Bye Pac Conference

My first job outside the home  
usher for UCLA/ USC football  
back then known as the Pac 10
I knew the Coliseum well
 
Both mom dad studied at USC
(Westwood was off limits for people of color back then)
my brother briefly coached at SC  
and the school was a walk away from the grandparents  
 
Alternative Saturdays  my dad and then I  
worked as Trojan/ Bruin game staff  
eventually added Pauley Pavilion  
and the 84 Olympics  
 
Always fun to see Pac 10 battles  
USC legend in football  
UCLA in basketball  
but always hot competition  
no matter the sport  
 
Cross state or crosstown rivalries  
at every university in the Pac  
big Goliath number one rank in country  
along comes David…
 
Called the conference of champions  
excellence across every sport
sans ice hockey  
conference often over looked  
by people In bed in a later time zone  
 
The student athletes
95% graduation rate while Wooden  
was in Westwood  
similar numbers across sports  
at Stanford, UC Berkeley  
 
And at one time freshman in basketball couldn’t play varsity  
shock of a nation when UCLA’s men  
the reigning national championships
lost to Kareem’s first year team  
 
The snow games, the last minute plays  
that Cal/Stanford game  
where a band member is knocked down for the score  
 
Stopped ushering and moved to Oregon  
but always retained that desire to see
the Pac 12 shine  
now having friends who were involved  
 
Go on, Washington, Washington St.
never is too late
Oregon St. and Oregon surprising people is their fun  
UCLA and USC sadly no longer Pac will you be  
Stanford and California typically ready to play  
Arizona and Arizona St. always speedy of the gate  
The youngsters from Colorado and Utah  
keep eye on them too
or risk your mood turning blue  
 
Thank you for the fun times throughout the years