2-4-6-8, Song Girl Gives Purse Snatcher the Gate

Training camp conditioning apparently is paying off for USC song girls as well as Trojan football players.

On Saturday, shortly after football practice began at Howard Jones Field, a man went into the stands at the nearby track stadium and grabbed a small purse from where Natalie Nelson and the other song girls had placed their belongings while working out.

Nelson spotted the culprit from across the track and began sprinting as the man ran toward a stadium exit.

“He bolted on her, and it was like instant reflex -- she just took off after him,” said John Soward, who had been jogging on the track.

As the man ran alongside the fence of Howard Jones Field -- with Nelson in full pursuit -- other song girls opened the gate and called for security.

“I enjoy running, but I’ve never run so fast,” Nelson said. “I had already done three laps around the track. But I was going to catch him.”

About 300 yards into the chase, the man dropped the purse as he left the campus on Vermont Avenue. Nelson retrieved it and ended her pursuit.

“That shows we have some speedy athletes around here, girls and guys,” flanker Steve Smith said.

Soward said he and friend Lance Wilcher joined the chase and continued after the man to an apartment complex near campus. USC Department of Public Safety officers arrived on the scene, but they were unable to apprehend the man.

Still, it was quite a day for Soward. The USC graduate was to be married to alumna Angela Hong Zhu in a campus ceremony Saturday night. Soward said the morning excitement was fitting, given that the couple spent their first date two years ago at USC’s football game against Brigham Young.

Soward, who was introduced to Coach Pete Carroll after practice, said the couple has been to every home game since.

“The whole thing that made our wedding possible was USC football,” Soward said. “I almost invited Pete.”

-- Gary Klein