The State of Troy | Nov. 27: Giving Thanks To The Trojan Family

USC Athletics | November 27, 2024

Trojan Family,

There is no month like November in college athletics. Fall sports are in full force, winter competitions are underway, and the planning, preparation, and training for spring programs is only increasing. Our student-athletes are hard at work, and their competitive spirit – in the classroom, in competition, and across the community – continues to inspire us all. All the while, our entire staff is hard at work supporting their efforts, and I am so grateful for their commitment to USC Athletics.

With Thanksgiving upon us, I wanted to share some of the things I am most thankful for in this edition of The State of Troy. While every day in college athletics brings new challenges, it’s important for us to reflect on our wins, align in our shared purpose – to serve as the unmatched, unquestioned place to be for student-athletes to reach their fullest potential in all that they do – and remember how blessed we are to support our student-athletes, celebrate our traditions, and connect with our community.

Here is what I am thankful for this year:

The Generosity and Togetherness of the Trojan Family

Earlier this month, we celebrated the groundbreaking of the Bloom Football Performance Center, named following an incredible gift of $50 million from the Ronald H. Bloom family. To date, five Cornerstone gifts of $10 million or more have lifted the fundraising total for the Athletics West projects to $157 million of our $225 million goal.

These generous contributions include gifts from more than 30 donors, including the Bloom Family, the Argyros Family Foundation, Robert and Perri Bishop, Chad and Cari Peets, and other generous Trojans.

I also want to thank House of Victory for continuing to help our student-athletes maximize their NIL opportunities. The NIL space shifts and evolves daily, making headlines and creating confusion externally, but having a robust, well-run, and aligned collective is a competitive advantage for USC. The stakes are high to adapt and grow in the NIL era, which is why we are so grateful to everyone who has helped HoV and why your support in this area remains incredibly impactful.

Philanthropic giving is the lifeblood of college athletics, and I am always moved by the generosity of the Trojan Family. What inspires me most is how…