A Legendary Coach,A Legendary Band

When the Trojans upset No.4 Stanford at the Coliseum on November 16,2013,Trojan fans rushed the field and crushed around Coach Ed Orgeron near midfield.Struggling through the throng,he boomed an order to everyone within earshot,"Let`s go to the band.Everybody go to the band!"After he pushed his way to the east endzone,he celebrated the win by hoisting the drum major`s sword above his head for a loud rendition of "Conquest!"
It was the pinnacle of a special relationship between the Trojan Marching Band and "Coach O" that began long before his ascension to interim head coach during the tumultuous 2013 season.In fact,Coach O`s respect for The Spirit of Troy and love for USC began 15 years before when he was mentored by one of the greatest Trojans of all time: Marv Goux.As he said in a November press conference:
"When I first came here,Marv Goux- the great Trojan assistant-told me,"Son,the band is part of the football team.They`re our heartbeat,and you treat them as such,`and Art Bartner is just like an assistant coach here on the team.And I love that.We love the band,we love the cheerleaders,we love the crowd,we love everybody...they`re part of our family."
Born and bred in Louisiana,Ed Orgeron had never coached west of the Mississippi when he was hired by head coach Paul Hackett in 1998.He coached the Trojans defensive line for two years and was one of a select few coaches retained when Pete Carroll took over in 2000.Carroll soon promoted Coach O to recruiting coordinator then assistant head coach.Carroll reinvigorated the relationship between the football team and the band especially at the Friday night "Jock Rallies" before home games.A fiery speech by Coach O was always a highlight with his inspirational exhortations made nearly indecipherable by his thick Cajun accent.He embraced the band as equals with the football team and the band loved him back.Band members added a drawn-out "Coach O" vocal to the Offspring song"Neocon" that the band played in the stands.It became his theme song.In return,Coach O gave leadership lessons to the band`s upperclassmen at band camp.
Coach O left USC for a time to be head coach of Mississippi but when he returned to campus for a visit,he made a point of visiting the band on Cromwell Field.For cymbal player Elizabeth So,it was a poignant moment."He came back and specifically visited the Trojan Marching Band during our practice to say he loved us and missed us.It`s my favorite Coach O memory."
Fast-forward to 2013 and the mid-season firing of Lane Kiffin.The "Coach O" chant was quickly resurrected and the band learned to play the hip hop hit"Halftime(Stand Up & Get Crunk)" he used to fire up the team before games.The Jock Rallies became full of energy and fun again and the Trojans` fortunes on the field followed.
The burst of Trojan spirit was not a coincidence.Coach O and Dr. Bartner were both mentored by Marv Goux.It fostered a special connection between the two.Before the Notre Dame game,Coach O took a moment with Dr. Bartner on the field to reflect on their friend."Marv really loved this game{with the Irish),"he said."He`d be proud of us."
After the big road win over Oregon State,Coach O was lifted up onto the shoulders of the football team at the 50-yard line but he really wanted the team and the band to celebrate together.Coach O ran over to the visitor`s section of Reser Stadium and Dr.Bartner gave him the sword to lead"Conquest!"
A couple of weeks later,leading up to the Stanford game,he sent each band member an individually addressed envelope with a card inside.It read:"The Trojan Marching Band is the heartbeat of the Trojan Family.Thank you for your support and hard work.Let`s rock the Coliseum Saturday!"It was an unprecedented act by a unique coach and members were genuinely touched.When Coach Orgeron left the university in December,it was a heartbreaking moment for band members who responded with a signed thank you note of their own. Like his mentor Marv Goux,Coach O shaped a new generation of Trojans.As one band member put it:"You taught me what it means to be a Trojan.Fight On Forever! Story by Bret Padelford