Where Tradition Hurts the Game

by Paragon SC on Dec 27, 2007 8:44 PM PST in USC Football Comment 3 comments

A lot has been made about the Rose Bowl's choice to have Illinois play in the Rose Bowl instead of say Georgia thus missing out on what could have been a truly great game.

I am not a big fan of tradition, I think progress is good and the Pac-10 and the Big 10 have done themselves and all CFB fans a disservice by not going for the more exciting game while trying to hold on to symbols of the past. The SEC is no better by holding onto Georgia for the Sugar Bowl. I am really not a fan of a playoff, though I can see some advantages to it, the benefit of breaking up these alliances would give the fans some really great match-ups.

I am not saying Illinois isn't deserving to play in the Rose Bowl but is it the best match-up we could have seen?

It's the match-up of no one's dreams, unless you hail from Peoria. Unless Champaign isn't something you imbibe on New Year's Eve, but live in year-round.

Illinois is here for the sake of tradition, even though the Rose Bowl bowed out on the concept the day it agreed to become part of the BCS quagmire.

It could have invited West Virginia or Kansas or unbeaten Hawaii, but instead opted to keep alive the tattered threads of its traditional Pac-10/Big Ten match-up by inviting Illinois.

This leaves our granddaddy with the least attractive of all BCS games, the only one that features a team outside the Top10.

Pac 10 Commissioner Tom Hansen is living in the dark ages and the Granddaddy is losing some its luster because he just won't change. I won't get into whether or not Ohio State deserves to be in the BCS Title Game but is that the best match-up for that game? Hard to tell and that is a whole other discussion for another time but you get the point.

This is Illinois' Title game, as they haven't been here since 1984 when they played and lost to an average ucla team. That was before the BCS when the Pac 10/Big 10 tradition was the only game in town. Those who feel that SC should be in the BCS Title Game should rethink that as it really doesn't matter how you finish but more about the body of work and that body of work has a very ugly loss to Stanford and that, at least in my eyes, disqualifies any possibility of going to the title game.

SC needs to guard against a let down because playing in their third Rose Bowl in a row can give off a aura of comfort and familiarity and that can breed complacency.

The USC players' tepid response to the televised announcement they would play Illinois was the first warning sign that a third straight trip to Pasadena was getting a little stale.

"Next year, I'd like to go to the Orange Bowl or somewhere else different, " defensive end Kyle Moore said. "That would be nice."

His sentiments were echoed by his teammates.

"I'm sure a lot of guys would like different venues," linebacker Clay Matthews said. "It's almost like it's become so familiar, we don't have to think about what to do."

USC is not just battling Illinois. It's battling boredom. The Rose Bowl, the Trojans' best friend, has also become its worst enemy.

I would like to think that the coaches will have these guys ready to play and not look past Illinois and if it were any other year I would feel confident about SC being ready but SC has looked past opponents before, ucla in 2006 and Stanford in 2007 so I am a little wary of our guys not coming out fired up. And while its no excuse for not coming out and giving your best a lot of this could be solved by letting the old traditions go and putting the best games possible out there.

Tradition is important for some things but traditions can be changed. Pete Carroll said before last season that the goal was always to get to the Rose Bowl, that's all well and good but I think it's time to shoot for a new goal.

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If they want to go some place different

then I guess they have to win more games. I never thought I would see the day when a Trojan football player would complain about playing in the Rose Bowl. Considering how close we came to playing in the holiday, or sun bowl, I think these guys should be counting their blessings. A little humility would be nice guys. Playing in the Rose Bowl, and winning is a privilege that I think only current USC players have enjoyed. So appreciate what you have.

by frak on Dec 28, 2007 10:13 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Nine other Pac 10 teams would be ecstatic to be playing in the Rose Bowl 4 of 5 years. Sure a lot better than playing in the Las Vegas bowl 3 of 6. Just ask the Bruins.

by bwren on Dec 28, 2007 11:37 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Body of work

I dunno, I think "the point" has been brought home- and it's perfectly clear. Losing that Stanford game, a hiccup to some- a cataclysmic letdown to others, was THE wake-up call. Yeah, 'SC lost to Oregon too- but they were at least competitive (players and coaches) until the end. And gimme a break- Dixon was rather freaky this year.

The seniors on the field stayed a whole extra year to bring one more championship trophy to Heritage Hall when they coulda bounced to the NFL. I'm hoping the underclassmen realize what type of CLASS is leaving this year and show up come New Year's Day.

I think we've previously discussed (ad nauseum) how much EVERYONE was to blame (from PC to 3rd stringers) for the Stanford loss. THAT WAS A GAME OF COMPLACENCY. This is the last game for 2007 season- call me crazy, I think USC will win!

Because the seniors are winners and the underclassmen are men. And because our defense is the real deal and theirs is a great middle linebacker. And because John David Booty owns the Rose Bowl.

by tapoutstylist on Dec 28, 2007 1:32 PM PST reply actions 0 recs