Newport-Mesa fights on for Trojan football

Marisa O’Neil

Depending where your allegiances lie, Wednesday’s workday was an

insufferable experience or the perfect opportunity to gloat.

If your veins bleed cardinal and gold and your phone ringer chimes

“Fight On” to announce incoming calls, Wednesday -- the first day as

2004 National Champions after USC’s 55-19 rout over Oklahoma -- was

the time to bask in the Trojans’ glory. If you root for the Sooners,

Bruins or just about any other team, well, there’s always next year.

For now and, technically, for the second year in a row, Trojan

football is king.

“We’re all fired up,” Newport Beach resident and 2002 grad Dylan

Gormly said. “It’s great to have that [national championship],

especially to hold over little Bruins’ heads.”

Trojan fans are nothing if not loyal fans, and they are plentiful

in Newport-Mesa.

That’s no coincidence, said 1949 graduate and former USC and NFL

football player Paul Salata, who founded Mr. Irrelevant week to

celebrate the last pick in the NFL’s draft.

“It’s a stronghold for alumni and supporters and USC activities,”

Salata said of Newport-Mesa. “It’s a great place to live. Most

Trojans are pretty successful and can live wherever they want. And

they want to live here. They’re not dumb.”

The county has clubs for alumni, football supporters and informal

networking that help Trojans get settled and get ahead in their

careers, he said.

Some folks are even starting a club specifically for USC graduates

working in the real estate business, Gormly said.

Those who could winged their way to Miami to see the game in

person. Corona del Mar resident and Orange County Deputy Dist. Atty.

Susan Schroeder, a USC alum, called the atmosphere at the Orange Bowl

“electric.”

“It was amazing,” she said. “I’ve been following USC football

since I was in college, through the bad years and the good years. It

was the most amazing football game and performance I’ve ever seen.”

And championship games bring out the bandwagon fans as well as the

die-hards. Trojan alumni-owned Sharkeez in Newport Beach was packed

to the gills Tuesday night with USC fans, and a few Sooners, watching

the game, manager Jerry Burdine said.

Despite a little friendly ribbing back and forth, Trojan and

Sooner fans kept their rivalry relatively calm in the bar, he said.

“We had no problems,” Burdine said. “We didn’t even kick out one

person. Some of the comments made were pretty funny. Somebody told a

Sooner fan, ‘You couldn’t even spell USC.’”

Those hoping to wear the spoils of their victory will be in luck

today, said Lisa Gipe, assistant manager of USC Collections at South

Coast Plaza. Orange Bowl merchandise went on sale for half price the

day after the big win, she said.

National Championship merchandise, including shirts, hats,

glassware and other items, goes on sale at the store today, and new

stock will continue to arrive throughout the next week.

It’s perfect attire for USC to taunt those Bruin fans at work.

“If you live in California, you either cheer for the USC Trojans

or the Bruins,” Gipe said.

* MARISA O’NEIL covers

public safety and courts. She

may be reached at (714) 966-4618

or by e-mail at marisa.oneil @latimes.com.