Tommy Trojan, officially known as the Trojan Shrine, is one of the most recognizable figures of school pride at the University of Southern California. The life-size bronzestatue of a Trojan warrior stands in the center of campus and serves as a popular meeting spot, as well as a centerpiece for a number of campus events. It is the most popular unofficial mascot of the university.
The Trojan Shrine was sculpted by Roger Noble Burnham,[1] who used USC football players such as Russ Saunders, Ernie Pinckert, Henry Becker, Larry Stevens and John Ward as visual references for the statue.[2] It was unveiled during the University's 50th Jubilee in 1930. It cost $10,000 to build, after which a $1 surcharge was added onto the season football tickets in order to help offset this cost.
The original name suggested for the statue was The Spirit of Troy, but that name went to the school's marching band.[3]
Featuresedit
Tommy Trojan is located at the core of the campus and often serves as a meeting ground for students and visitors. Many people take pictures with the statue. The Shrine is surrounded by the Bovard Administration Building, Ronald Tutor Campus Center, and Alumni Park. Trousdale Parkway passes next to the statue. USC offers the Tommy Cam, which is a live image of the statue, with daily time-lapse videos.[4] Inscribed on the base of the statue are the five attributes of the ideal Trojan: Faithful, Scholarly, Skillful, Courageous and Ambitious. On the reverse is a plaque bearing a quote by Virgil: "Here are provided seats of meditative joy, where shall rise again the destined reign of Troy."
Vandalismedit
Tommy Trojan covered with duct tape in preparation for the UCLA football game.
USC's cross-town rival UCLA had vandalized Tommy Trojan (often by painting the statue in the UCLA colors of blue and gold) during the week of the annual USC-UCLA football game. To prevent this, university officials now cover the statue during that week to protect it from UCLA vandals. Students also gather for Save Tommy Nite on the night before the game against UCLA. In addition, members of the Trojan Knights maintain an all-night vigil around Tommy Trojan during the rivalry week to further deter would-be vandals.
Identityedit
Many people identify Tommy Trojan as the symbol of the university. However, Tommy Trojan is not USC's official mascot; that title belongs to Traveler, a white Andalusian horse. Before Traveler, a real local dog named George Tirebiter served as the unofficial mascot. A statue of the dog is also a feature of the campus.
Referencesedit
^"Roger N. Burnham, Noted Sculptor, 85, Dies". Los Angeles Times (via newspapers.com, subscription required). 16 March 1962. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
^Shmelter, Richard (April 23, 2014). The USC Trojans Football Encyclopedia. McFarland. p. 305. ISBN978-0786469505.
tommy, trojan, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, october, 200. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Tommy Trojan news newspapers books scholar JSTOR October 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message Tommy Trojan officially known as the Trojan Shrine is one of the most recognizable figures of school pride at the University of Southern California The life size bronze statue of a Trojan warrior stands in the center of campus and serves as a popular meeting spot as well as a centerpiece for a number of campus events It is the most popular unofficial mascot of the university Tommy TrojanArtistRoger Noble BurnhamMediumBronze sculpture statueLocationLos Angeles California United States Contents 1 History 2 Features 3 Vandalism 4 Identity 5 References 6 External linksHistory editThe Trojan Shrine was sculpted by Roger Noble Burnham 1 who used USC football players such as Russ Saunders Ernie Pinckert Henry Becker Larry Stevens and John Ward as visual references for the statue 2 It was unveiled during the University s 50th Jubilee in 1930 It cost 10 000 to build after which a 1 surcharge was added onto the season football tickets in order to help offset this cost The original name suggested for the statue was The Spirit of Troy but that name went to the school s marching band 3 Features editTommy Trojan is located at the core of the campus and often serves as a meeting ground for students and visitors Many people take pictures with the statue The Shrine is surrounded by the Bovard Administration Building Ronald Tutor Campus Center and Alumni Park Trousdale Parkway passes next to the statue USC offers the Tommy Cam which is a live image of the statue with daily time lapse videos 4 Inscribed on the base of the statue are the five attributes of the ideal Trojan Faithful Scholarly Skillful Courageous and Ambitious On the reverse is a plaque bearing a quote by Virgil Here are provided seats of meditative joy where shall rise again the destined reign of Troy Vandalism edit nbsp Tommy Trojan covered with duct tape in preparation for the UCLA football game USC s cross town rival UCLA had vandalized Tommy Trojan often by painting the statue in the UCLA colors of blue and gold during the week of the annual USC UCLA football game To prevent this university officials now cover the statue during that week to protect it from UCLA vandals Students also gather for Save Tommy Nite on the night before the game against UCLA In addition members of the Trojan Knights maintain an all night vigil around Tommy Trojan during the rivalry week to further deter would be vandals Identity editMany people identify Tommy Trojan as the symbol of the university However Tommy Trojan is not USC s official mascot that title belongs to Traveler a white Andalusian horse Before Traveler a real local dog named George Tirebiter served as the unofficial mascot A statue of the dog is also a feature of the campus References edit Roger N Burnham Noted Sculptor 85 Dies Los Angeles Times via newspapers com subscription required 16 March 1962 Retrieved 24 August 2020 Shmelter Richard April 23 2014 The USC Trojans Football Encyclopedia McFarland p 305 ISBN 978 0786469505 1 Archived December 18 2007 at the Wayback Machine 2 Archived June 9 2010 at the Wayback MachineExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tommy Trojan About usc edu Photographs featuring inscriptions from the base Tommy Trojan the Mascot of USC34 01 14 N 118 17 08 W 34 02051 N 118 28563 W 34 02051 118 28563 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tommy Trojan amp oldid 1159979032, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
