More than a dozen members of the USC Alumni Club of North Texas welcomed the Trojans at the team hotel when they arrived near 11 p.m. on the Wednesday night before their Thursday game against Minnesota.
The team was completely surprised by the surprise Alumni welcome as the club turned the lobby of the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas into something that resembled a USC game watching party. The USC Alumni Club of North Texas banner was hung over the front desk, Trojan Pom-Pons were placed everywhere as well as cardinal and gold balloons and care packages with candy and nuts were made for the team. After the initial shock, the team mingled with the Trojan alums, and took pictures with us.
Special thanks to Bob Arrington, Ginger Swallow, Sheri Martinez, Bill Mitchell, David Meadows, Christy Zegub and Charlie Daniel for all of their help in decorating and welcoming the Women of Troy volleyball team.
On Thursday night, the Trojans easily handled Minnesota and then on Saturday in the national championship game, handled the Florida Gators, 3-1, to finish the season 35-0 and win back-to-back national championships!
After the national championship game, members of the USC Alumni Club of North Texas and members of the USC Band, along with members of the team celebrated in Dallas’ West End entertainment area.
Within two weeks of the victory, the Trojan football team won a share of the National Championship at the Rose Bowl beating Michigan, and in the spring of 2004, both the football team and the women’s volleyball team headed for the Washington, D.C. for what President Bush called “Champions Day at the White House” to recognize both national championships.