creation of the "real" USC football team

Univ. of Southern Cal began playing football in 1888, but when did you USC?

One way to distinguish which is the "real" USC (my gamecocks, of course) could be to base if off of when their football teams began. They received their name of the Trojans in 1912, but on USC's website there is no such information of the founding of the football team or when the nickname was given, etc.