A Spectacular View

We're a half hour before the ND-USC kickoff and the view is spectacular. The San Gabriel Mountains -- glowing from the setting sun -- are in the distance. So is downtown L.A.

The Coliseum itself, built in 1923, was the site of the 1932 Olympic Games. USC has played here since 1923.

The temperature is cooling rapidly, but fan enthusiasm is heating up. So is the focus of representatives of the Rose, Fiesta, Sugar bowls, who are all here.

Notre Dame is almost certain to go to the Sugar Bowl (meeting either Florida, Arkansas or LSU), unless it manages to make the national title game, which is set in Phoenix (also the site of the Fiesta Bowl).

Meanwhile, for a little extra color, consider Tommy Trojan, USC's life-size bronze statue. It's covered up, not because of concern of what Notre Dame fans would do to it, but because of UCLA fans. The L.A. rivals meet next week and Bruin fans have a history of pranks against the statue in the week leading up to the game, usually by painting it in the UCLA colors. To protect against it, USC officials wrap it up for protection.