As the Usc Faithful Carpool Up the Pasadena Freeway to Visit the Rose Bowl for the Second Time in Three Years and the 30th Time in Their Storied Football History, Here Are Five Things You Should Know About the School and Their Fans:

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1. V for VictoryWhat Winston Churchill used to signal for victory in World War II, what John Lennon used for peace in the 1960s and what Richard Nixon waved above his head as he left the White House are what USC fans do with their index and middle fingers, forming a V, and thrusting it in the air to the beat of the music as Traveler prances onto the field. How did it come about? Several USC historians we asked weren't sure, but their best guess is the Churchill connection, since many don't remember seeing it before WWII. There also could be a connection to the Victory Bell, which, since the early 1940s, has gone to the winner of the annual USC- UCLA game. On the USC Web site, in a link to information for students' parents, it reminds everyone to "raise your hand and make 'V' for victory during critical plays, when the band plays 'Conquest' and the alma mater, and to greet fellow Trojans.'

2. "Conquest' vs. "Tribute to Troy' The first is the famous processional march played after every USC score and victory. It was taken from the 1947 movie, "Captain from Castile,' and adopted by the school in 1950. Alfred Newman, a legendary composer of film music, was the musical director of 20th Century Fox studios who came up with it. The second is what many opponents are most annoyed by _ that incessant stanza of pounding drums and blaring horns played after every defensive stop, and it's also the signature song for the USC band whenever it takes the field before a game. But the musical cues that occur during a USC game don't stop there. "All Right Now' is often played after USC forces a turnover. "Another One Bites the Dust' gets played after USC records a sack. "The William Tell Overture' is played at the start of the fourth quarter. And "The Emperor's Theme' from Star Wars is often played when USC is flagged for a penalty. Lately, the gongs from the AC/DC song "Hells Bells' are heard over the Coliseum speakers whenever USC's defense is trying to stop the opposition on a third down.

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As the Usc Faithful Carpool Up the Pasadena Freeway to Visit the Rose Bowl for the Second Time in Three Years and the 30th Time in Their Storied Football History, Here Are Five Things You Should Know About the School and Their Fans:

3. "Fight On' Often mistaken for the school's alma mater, this song usually is saved for first down...

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