Texas Tech head coach Joey Maguire has criticized the attendance at USC's recent home football game, suggesting that his own program in Lubbock, Texas, draws a more dedicated fanbase. Speaking at a press conference Monday, Maguire contrasted the expected sellout crowd of 60,000 at Texas Tech's upcoming game with the visibly low attendance at the Los Angeles Coliseum for USC's matchup against San Jose State.
"Not to take any shots because I have a lot of respect for USC and Lincoln Riley, but man, it's really awesome to be playing in Lubbock, Texas, knowing we're going to be playing front of 60,000, and it's going to be warm," Maguire said. "It's going to be every bit as warm as it was Saturday. The great thing is we got some really tough people in West Texas that love their football and they're going to show up."
The USC game against San Jose State kicked off at noon on a Saturday, with temperatures in the mid-90s and high humidity in Southern California. Many observers noted that a significant number of seats remained empty, leading to widespread commentary about the Trojans' home game attendance.
Maguire's remarks imply that Texas Tech fans are more resilient in adverse weather conditions. However, the article notes that Lubbock's August and September weather is consistently poor, offering fans little choice but to attend games in unpleasant conditions if they wish to see most of the season. In contrast, USC fans might opt for later games with more favorable weather or other entertainment options available in the Los Angeles area.
Southern California's attendance issues have also been attributed to factors such as traffic congestion in downtown Los Angeles, limited parking near the Coliseum, and long security lines at the aging venue. The article also suggests that USC's ticket prices may be too high for the market, especially given the competition for entertainment in Southern California. Furthermore, a perceived shift in USC's student demographic, with a higher percentage of international students, has been cited as a potential reason for decreased interest in football among the student body.