USC Song Girls (Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The USC Song Girls are a beloved group, and they found themselves being talked about a lot on Sunday night.
Lincoln Riley and the USC Trojans were on cloud nine during their primetime game against the LSU Tigers.
No. 23 USC took down No. 13 LSU 27-20 with a successful two-minute drill to win the Modelo Vegas Kickoff Classic.
Amid that game were many fans noticing the USC Song Girls.
Many videos and pictures would surface online as the popular cheerleading group was praised for their looks and performance.
#USC‘s Song Girls before during the timeout between the third and fourth quarter and are serenade with “L-S-U” chants. pic.twitter.com/8iT8cZTYWA
— Shotgun Spratling (@ShotgunSpr) September 2, 2024
Love the fight tonight @uscfb! BIG WIN in our season opener! Thanks to @USCTMB , the fans, @USCSongGirls, and Spirit Leaders for keeping the celebration going! FIGHT ON! ✌️ pic.twitter.com/zV84kwuwT7
— Carol Folt (@PresidentFolt) September 2, 2024
LSU vs. USC – College Football (9/1/2024).@USCSongGirls pic.twitter.com/wsQwWQixqy
— Cheerleader and Dancer Game Action (@GameCheerAction) September 2, 2024
Condredge Holloway was always my hero, but all I ever wanted to do was catch the football for USC and date a Song Girl.
These are the facts. #FightOn ✌🏼 pic.twitter.com/mzpvxpRLND— 𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚊𝚍𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝙱𝚊𝚛𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝚂𝚑𝚘𝚙 💈 (@BarberBroadway) September 1, 2024
Much as I hate USC, it must be conceded that the Song Girls are #1 every year…
— Greg Sellgren (@underweargreg) September 2, 2024
The usc song girls. That is all.
— Dave (@PghDaRen) September 2, 2024
Song girls in cowboy hats for country halftime show pic.twitter.com/t83B49BvYq
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) September 2, 2024
The USC Song Girls are a renowned spirit and dance team at USC. They’ve performed and cheered at athletic events since 1968.
In 2018, the renowned group celebrated 50 years of thrilling crowds with school spirit and goodwill.
Former USC Song Girls Detailed Toxic Team Environment
Not everything that glitters is gold.
Ten former members of the USC Song Girls detailed a toxic culture within the program back in 2021, as reported by the Los Angeles Times in 2021.
The report stated the women discussed “a toxic culture within the famed collegiate dance team that included longtime former coach Lori Nelson rebuking women publicly for their eating habits, personal appearance and sex lives.”
It further added that the former members “faced serious body image issues within the program that went beyond normal fitness required to be on a spirit squad.”
Three members said their time with the Song Girls led to “some form of eating disorder,” while another member experienced severe depression and even thought about taking her own life.
The USC Song Girls reportedly also had to sign a contract that stated they needed to “stay within five pounds of their audition weight.”
Former coach Lori Nelson led the team for over three decades before resigning in 2020 amid a Title IX investigation that was launched against her.
