Condom jokes aside, why did USC select The Trojans as their mascot?

I mean, the salient point about the Trojans is that their empire no longer exists, BECAUSE THEY LOST A WAR WITH AN EXISTENTIAL FOE.

And you didn’t start with Wikipedia?

This was also five years before Trojan brand condoms existed.

Because there are no extant Trojans to complain about racialism ?

So, yes, that’s exactly it.

Better still, why are Trojan condoms called that? THEY LET THE GUYS THEY WERE TRYING TO KEEP OUT, INSIDE!

Well, with condoms, you want them inside…

Now, Trojan diaphragms, that’d be a problem.

Ned Flanders as King Priam, after receiving the Trojan Horse from the Greeks: “Now whenever people get wood, they’ll think of Trojans!”

The Trojans were greatly admired by many ancient peoples due to their bravery in fighting, etc. A lot of ancient folk claimed descent from various Trojan survivors. This included some of the Romans, some Carthaginians, and even British royalty (on their behalf) via fictional genealogies thru Roman-Britain times and back.

The Iliad and other “Heroic” literature made a very big impression back in the days before cable TV.

A more recent example are the various “Rebel” and such mascots throughout the SE US.

In Alabama we have the Troy University Trojans and the Jacksonville State Gamecocks. When they used to play this, of course, led to signs at games like “Your Trojans can’t cover our Cocks.”

Diaphragms are more Spartan. Come with your shield and on it.