As we celebrate "100 Years as Trojans," we have detailed the history of USC's nickname and the man who originally penned it, but the story of a man who predated it is just as compelling.
Herb Nootbaar may not have known USC as the Methodists or Cards, but he was born in 1908, four years before the Trojans came into existence. Now 103, he has lived the "Trojan for life" mantra.
Nootbaar first attended a USC football game in 1927 and has owned season tickets since 1929, which makes him the longest tenured season ticket holder. For context, the Coliseum opened in 1923, but did not host the Olympic Games until 1932.
Click here for more on Nootbaar.
He also became a fervent Trojan baseball fan during Rod Dedeaux's glory days and was later inspired by Mike Gillespie to fund the Herbert V. Nootbaar Baseball Office and Hall of Fame Complex. Now, Nootbaar is a true hardball loyalist as his great grandson Nigel Nootbaar is a freshman pitcher on Frank Cruz's squad.
Last Sunday, Herb and Nigel closed the four generation gap with one pitch. The Trojan Family's elder statesman still had enough juice to toss one to his great grandson, who smiled back with delight.
"It's amazing," Nigel Nootbaar told the Daily Breeze. "It definitely is special."
(Photos by Dan Avila)
Herb Nootbaar may not have known USC as the Methodists or Cards, but he was born in 1908, four years before the Trojans came into existence. Now 103, he has lived the "Trojan for life" mantra.
Nootbaar first attended a USC football game in 1927 and has owned season tickets since 1929, which makes him the longest tenured season ticket holder. For context, the Coliseum opened in 1923, but did not host the Olympic Games until 1932.Click here for more on Nootbaar.
He also became a fervent Trojan baseball fan during Rod Dedeaux's glory days and was later inspired by Mike Gillespie to fund the Herbert V. Nootbaar Baseball Office and Hall of Fame Complex. Now, Nootbaar is a true hardball loyalist as his great grandson Nigel Nootbaar is a freshman pitcher on Frank Cruz's squad.
Last Sunday, Herb and Nigel closed the four generation gap with one pitch. The Trojan Family's elder statesman still had enough juice to toss one to his great grandson, who smiled back with delight.
"It's amazing," Nigel Nootbaar told the Daily Breeze. "It definitely is special."
(Photos by Dan Avila)
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