USC's football team is practicing with a new sound system that simulates crowd noise at such high decibels it is described by players and coaches as louder than an actual game day stadium.
The system, part of the $200 million Bloom Football Performance Center upgrades, utilizes three loudspeakers mounted on light poles at each corner of the practice field. This setup replaces older, less powerful portable speakers.
Coach Lincoln Riley stated that the upgrade represents a significant advantage, helping the team prepare for both the amplified home-field advantage at the Coliseum and the challenging environments of Big Ten road games.
Players have noted the system's intensity. Cornerback Jontez Williams commented that the sound was "louder than a real stadium." Center Tobias Raymond mentioned feeling sympathy for students in nearby classes due to the volume, and safety Christian Pierce reported difficulty hearing teammates next to him, necessitating shouting to communicate plays. "I feel like it really could help us in the season because I believe crowds could be that loud, and I think it really resembles game-time situations," Pierce said.
While traditionally crowd noise is thought to disrupt offenses more, Raymond indicated that the new system's volume affects all players' ability to communicate calls. "You [didn’t] have to get to the point where you yell at the person next to you... These things are a lot louder, for sure," he said.
Riley emphasized the system's power, noting that players have only experienced it at 70% capacity. "It’s got some real power," he said. "Operating in those moments and players being used to it is a real thing and the more you can recreate that stuff, the more prepared they’re going to be."
Quarterback Jayden Maiava believes the system will bolster confidence and sharpen communication, especially for playing in loud road environments. "We’ve got to be able to lock in in those moments, and I think it sharpens our communication with each other," Maiava said. The team is preparing to face Penn State on Oct. 10, where the system's full potential may be tested.