As exciting as it was to hear that USC was flirting with the idea of playing in Long Beach once a stadium is built at the Queen Mary site due to stalled negotiations with the Coliseum, any somewhat-knowledgable fan had to have seen this coming.

USC yesterday announced that they have entered a tentative agreement to continue playing at the Coliseum for at least 25 years, probably more.  The main point of debate – construction of new or updated facilities – seems to have come to a middle ground, as the stadium will refurnish the seats, field, drainage system and perimeter fencing.

The new deal has not yet been finalized though, and if no lease is signed within 60 days then the Trojans can continue looking for a new home.  With the threat of moving to the Rose Bowl, USC holds the upper hand.  It seems clear now that talks about the Long Beach Queen Mary site were exactly what they seemed – bluffs to force the Coliseum into action.

But for a fleeting moment, it sure was fun to think that the red & gold would one day call Long Beach “home.”