LB Trojans Party Before USC-Notre Dame Game

About 100 guests are expected at the popular annual tailgate party thrown by the USC Alumni Club of Long Beach before the Trojans meet the No. 1-ranked Fighting Irish at the Coliseum field.

Only three years old, the local chapter of alumni has about 100 members but the tailgate party balloons in size on a big game like Saturday's, in which USC looks to recover some glory after a lackluster season.

Saturday's feast of fun goes from noon to 4:30 p.m. Kick-off is 5 p.m. And on the heels of USC's defeat to cross-town rival UCLA last weekend, a lot is riding on the match with its biggest cross-country rival Notre Dame. 

So it is game on, "Fight On," and party on for the Long Beach chapter. 

Fitting for Small Business Saturday, said club president Erika Crespo, "we're partnering with Earlez Grille (located in LA) and Long Beach favorite District Wine to host a tailgate for all Trojan alums, family, friends, and supporters."

An all-you-can-eat-and-drink spread costs $30. A raffle and part of the ticket price will go to the chapter's Scholarship Fund.

"The main purpose of our club (besides bringing together Trojans in the Long Beach area) is to raise funds for local students in need who will be or are currently attending USC," said Crespo, class of 2007.

The Long Beach club was founded by Crespo and current vice president Peter Maes, class of 2008. 

"In only 3 years we've grown from an idea to a club to a family," Crespo said Friday. "We take pride in our University and we take pride in our city, and we constantly work to grow and improve both.  

Here is more info about Saturday's event, including a map of its location on campus.

Correction: an earlier story had the wrong number of guests expected.