if only because they’re the only team we play regularly that matches us in tradition, history and legacy.

But damn if ucla isn’t our rivals in everything else (and I mean EVERYTHING). I grew up in Washington and the level of dislike between UW and WSU alum has nothing, nothing on USC ucla.

I couldn’t care less who wins between Auburn and Alabama, and I only watch Michigan-OSU if both teams are good (like 2 years ago). I haven’t watched Texas-Oklahoma in several years, I rarely watch Florida-Florida St., and I haven’t watched FSU-Miami in several years either.

The problem with UCLA-USC is that it hasn’t been competitive in 20 years, so nobody outside California has had much reason to watch. Same thing with USC-ND.

…so yes ND only matters as a rival to us in that sport.

Nobody cares about this rivalry east of the Mississippi. Sure it matters to us but not to a lot of CFB fans. Games come on too late, up and down fan base. UM, tOSU, Alabama, Florida, Tennesee, OU, Texas all sell out their games year in and year out. That doesn’t happen out west unless the teams are hot.

As for tradition, a word I hate and I have said so numerous times here, ND comes a hell of a lot closer to what we have accomplished in football than ucla has. You know, numerous Heismans, multiple MNC’s… is that the tradition you mean because to me its the only one that matters and ucla doesn’t come close.

The whole cross town rival thing is unique when compared to other rivalries across the country, especially when you include all the other sports you mentioned but until ucla starts racking up the same type accomplishments as SC has in football you’re just a crosstown rival to us. Sure you’ll get some wins and milk 13-9 to death but what did that get you? Another year of Dorrell who left a bare cupboard for Neu.

I can see exactly how you feel… you know, like the same thing your buddy Nestor says about us in basketball…

If you want me to clarify myself I will. I was referring to football when I made the statement about ND being USC’s main rival. I think a majority of the USC fanbase would agree with me on that one. The simple truth is that ND is the only team that we play on a regular basis that really can compete with, and surpass USC in terms of history, and tradition. ucla has not, and probably never will achieve what the Irish, or the Trojans have in football. This is my opinion. I don’t think its a dishonest one. ucla’s tradition and history in basketball will never be touched by the Trojans. I’m not going to disagree with any ucla fan that disregards USC as a main rival to their basketball program.

The USC-ucla rivalry in football is nothing compared to Texas-OU, Michigan-OSU, or Alabama-Auburn. The OU-Texas game has to be held at a neutral site because things like this happen:

Sooner Nearly Castrates Longhorn
  

Brian Christopher Thomas, 32, entered Henry Hudson’s Pub on 17 June 2007 wearing a Texas Longhorn’s t-shirt. When he did, Allen Michael Beckett, 53, an ardent Oklahoma Sooner fan began "trash talking."

According to Thomas when he decided to leave, he went to the bar to pay his tab. Beckett grabbed him by the testicles and wouldn’t let go. Once other patrons separated them “He could see both of his testicles hanging on the outside of his body.”

Beckett’s attorney denies his client attacked Thomas. He claims Thomas approached the bar and threatened Beckett. As Thomas is bigger, stronger, and younger, he claims that "… My guy was defending himself and just took control of the situation."

Nationally, the crosstown rivalry in Los Angeles will never be a marquee game annually.

Yeah its nice when the golf/vollyball/baseball team wins a NC or has a good season, but to be honest, the only sports I really care about are football and basketball. There might be a wicked fencing rivalry between USC and ucla that I’m not aware of, but that being a fact wouldn’t take our attention of football in the slightest.

but go see a few SEC games and get back to me…

its F—-ing CRAZY!!

I just don’t think anyone else nationally does. That’s pretty obvious.

And that should concur with Maisel’s article and Paragon’s take as well. The USC/UCLA rivalry IS overrated for the most part because on “a national level” it doesn’t quite register as a blip on the screen of the grand scheme of rivalries.

Frak’s done it again. Hit the nail on the head. On a national level, we don’t quite measure with the Alabama/Auburn, Harvard/Yale, Georgia/Florida, tOSU/Michigan level of rivalries. However, put the USC/Notre Dame in there, and you might have something!