Why Trojans?

Last I checked ancient Troy was not in Southern California, so why is the USC mascot the Trojan? In the early years USC was known as the Methodists and Wesleyans and the team struggled to establish itself, due to the low number of teams in the area and the limitations on travel. Surprisingly USC actually dropped its football program in the years 1911-1913 and started a rugby team. It was during that time that the nickname started, as the team was often overmatched by more experienced and better funded schools.

Credit is given to Owen Bird, a writer for the LA Times in 1912 calling them the Trojans with this quote, "At this time, the athletes and coaches of the university were under terrific handicaps. They were facing teams that were bigger and better-equipped, yet they had splendid fighting spirit. The name 'Trojans' fitted them." He also said, "I came out with an article prior to a showdown between USC and Stanford in which I called attention to the fighting spirit of USC athletes and named them 'Trojan' all the time, and it stuck. The term 'Trojan' as applied to USC means to me that no matter what the situation, what the odds or what the conditions, the competition must be carried on to the end and those who strive must give all they have and never be weary in doing so."

The Horse is named Traveler and the Trojan riding him is named Tommy Trojan. There is no consensus opinion on why he is named Tommy. He has a statute in campus that is often vandalized during the week of the USC-UCLA game.

USC plays in the Coliseum, which was built in 1923. I did not find a good reason for the name Coliseum, although there have been other facilities around the country with that name. I don't pretend to be a Greek or Roman history expert, but the Colosseum was in the Roman empire, and is located near modern day Rome, Italy, while the Trojan empire was located near modern day Turkey. Also wasn't Troy back in the times of the Greek empire? I don't know if USC chose the name in connection to the mascot, but it doesn't seem to fit. If anyone can figure this out, please post a comment.