Big 12 Head Coach Throws Shade at USC's Low Crowd Turnout
A college football head coach referenced the attendance at USC's home opener when expecting more fans at his school's game.
The college football community observed a stark drop in attendance for USC's opening game on Saturday, with just 51,144 fans in attendance for a 42-26 victory over San Jose State. This turnout represented a significant decline from USC's previous seasons under head coach Lincoln Riley. However, the sparse crowd was evidently underwhelming, as evidenced by the ample empty seats and the heat of a 94-degree afternoon at kickoff.
USC's Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire, speaking on Monday, expressed admiration for USC's fans but noted the difference in atmosphere when playing in Lubbock, Texas, where they anticipate a lively crowd of 60,000. McGuire emphasized the unwavering support of West Texas football fans, who would turn out regardless of weather conditions, unlike the tepid response to USC's game in Los Angeles.
USC began the season ranked 14th, and the low attendance undoubtedly affected the debut of Jayden Maiava's Heisman campaign, as he completed only 25 of his 29 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns on Saturday. The university acknowledged the factors contributing to the reduced attendance in a later statement to USA Today, citing their high expectations and premier home schedule for the season.
USC attributed the limited crowd size to various influences and expressed gratitude to the fans who did participate, while promising improved attendance as the season progresses. The next matchup, against Fresno State on Friday at 9 p.m. ET, is expected to draw a more substantial crowd based on expectations.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
