When you encounter a Trojans fan, greet them by holding up two fingers in the victory sign and shout, “Fight on!” You’ll have a friend for life.

You also might witness your new friend kicking flagpoles on the way to the Coliseum. All USC fans do it for good luck.

In another tradition before every home game (and sometimes on the road), a drum major strides to the 50-yard-line and dramatically stabs the field with a sword. After a Trojans victory, a player uses the same sword to lead the band in song.

A horse named Traveler, is ridden around the Coliseum in celebration after every USC score. There have been several Travelers of various breeds since the tradition started in 1961, but the mascot’s web page says all of them have been “pure white.”

The Coliseum has been the home of numerous teams (UCLA football, the Rams, Chargers, Raiders, Dodgers) over the last century, but the Trojans literally have been there since Day 1 (Oct. 6, 1923, when USC beat Pomona College 23-7).