I haven't posted in a while, but i needed to say something.

The Pete Carroll era has two distinct qualities:  1.  Rare losses, if any and 2.  extremely close losses.  These two qualities have come to mean that any loss is especially excruciating...we don't know how to deal with them, and we're not prepared for when they happen.

Our guys got beat last night.  We played poorly, and got the ending we earned.

I'm still behind them 100%.  And for the first time since I've been at USC, the entire Trojan Family was behind them, trying to will them on to victory.  It didn't work, but we were all there collectively, together.  There was no "lets root for our team to lose so our coach gets fired," or anyone who turned their back.  It was us doing the best we could to make a difference.

We have a tradition in the band, and at the university to immediately move on from the last game.  As soon as the clock hits 00:00, we start our next chant, "Beat the Wildcats," in this case.  And while it still hurts, and I'm still used to saying "Beat the Farm," we didn't, its over, and we have work to do.  So, analyze all we can, discuss, talk, but lets be honest here.  We have one big role this week:  Support the team so when the Wildcats come into our house, this doesn't happen again.

So despite all of the negatives, despite the wrenching, soul-crushing pain of this loss, be glad we're all still Trojans.  We're all in this together.  We have one of the greatest histories of college football.  One loss doesn't undermine that.

Besides, that's why the play the game.  If you want to throw our guys under the bus, do so, but I will defend them, because that's what I'm in the band to do.  To support them at all costs, because tearing them down doesn't help them play better, or make us win more.  They feed off of support, and that's what I'll do.

Dr. Bartner said something that rang very true last night, after the game. "Its easy to be a Trojan and support the team when they're winning. Nows the time that they need us most, when its hard, after this loss. So fight on, keep the spirit up, and beat the wildcats!" I don't agree with him much, but he's dead on.

Fight On, and Beat the Wildcats!