Q 01/05

USC opened in 1880, a year before which institution?

A) Griffith Observatory

B) Hollywood Bowl

C) Los Angeles Times

D) Union Station

Answer · why

C) Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times. USC opened the year before the paper's first issue, with just 53 students and 10 teachers, in a pioneer town of little more than 10...

Q 02/05

Which judge led the effort to found USC, securing land and donations from early Los Angeles figures?

A) Robert M. Widney

B) Ozro Childs

C) George F. Bovard

D) Edward L. Doheny

Answer · why

A) Robert M. Widney

Robert M. Widney. The university stayed in the family: his younger brother Joseph became its second president in 1892.

Q 03/05

USC was originally operated in affiliation with which church?

A) Methodist

B) Baptist

C) Episcopal

D) Presbyterian

Answer · why

A) Methodist

Methodist. Its early teams were simply called the Methodists or the Wesleyans, nicknames that university officials never liked.

Q 04/05

Which future Western film star played football for USC in the 1920s?

A) Gary Cooper

B) John Wayne

C) Gene Autry

D) Roy Rogers

Answer · why

B) John Wayne

John Wayne. He found work shifting props at the Fox studio, where director John Ford befriended him and began casting him in bit parts.

Q 05/05

What are USC's official colours?

A) Blue and gold

B) Scarlet and grey

C) Crimson and cream

D) Cardinal and gold

Answer · why

D) Cardinal and gold

Cardinal and gold. When USC beats UCLA, the carriage of the Victory Bell is painted cardinal for the year; a Bruin win turns it blue.