Mark Sanchez on LA Memorial Coliseum: 'It's the best place in the world'

As USC begins a new era in 2022, Lincoln Riley has made it a goal to fill LA Memorial Coliseum. Former Trojans quarterback Mark Sanchez recently opened up on his love for USC’s football stadium.

During an appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Sanchez spoke glowingly about the Coliseum, where he played from 2005 to 2008. He also put the stadium in a category of its own given all the history it’s seen.

“It’s the best place in the world, man,” Sanchez said. “It’s so special. I’m grateful to have played there.”

Sanchez also shared some memories from his time at USC, including his time as a redshirt freshman in 2005. He didn’t play that year, and that allowed him to really soak in the atmosphere from the Coliseum.

“That place rocks,” Sanchez said. “It [does]. Just walking out the tunnel, I would put my hand against the stone wall as I walked through. In a way, I was trying to channel all of the greatness that has been in that stadium. … To see 90,000 rocking like that. I can remember as a redshirt freshman, I would notice it more because when I was playing, [I was] so focused [I didn’t] think about it.”

The USC fan base seems re-energized after Riley’s hiring and the addition quarterback Caleb Williams, who was the No. 1 player to hit the transfer portal this offseason, according to the On3 Transfer Portal Rankings. In fact, the Trojans set a new attendance record during their spring game when more than 33,000 fans watched the game in person.

It was the first time the new regime got to show off its skills and the new additions in front of the USC faithful, and there’s plenty of reason to be excited. USC is also listed as the favorite to win the Pac-12 this year — Riley’s first after leaving Oklahoma.