October 2015 (1) Candygrams

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Sunday, October 11, 2015---USC Basketball Trojan Tip-Off

Trojan Candy arrived early at the USC Basketball Trojan Tip-Off in Galen Center. The first thousand fans each received a goodie bag. In the bag was a Jack-in-the-Box coupon for a free hamburger. Not bad!

The Galen Center lobby looked empty, but only because there was a long line for the free personalized hats.

After the first five hundred kids received their basketballs, the lobby became very noisy. In spite of the now "chaos" in the lobby, I was able to take pictures of the USC Dance Force Team and the Song Girls.

Dance Force
Dance Force
Song Girls
Song Girls
Song Girls
More Song Girls

Trojan Candy walked inside the arena to find where my husband Jim was saving our seats. I saw two friends.

Kent and Connor Hollenbeck
Kent Hollenbeck and his son Connor stopped to chat.
Tony Fox
Then, friend and Assistant Band Director Tony Fox did a silly pose for me.
Right after I took Tony's picture, I saw some men basketball players walk out of the dressing room tunnel. Trojan Candy was able to walk over to each player, get a hug and a picture.
Jordan McLaughlin and Darion Clark
Jordan McLaughlin (5/26/2015) and Darion Clark (3/30/2015)
Katin Reinhardt and Carole Zide
Katin Reinhardt and friend Carole Zide
Kurt Karis, Malik Martin, Samer Dhillon and Malik Marquetti
Kurt Karis, Malik Martin, Samer Dhillon (3/26/2014) and Malik Marquetti

I followed the team out to the lobby where fans surrounded the players for pictures and autographs.

Nikola Jovanovic and Julian Jacobs
Nikola Jovanovic (3/26/2014) and Julian Jacobs (3/30/2015)
Samer Dhillon, Luis Gavrilovic, Chimezie Metu, and Kurt Karis
Samer Dhillon, Luis Gavrilovic (11/16/2012), Chimezie Metu (8/28/2015), and Kurt Karis
Bennie Boatwright
Bennie Boatwright (8/28/2015)
Shaqquan Aaron and Malik Martin
Shaqquan Aaron and Malik Martin
Michael Furuta and Sam Chow
Now it was time for Trojan Candy to go back to the arena. Two friends sat right behind me. I went up to say hello to Michael Furuta and Sam Chow.
Women of Troy
The Women of Troy were scheduled for an exhibition. They were introduced in the video above.
Women of Troy
Then, they posed for a dance presentation.
Women of Troy
Above is a video of their dance.

The Women of Troy exhibition featured practice sets. They were very precise. FIGHT ON, Women of Troy Basketball!

After the Women of Troy exhibition, there was a three-point shooting competition between the men and the women. Each person could shoot up to five balls from five three point shooting locations.

Aliyah Mazyck, D.J. Malski and Bennie Boatwright
D.J. Malski introduced Aliyah Mazyck who competed for the Women and Bennie Boatwright who represented the Men in the three point shooting contest.
Women of Troy
The Women of Troy cheered for Aliyah!
Men of Troy
The Men of Troy watched as Aliyah competed.

Aliyah kept it close but Bennie prevailed in this competition.

Now, it was the men's turn on the court.

Men of Troy
The men were introduced in this video.
After they were introduced, the men warmed up, Trojan Candy was able to take two pictures of dunks.
Katin Reinhardt
Katin Reinhardt dunks.
Luis Gavrilovic
Luis Gavrilovic dunks.
Jessica Davis
Before the men's scrimmage, Trojan Candy saw a dear friend, Women of Troy Track Alumna Jessica Davis (1/21/2011). It is always so nice to see her! FIGHT ON, Jessica!
Men of Troy
Now, the men's scrimmage was fast and furious.
Men of Troy
Men of Troy scrimmage.
They ran a high-flying offense from one end of the court to the other. FIGHT ON, Men's Basketball!
Barry
On the sidelines, Trojan Candy took a picture of a former coach Barry.
Cynthia Cooper
Here's Coach Cynthia Cooper on the move.
Pep Squad
The Pep Squad
Spirit of Troy
The Spirit of Troy
When the men's scrimmage ended, fans went to the second level to get autographs.
Sean Jordan
Thanks to Sean Jordan, Trojan Candy was able to take pictures of both teams before the autograph lines started.
Alexis Lloyd and Aliyah Mazyck
Alexis Lloyd and Aliyah Mazyck
Candela Abejon and Khaedin Taito
Candela Abejon and Khaedin Taito
Aliyah Mazyck, Kristen Simon and Marguerite Effa
Aliyah Mazyck, Kristen Simon and Marguerite Effa
Brianna Barrett and Temi Fagbenle
Brianna Barrett and Temi Fagbenle
Sadie Edwards and Courtney Jaco
Sadie Edwards and Courtney Jaco
Nikola Jovanovic and Luis Gavrilovic
Nikola Jovanovic and Luis Gavrilovic
Samer Dhillon and Kurt Karis
Samer Dhillon and Kurt Karis
Darion Clark and Julian Jacobs
Darion Clark and Julian Jacobs
Bennie Boatwright and Chimezie Metu
Bennie Boatwright and Chimezie Metu
Malik Marquetti and Elijah Stewart
Malik Marquetti and Elijah Stewart (3/30/2015)
Jordan McLaughlin and Katin Reinhardt
Jordan McLaughlin and Katin Reinhardt
Malik Martin and Malik Marquetti
Malik Martin and Malik Marquetti
Shaqquan Aaron and Jordan McLaughlin
Shaqquan Aaron and Jordan McLaughlin
Friend
In the lobby, Trojan Candy took this picture of a Heritage Hall friend.

