goals. She plans on winning a national title with her USC teammates and has notched up her training this summer after returning from Poland where she finished in the top 10 at the inaugural FIVB Beach Volleyball U23 World Championships. She also has her sights set on playing pro and in the 2016 Olympics. The Merle Norman Stadium The success from this year doesn’t just happen with excellent coaching, team work and talent. It takes a world-class facility too. USC Athletics recognized

that in order to train at an elite level, host tournaments and excel in sand volleyball, our student-athletes would need an oncampus facility. With the help of generous donors Helen and Jack Nethercutt along with others, plans were developed to build a stadium. Long-time Trojans, the Nethercutts gave a major gift to enable the University to begin construction on what would become the Merle Norman Sand Volleyball Stadium. “We are passionate about all ‘SC sports but especially love our Women of Troy and wanted to ensure they would have top-notch volleyball courts to practice and play on,” said Jack Nethercutt. “We understand the importance of giving back and we were excited that this new sport would give more female athletes the opportunity to compete in college. This was a priority for us and we are thrilled that it became a reality so quickly.” The Merle Norman Stadium was dedicated in March 2013, in a ceremony that included an exhibition alumni match with Trojan alumnae and Olympic beach volleyball silver medalists April Ross and Jennifer Kessy and the USC team. Located on Figueroa Street, the stadium features 3 courts with sand from the U.S. Olympic Training Center. The palm tree-encircled stadium also has bleachers and a grass berm for spectator seating, a scoreboard and audio system, lighting, restrooms, showers and a storage area. “I am extremely honored and proud to have a stadium of this caliber for our team to train and compete on,” said Head Women’s Coach Anna Collier. “Our team is extremely grateful that Donna Heinel and Pat Haden had the vision for this project and were behind it from the beginning. For many visitors, this will be the first facility they see when entering campus and it will help us recruit the finest sand volleyball players in the country.” With 11 returning players and an excellent recruiting class, our Women of Troy are ready to take on the nation’s best next season. Their accomplishments are a testament to their hard work, perseverance and commitment. All of this would not be possible without the support from our coaches, alumni, parents and our Women of Troy members -- who help fund women’s athletics scholarships. If you are not a member, please consider joining to support our female studentathletes and sand volleyball players. To join Women of Troy, please contact Karen Bowman at 213.740.9374 or k.bowman@ usc.edu. Support Women of Troy!

CONT. FROM PAGE 2 A MESSAGE FROM THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR 3. Fall Sports – Will Men’s Water Polo capture a sixth straight national title? Will Women’s Volleyball phenom Women’s Volleyball phenom Natalie Hagglund lead her team to the NCAA championships? Can our Women’s Soccer team pull off more great upsets such as their win over UCLA in last year’s season finale? Will Marqise Lee have another outstanding, award-winning year? I hope you will join me throughout the season to support our amazing student-athletes on the fields, courts and in the pool. For complete schedules, please visit www.usctrojans.com 4. Community Service – When the Otis Booth Foundation gave USC Athletics $5 million in March to establish the Otis Booth Community Service Endowment, we became the first collegiate athletic program in the country to endow a community service program for our student-athletes. This gift will allow us to continue our work in our surrounding community while enriching not just our neighborhood, but our student-athletes as well. We get as much as we give. 5. The Future of Basketball – The hiring of two new head coaches to lead our Men’s and Women’s Basketball programs ushered in a new era for USC Basketball. Both Andy Enfield and Cynthia Cooper-Dyke are working hard now to bring home national titles for Troy. I hope you will join me at Galen to embark on this era together! Order your season tickets now and be there for their great debut! www.gettrojantix.com I look forward to seeing you this fall, and sharing in the many successes and accomplishments of our studentathletes. Thank you for all that you do to support Athletics. We appreciate you—the Trojan Faithful! Fight on! Patrick C. Haden Director of Athletics Charles Griffin Cale Director of Athletics Chair

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University of Southern California Trojan Athletic Fund 3501 Watt Way, HER 203A Los Angeles, CA 90089-0602

UPCOMING EVENTS

SEPT

SWIMMING & DIVING BANQUET Friday, Sept. 6 @ Town & Gown CARDINAL & GOLD PRE-GAME PICNIC VS. WSU Saturday, Sept. 7 @ LA Sports Arena MONDAY MORNING QB (WASHINGTON STATE) Monday, Sept. 9 @ Galen Center CARDINAL & GOLD PRE-GAME PICNIC VS. BC Saturday, Sept. 14 @ LA Sports Arena MONDAY MORNING QB (BOSTON COLLEGE) Monday, Sept. 16 @ Galen Center CARDINAL & GOLD PRE-GAME 8PICNIC VS. USU Saturday, Sept. 21 @ LA Sports Arena

Non-Profit Organization US Postage PAID University of Southern California

MONDAY MORNING QB (UTAH STATE) Monday, Sept. 23 @ Galen Center MONDAY MORNING QB (ARIZONA STATE) Monday, Sept. 30 @ Galen Center

OCT

CARDINAL & GOLD PRE-GAME PICNIC VS UNIV. OF ARIZONA Thursday, Oct. 10 @ LA Sports Arena

USC BASKETBALL SALUTE TO TROY Sunday, Oct. 27 @ Galen Center MONDAY MORNING QB (UTAH) Monday, Oct. 28 @ Galen Center

NOV

MONDAY MORNING QB (OREGON STATE) Monday, Nov. 4 @ Galen Center MONDAY MORNING QB (CALIFORNIA) Monday, Nov. 11 @ Galen Center

MONDAY MORNING QB (ARIZONA) Monday, Oct. 14 @ Galen Center

CARDINAL & GOLD PRE-GAME PICNIC VS. STANFORD Saturday, Nov. 16 @ LA Sports Arena

USC VS. NOTRE DAME TROJAN EXPRESS TRAIN Saturday, Oct. 19 @ Chicago, IL

MONDAY MORNING QB (STANFORD) Monday, Nov. 18 @ Galen Center

MONDAY MORNING QB (NOTRE DAME) Monday, Oct. 21 @ Galen Center

MONDAY MORNING QB (COLORADO) Monday, Nov. 25 @ Galen Center

CARDINAL & GOLD PRE-GAME PICNIC VS. UTAH Saturday, Oct. 26 @ LA Sports Arena

CARDINAL & GOLD PRE-GAME PICNIC VS. UCLA Saturday, Nov. 30 @ LA Sports Arena