This gives new meaning to Fight On.
Parched USC fans could wield a new weapon in the battle to stay refreshed for the team’s season opener on a sweltering Saturday afternoon.
It was made of plastic, came with a red handle and was designed to quench the thirst for a cold one.
The Trojan Beer Sword.
Below Tunnel 12 at the Coliseum about an hour and a half before kickoff against San Jose State, USC fan Sandy Garcia engaged in what might become a cherished new game-day ritual.
Garcia picked up a 20-ounce cup of Modelo Especial and poured about half of it into the “blade” portion of the sword, a foamy head extending halfway up the translucent plastic.
She moved the tip to her mouth and took a hearty sip, a refreshing antidote for an uncomfortable afternoon.
“On a hot day, cold beer, awesome,” Garcia told the California Post before flashing a two-finger Victory Salute.
The beer swords were just one of a handful of new concessions offerings, which also included a Coliseum popcorn bucket, a mini-cooler filled with one’s beverage of choice and a drum filled with loaded fries.
But nothing generated buzz quite like the beer sword.
“Oh, the youngsters are going to love this,” Garcia said while holding hers as several family members standing nearby broke out into laughter. “Us old ones, too.”
There were the usual opening-game kinks regarding a new item that had to be sorted out. Many beer stands didn’t sell the swords and one that did made customers wait while a supervisor input the pricing into the electric sales system.
Even though the sword doesn’t come with a top — dissuading one potential customer — Garcia said it wasn’t a problem.
“Just be careful,” she said after putting the $31.83 charge on her card and adding a hearty tip. “Don’t go crazy.”
For those who were able to get their hands on the new hot item, it was love at first sip.
