USC nearing Coliseum deal

Purists can start to relax - it's looking like the Trojans will stay put. School officials have backed off on a proposal to run the Coliseum, as long as significant improvements are made. "It's been our home for over 80 years," Todd Dickey, USC senior vice president and general counsel, told the LAT. "We have all our tradition and history in that facility, and it's where our fans want to stay. It's an important part of our culture, so it's by far our first choice." Officials from the Coliseum Commission and the school met this afternoon and were expected to reach an agreement on deal terms, a source told the Times. USC is still talking to the Rose Bowl folks, just in case.