From: valdis@spica.usc.edu (Valdis Kalejs)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college
Subject: USC Football
Date: 18 Aug 1992 12:18:18 -0700
Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: spica.usc.edu

In article <l8vmm9INN45s@pollux.usc.edu> alexc@pollux.usc.edu (Alex Campbell) writes:
>In article <l8tskjINNe1q@spica.usc.edu> valdis@spica.usc.edu (Valdis Kalejs) writes:
>>3. New Haircut: While being introduced to the crowd, junior center Matt Butkis,
>>                (son of Hall-ofFamer Dick Butkis), flashed is new mohawk which
>>                resembles a trojan helmet. When saying that his father had not
>>                seen the new hairstyle yet,Tom Kelly (voice of the Trojans,and
>>                M.C. of the event) replied "I can imagine that it will be an
>>                unique father-son chat when he does"....
>>
>
>
>Matt Butkus is only on the team because of his father. I was in a mickey-mouse
>class with him and several other players -- he was the laughingstock of the 
>athletes

Alex (Otis)Campbell,
Where in the above remarks did I mention that he was some kind of "superstar"?
If he's a "laughingstock" like you say he is thats probably why he is listed
no higher than third-string in the depth charts (with true freshmen breathing
down his neck...)


>>* USC Football Goals
>>
>>1. Play each game showing class and sportsmanship
>>2. Earn A USC Degree
>>3. Beat UCLA and Notre Dame
>>4. Go To The Rose Bowl
>>5. Win A National Championship
>>
>
>
>Where did you get these goals? Only 3,4,5 are applicable to the USC football
>team and the athletic program in general. I'm a huge 'SC fan but athletes
>here are completely protected from having to do any academic work. I have
>been in many classes with athletes and they are implicitly encouraged by
>professors to do the minimum. Atheletes at USC, for the most part, are
>here for one reason -- to play sports. They are not here for academic reasons.
>I am speaking about the marquee sports -- basketball, football, volleyball.
>Some of the athletes in the money-losing sports are concerned about their
>education. 

These goals have been around before you were born (when I was already going
to USC football games). You can find them also printed in this years media
guide,and you can bet they are posted in various spots in Heritage Hall.
As far as athletes attending class or not,well I doubt VERY seriously that
you keep tabs on wether every athlete is attending class or what every pro-
fessor is doing as well. True, there are athletes that have poor study habits,
but there are also athletes that have graduated with honors. Maybe you should
drop some of your "mickey-mouse" classes you said that you're taking, get out
more often. :)

>
>Valdis (Lazlo) please tone down your enthuisasm. USC has a great tradition.
>However,  they are coming off a terrible season, they have the toughest
>schedule in the country, and they have a QB who hasn't taken many snaps in 
>a game situation. I really don't expect them to do well.  In addittion, 
>they have been the most penalized team in the Pac-10 for three out of the
>last four years (erasing Goal #1 of your 5 Goals). Larry Smith has shown
>that he must be the biggest thing at 'SC, not the players (see his feuds
>with stars Marinovich, Ricky Ervins, and Mazio Royster). In addition, Smith's
>recruits have not turned out that well. 

Well,Otis have you ever played "organized football" or any other sport? If you
did you should  know this: "Egos" run rampant in sports.Especially 
in players that play for high profile "marquee" teams. When a coach has to
deal with 100 egos a year,it's natural that some aren't going to see eye to
eye. For instance, "ego" is Marinovich's middle name... Although I agree that
that this can also effect the coaching staff as well,and Larry Smith could have
done a better job in this area...

>
>I would love to see 'SC do well. But I don't think it's going to happen.

I think they call a football fan such as you a "fair-weather" fan, rather
than a "loyal or die-hard fan". But dont worry,most sports fans are!
 
Fight On,
Valdis Kalejs










Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college