Dear Trojan Family,
I hope this note finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy. We can’t wait to see you in the Coliseum for the home opener against San Jose State on September 4! It will be a truly remarkable experience as our football team, students, fans, marching band, and spirit programs come together for the first time in more than a year.
Over the past week, we have welcomed back 44,000 students and nearly 12,000 employees for the fall semester. The university has worked hard to prepare our campuses to resume in-person activities, and we have a responsibility to prioritize the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff as our campuses return to full density for the first time since March 2020.
Therefore, at the recommendation of our medical experts, we have made the difficult decision not to host on-campus tailgating and other gameday activities for the USC vs. San Jose State game on September 4. Please note this change has only been made for the first game as we manage the substantial increases in campus density and in-person activities resulting from move-in week. There are no changes to pre-game activities at the Coliseum at this time. We will assess the public health situation on campus and consult with public health authorities before making decisions about future games.
To safeguard the health and safety of the university community as the university returns to in-person learning, campus access has been restricted and perimeter checks have been put in place at campus entrances. If you plan to park on or walk through campus on your way to the Coliseum on September 4, you will need to display your completed Trojan Check badge to members of our Care Crew. You can access Trojan Check here.
Finally, due to a new LA County Department of Health Public order, the Coliseum will require all fans, regardless of vaccination status, to wear face coverings or masks within the Coliseum. Facial coverings may be briefly removed while actively eating or drinking. This guidance went into effect last week and will be enforced at all venues that seat 10,000 or more spectators, including the Coliseum.
We look forward to resuming game day celebrations on campus and will provide further updates as decisions are made for the remainder of the season. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to keep the Trojan Family safe this football season! We are excited to host a full capacity crowd at our home opener!
Fight On!
Mike Bohn
Charles Griffin Cale Director of Athletics’ Chair