USC vs.UCLA: A diminished rivalry?
by Paragon SC on Dec 1, 2010 7:01 AM PST
in USC Football
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PrintI was mildly perplexed at Lane Kiffin down playing the importance of the USC-UCLA rivalry the other day.
This is one of the most unique rivalries in all of college sports. The programs are just a short eleven miles apart. Many of the players know each other from either playing against each other or even playing on the same teams in high school!
That is why when I heard his comments on video I had to go back and replay it.
I just shook my head.
I am a big supporter of Lane Kiffin but these comments show me some detachment.
"It is one game," the Trojans coach said. "It's always seemed to help one side or the other. (But) the game doesn't make the decision for kids."
Kiffin reiterated that whether the Trojans win or lose against UCLA, the season is not going to be judged a success, which is not exactly news to USC fans.
Really?
I have news for Lane Kiffin...
This game matters...A LOT!
Especially this year with no bowl game on the schedule and a program in rebuilding mode and the NCAA ripping this program apart. The only thing that will make this bitter pill easier to swallow is beating your two biggest rivals!
So far Kiffin is 0-1. If he loses on Saturday night he will have done in one week what it took Pete Carroll 8 years to accomplish.
USC and UCLA fans/alums intermingle thoughout the L.A. area and beyond out west. You have families that literally have alums that went to both schools. My family is one of them...Dad and two uncles went to USC While mom, brother, two uncles and an aunt went to UCLA. New years day football parties were always a sight to behold.
I understand the pageantry of the Notre Dame rivalry. More often than not it has always had national implications.
But the game against UCLA matters as well!
Right or wrong, the USC-UCLA rivalry has been seen as regional rivalry. I can't remember the last time these two teams played when national implications were on the line for BOTH teams when they squared off...
Kiffin may not see it as a big deal when it come to recruiting but is sure as hell matters to the fans, alums and boosters...you know, the people have pay a significant portion of the bills.
These comments only show me that there is nothing big planned for the team to get the fan base fired up. He is kidding himself if he thinks that this game doesn't matter to current players and prospective recruits...
How does Kiffin not get that?
Or as Reuben said in Ocean's Eleven......You're out of your god-damned mind!
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Well I kind of understand where he is coming from, but don't see it as of important.
USC vs. ND goes way back to 2 of the biggest football powers for almost 100 years, where fucla vs. USC is a local rivalry that is a part-time FB program vs. a storied FB power. I don’t think he should of said anything but—Yes this an important game for us in the So. Cal area and leave it to that. But Lane is Lane and he will say what is on his mind so now it is ucla’s turn to show if they got any BALLS, because Lane does.
Lets face it the Bruins are superior in all aspects of life, heck I here they can wipe their Butts with their mind.
by so.cal.native1952 on Dec 1, 2010 8:35 AM PST reply actions
it's just a regional thing
Look, we all get that ND is/was this bigshot powerhouse. It’s won 11 nat’l ‘ships, etc. Yes it’s one of our deepest rivalries.
However, there’s a certain allure to UCLA that we cannot turn our backs on. Yes they haven’t won a national championship or have a dozen heisman. That doesn’t matter. Cal has its Stanford, Oregon has its Oregon State, etc. We have UCLA. We will always have that.
Just like Alabama hates Auburn, we will have Notre Dam as our cross-country rival. But here in Los Angeles, this is what the local folks who depend on LA football look forward to.
Honestly, looking at it from the Bruin standpoint, who do they really have? No one. Yes they talk oodles of smack, drive up by the busloads (well not really), because they LIVE for this game (in football that is). They recognize Southern Cal’s football dominance and lick their chops to have a shot at us. Who can blame them?
Paragon has the right idea. Lane doesn’t have a real Southern California attachment other than working here (fact check anyone?). Lane grew up in Minnesota, Fresno, and hung out in Colorado and Oakland. What about LA?
While PC did not grow up in LA either, he showed respect and tradition for the ‘Battle of Los Angeles.’ I will always continue to watch, attend, and support this crosstown rivalry game. It’s incredibly unique and most of all fun, regardless of championship implications.
Hell, with the bowl ban and bowl ineligibility sitting on both teams’ shoulders, this should make for a very interesting game come Saturday.
Lane's comment was in the context of recruiting
and, it’s true. kids don’t make their decisions solely based on the winner and loser of the game. it’s a relatively minor factor in their decisions, if a factor at all, the majority of the time.
You can't put sanctions on the fkn endzone! Bowls are for salad!
This just in!
BREAKING NEWS: UCLA football practice was delayed after a player found a white powdery substance on the field. Slick Rick suspended practice and called the police. After a complete analysis, forensic experts determined that the white substance unknown to players was the GOAL LINE. Practice resumed..after the agents decided the team was unlikely to encounter the substance again this season FIGHT ON!
by KLu33 on Dec 1, 2010 3:24 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Thats a great one
Lets face it the Bruins are superior in all aspects of life, heck I here they can wipe their Butts with their mind.
by so.cal.native1952 on Dec 1, 2010 4:17 PM PST up reply actions
This one doesn't mean nearly as much on the national scale as SC/ND
BUT….it means so much more around Southern California. On any given day in Southern California, you’re likely to interact with both UCLA and USC people. The facts that the schools are so close and the fan bases are so intermingled in the city means that the bragging rights are worth that much more.
Plus, there’s always the angle of big brother showing his superiority over little brother every year – and when little brother tries to rise up, he needs to be smacked back down again.
Exactly
I went to USC Law. I work with people who got their JD or BA from UCLA. They think the sanctions are so funny. They think its so funny that the Trojans lost to Oregon, UW, ND, etc. I DO NOT WANT THESE PEOPLE TO BE HAPPY.
We want to build a university our football team can be proud of. -- Dr. George Lynn Cross
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