The untold stories

Rodney Peete is known by USC football fans for his play as quarterback in the Coliseum three decades ago. But, his ventures on the field didn't stop after the fans went home.

“We snuck into the Coliseum and took golf carts to ride around on down to the field. We sat on the field drinking and talking until four in the morning before my senior year,” said Rodney Peete, former quarterback for USC from 1985-1989. The night ended with them jumping off the diving platforms at the pool and sleeping in front of Tommy Trojan.

As far as the player perspective, the power of the Coliseum translates to the field. To them, it’s more than a stadium to play football but holds memories outside of the sport.

Many people forget that these athletes were students, too. Their memories in the Coliseum and at USC were made when they were between the ages of 18-22. Some core memories of their growing up were spent in that building.

“I worked at the Coliseum for a summer, touching up the paint. We would sneak down to the commercial sets and meet all of the famous actors and directors. We also never really painted anything,” said Jeremy Hogue, former USC football lineman from 1993-1995.

Not only do these players reflect on their playing time with a smile on their faces, but their memories outside of football in the Coliseum add to the fondness of the place. When questions were asked about the Coliseum, each player lit up when reminiscing on their days playing for USC.

The USC football history

While the Coliseum has been home to many different sporting events over its centennial, there has always been one constant: USC football.

The LA Coliseum has been home to USC Football since its opening. The first event held at the Coliseum was the Rose Bowl where USC defeated Penn State in a 14-3 victory on January 1, 1923. The official opening was not until May of that year.

“You can go on and on and just list USC Trojans and never run out of names,” said LA Coliseum CEO Joe Furin. “Whether it was Marcus Allen or Anthony Davis. Legendary coaches like John McKay or John Robinson. That list alone is impressive.”

A common theme among the players is the power of the tunnel. With the winding strip down from the locker rooms, the field and the opening to the peristyles is hidden until you reach the bottom.

"One thing that never changed over the years was the tunnel," said Hogue. "Walking down that tunnel with the uniform on, taking the field. It's a feeling like no other."

Peete says that other teams would be intimidated by the entrance down the tunnel.

"You've got a responsibility to uphold the tradition because of all the players that came before you," said Peete.

The overarching history

Peete used the word “magical” over and over when describing the feeling of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Peete was the quarterback at USC just a summer after the Olympic Games were held in LA and a month before Bruce Springsteen concluded his “Born in the USA” world tour.

"Everywhere around the country, they're building new stadiums left and right," said Peete. "They were able to keep the Coliseum and keep the integrity of the Coliseum with all the events that have happened there."

Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at the Human Dignity Event. Pope John Paul II held mass. Dozens of musical artists like the Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd performed with the arena sold out. John F. Kennedy and Franklin D. Roosevelt held their presidential acceptance speeches.

From boxing matches to baseball games to ski jump contests, the multitude of sporting events that have taken place in this building is something of note. As the home of the 1984 Olympic Games, the arena has seen the most elite athletes in all realms of sports.

"The Coliseum is old, but holds so much tradition," said Hogue. "The '84 Olympics were a very vibrant memory of my childhood. To play in that same stadium was unreal."

Jackie Robinson made his debut as a Los Angeles Dodger, being the first African American to play in the MLB. The intersection of sports history with social change is just one of the great memories to take place at the monument.

Several Super Bowls have been played. The LA Marathon is based at the Coliseum. International soccer was again brought to America with Real Madrid vs. Man City.

The Coliseum is one of four athletic buildings that is deemed a historical landmark.

The sports history is still growing as NASCAR now has their opening race at the building and the Coliseum will host the LA 2028 Olympics.

The shared history

As someone who manages the building and sees all the events that are hosted, Furin loves reflecting on USC football and the community that has been built at the Coliseum.

“You see generations upon generations of families coming together on game days and enjoying the Coliseum. They’ve enjoyed it for years and that’s really what makes it great,” said Furin.

Furin and the former players mention the atmosphere at the Coliseum. Peete said he loves returning to the Coliseum on Saturdays for game days and getting to enjoy the tailgates that he never could partake in as a player himself.

“I couldn’t wait to retire from the NFL and go back to games with my buddies and tailgate and do all the things we weren’t able to do when we were players,” said Peete.

Hogue spent quality time at the Coliseum with his family on Saturdays. With me being his daughter, I went to my first USC football game when I was one month old. My childhood is in that Coliseum. I have some of the fondest memories bonding with my dad over USC football.

Being able to report post-game, Hogue has had the opportunity to be in the Coliseum as a player and a reporter. For me, I saw my dad reporting on the field and wanted to do that one day. My love of sports stems from the Coliseum.

"It was very fun to take my family back. Show you the tunnel," said Hogue.

The Coliseum is a “magical” place to many. From fans who have spent years at the venue to USC football players who played on the grass themselves, it is clear that the stadium is cherished. With the Coliseum being renewed for another 100 years by USC, there is bound to be more stories, both told and unknown, unfolding in the next centennial.