That giant bright light climbing into the sky over UCLA on Tuesday night? That large, round object threatening to eclipse Bruins basketball normalcy? Full Majerus rising.
Fifty calendar years after its only Final Four appearance, USC is making its first serious effort to return.
Fifty long years after yielding the floor to the Bruins, the Trojans will stalk back wearing high-top Chucks and old-fashioned smarts.
His name is Rick Majerus. He’s more of a circle than a pyramid. He’s anything but wooden.
But, my, how he can coach basketball. And, goodness, it’s been a long time coming.
By announcing Majerus as their new coach, the Trojans made two other statements that for 50 years have been lost beneath the rattling of helmets and crunching of pads. They are serious about the Final Four. And they are serious about the guys next door.
With their new arena scheduled to open in 2006, they now have an imposing doorman with serious bling-bling.
Even with his reduced size, if anybody is big enough to alter a petrified local college basketball landscape, it’s Majerus.
If he can win by recruiting in Salt Lake City, how much more can he win by recruiting in the Southland?
Majerus, 56, is taking this job because privately he has told friends that USC was the best sleeper job in the country.
And this was before the new arena was being built.
All the Trojans needed was a salesman. They finally have one.