What a fun, exciting day!

Fortunately, it wasn't over yet. After the Tip-Off ended, my husband Jim and I went to the Women of Troy "Taste of Italy" in the Founder's Room. Coach Cynthia Cooper spoke about the upcoming team trip to Italy next year. Then, she took us on a tour of the Women of Troy locker room.

Hallway at game time
At game time, red lights are turned on in the hallway from the locker room to the court for both the men and women.
Locker room mural
Inside the women's locker room there are murals of former great Trojans
Locker room mural
Mural with Cynthia Cooper
Reminders
A reminder of how to be champions.
Reminders
Another reminder of how to be champions
Cheryl Miller plaque
Beside each locker was a plaque recognizing the donor for that locker. Cheryl Miller's is one of several lockers donated by our 1983 and 1984 NCAA Champions.
Trojan Candy
Jessika Carrington took this picture of yours truly in the locker room. Yes, the ceiling is a bit low. Thanks, Jessika. Very impressive!
South wall of practice gym
Our tour ended in the Women of Troy practice gym upstairs. Here is the south wall of the gym. Notice the two red banners in the center of the picture.
1984 Championship banner
Those are the original NCAA Championship Banners for 1983 and 1984. Here's the 1984 one.

1983 and 1984 Championship bannersAt the north wall are the two banners that my husband Jim and I donated to hang in the arena to commemorate the two championships. They were hung in the arena for only three games in 2013.

Aliyah MazyckBack in the Founder's Room, two new Women of Troy players sat at our table. They were Aliyah Mazyck and Temi Fagbenle. Naturally, Trojan Candy interviewed both of them. Freshman Aliyah was pursued by several other universities, among them were Stanford, Texas A&M, Louisville, Rutgers and Florida State. Aliyah said that she was very close to her mother, but she wanted to be more independent. So she left Charlotte, North Carolina, to come to USC. She hasn't decided on her major yet but hopes to work in some capacity of sports marketing after graduation. More personally, Aliyah's favorite food is shrimp Alfredo pasta. She told me that her hobby is to play ball. Aliyah likes scary movies. Another new friend after my own heart! Her favorite music artist is Beyonce. FIGHT ON, Aliyah!

Temi FagbenleMy second new friend, Temi Fagbenle, is a graduate student majoring in Strategic Public Relations at USC. She earned an undergraduate degree in Anthropology from Harvard. She was born in Ibadan, Nigeria, where her family still resides. She has eleven siblings! Temi told me that, when she was young, her favorite sport to play was tennis. She lived most of her life in London and came to the USA when she was fifteen to play basketball. She has two brothers and some other family who live in Los Angeles. More personally, Temi said that she likes to sing, dance and act. She has moved to the perfect city to pursue her dreams! Her favorite music is jazz and soulful blues. Another dream is to play in the WNBA. Lastly, her favorite food is Nigerian food, because it is more tasty and flavorful. Perhaps, Trojan Candy can try some one day! FIGHT ON, Temi!

Cake
Members of the Women of Troy served pieces from this cake.
Women of Troy
The 2015-2016 Women of Troy Basketball Team bids you, "Arrivederci!"

Sunday, October 4, 2015---First Annual Spirit of Troy Pep Rally

My husband Jim and I found a parking space about a block from Shane Foley's home, where the first Spirit of Troy Pep Rally was being held.

After checking in, we walked around the side of his home to the back yard. Shane's back yard is massive and terraced at many levels.

We got our hamburgers at the top level and sat down under one of the tents at the bottom level. Some of the furniture was wet because of the showers earlier in the morning.

Fight On
We finished eating just in time. We heard the familiar cadence. The Song Girls, Drum Major Chase Wagoner, Dr. Bartner and the Pep Band marched in to the brick patio area. Click the thumbnail above to watch the Pep Band perform "Fight On" for us.
Arthur Bartner
Dr. Bartner addressed the audience.
Song Girls
The Spirit of Troy and Song Girls performed two more songs for us. Click the thumbnail above to watch the first song.
Song Girls
Click the thumbnail above to watch them perform the second song.
Shane Foley
Host Shane Foley was introduced. He thanked everyone for coming and told us that this Pep Rally is the first of five annual rallies that he will be hosting at his home.
Chase Wagoner with Farrell and Shane Foley
Then, the Spirit of Troy awarded this beautiful trophy to Shane and his wife Farrell.
Shane Foley
Shane posed for yours truly before the band finished its Pep Rally.
Silks
As The Spirit of Troy marched off the patio, Trojan Candy took this picture of the Silks.
Spirit of Troy
My husband Jim took this video of the Spirit of Troy leaving.
Song Girls and Drum Major
Just before we left, I took this picture of the Song Girls and Drum Major.
FIGHT ON, Spirit of Troy!