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		It’s funny how everything changes when USC comes to town By Michelle Touson December 26, 2009

	I’ve been covering the Emerald Bowl since 2004 when Navy ran through the University of New Mexico 34-19. I’ve been giving my take on the games and having fun watching this Bowl game grow. Today’s game is a real treat, or is it. The University of Southern California is here to play Boston College. I don’t think the Trojans can remember when they played in a non-BCS bowl game. Well I can (with assistance from Google)! It was the 2001 Las Vegas Bowl and 6-5 Trojans lost to the 7-4 Utah Utes. I’m gonna tell you there is something really different about this game. Could it be the fact that USC the perennial college football powerhouse is playing in a bowl game that wasn’t on their radar. You know at the beginning of the season USC was like . . . “Man I can’t wait to play in the Rose Bowl this year either for the National Championship or just cause we continue to run the Pac-10.” Who’d a thunk it? The USC Trojans playing in a non-BCS bowl game. Man, what is the world coming to? Now for the Emerald Bowl folks you could not have given them a better Christmas present. And I’m here to tell you they didn’t drop the ball. They put on an event that was a joy to the end unless you were the Boston College fan. The stands were full, the game was the best yet, and USC and Boston College put on a good show. There was not lopsided victory here 52 minutes of good football. The Trojans coming out victorious with a 24-13 win. Don’t think that Boston College fans were out in full force. The throngs of USC fans didn’t drown out their cheers or jeers throughout the game. The press box is full with nationally known sports columnists from Los Angeles are here, and their fans are looking in the window and chanting their names through the window. It just doesn’t have that little bowl that could flavor anymore. We have now hit the big time. Oh yeah, I’m supposed to be talking about the game. Could this game have anymore subplots? USC has a star running back that unable to play because he couldn’t prove that the Range Rover he was driving was his girlfriend’s. Which made the situation even funnier when I saw a Land Rover commercial come on during one of the television timeouts? BC has a senior, linebacker, Mark Herlitz who on the sidelines cheering because he is recovering from a form of cancer called Ewing’s Sarcoma. Throw in the fact that these teams are from Los Angeles and Boston, and you’ve got Lakers/Celtics all over again. I don’t want to minimize what Boston College did on the field they played their hearts out and were in the game till the end. But, let’s (as the kids say) keep it real. The Trojans brought fanfare, spectacle, and Pete Carroll to this year’s Emerald Bowl. Just what it need to let the viewing public know that it will be back next year, and you never know what team is going to show up. I know I’ll be there, hope you will be there too.