From: TJFAN@watson.ibm.com
Subject: Re: USC should drop the ND series
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 21:53:48 GMT
Distribution: usa
News-Software: IBM OS/2 PM RN (NR/2) v0.16 by O. Vishnepolsky and R. Rogers
Reply-To: TJFAN@WATSON.IBM.COM
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM
Organization: IBM T.J. Watson Research Center

In <1gnpr0INN8fk@spica.usc.edu> valdis@spica.usc.edu (Valdis Kalejs) writes:
>Ok let me get this straight. Since SC has had a long losing streak against ND,
>the best way to correct the situation is by acting like spoiled little brats
>and run home to mommy? Is that what your saying? 
 
I would look this the other way. Say (maybe this is not a good example) for
example Japan in WWII. They surrendered because continuing the war would have just
completely destroyed them. Then they got a break to regroup themselves. Today
they became one of the economic power in the world. 
 
There are many many great series in CFA. For example, Penn State and Pitts had
longer rivalry than USC-ND. But Penn State found out that joining Big-10 is a
better choice for the school. And since they cannot play so many non-conference
games after joining the Big-10, they drop the Pitts series. 
 
What really the USC-ND series bother me is that I wonder how much damage to
USC this series has already caused so far. As I said in the original post,
if such losing streak has caused serious damage in USC's reputation, recruiting,
and so on, then dropping it maybe better off for the USC in the long term. 
Of course dropping this way is a shame, but, well, I don't know how much USC
looks like Japan against USA in the WWII.

>been (and still is) one of the greatest college football rivalries around so
>they shouldn't tinker with it. I've been just as frustrated what has happened
>the last 10 years, but eliminating the game in an attempt to improve our record
>is ridiculous. I remember many times when McKay, Robinson, Tolliner and even
>Smith during a close game with ND (which many of them have been), would tell
>their players: "This is why you came to SC". Even if they lost or won, players
>that sign the letter of intent to play for the University,expect to be playing 
>against the cream of the crop, and one of them just so happens to be (Now dont
>kill me Trojan fans) Notre Dame. If you still claim to be a Trojan fan just
>hope that Conway and McGinest make the RIGHT decision and stay for their senior
>years. Because if they do, anything could happen!

Well, all of the above heavily depends on how much the players are attached to
USC and how much USC can attract new players to sign the letter of intent.
If USC continues to lose N in a row then I will really suspect this.
 
Why did Eric Myier stayed at ND this year? Because he wanted to earn a NC for ND.
Well it didn't happen but it was a real possibility to the team, and it was a
big attraction to players like Myier. Had USC had good opportunity to win 
big things like NC then I'll say players like Conway and McGinest will have 
more tendency to stay. 
 
I may be exagerating by saying that ND is the reason that USC may lose attraction
to players. But losing 10+ in a row got to be a factor. Without playing ND then
USC would definitely have more chances to finish undefeated. 
 
I know it is very unlikely that USC will drop the ND series in the near future.
I'm just wondering how many people would think about this. What about "loosen up"
the series by playing only every 2 years, not every year. Then USC will have
at least more chances to finish with a better record. 
 
BTW, since I lost the chances to see the game and read news after the game due to
my trip to Taiwan, would someone please tell me what happened in the game and
after the game (I mean did Larry Smith get a lot of flame?)


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  ??    ??       ??               T. J. FAN, IBM T. J. Watson Research Center
  ??    ?? ????? ??
  ??    ????   ????    ??         - A Trojan Fan (Used to be)
   ?????? ????    ??????          - and the ND hater (Probably no more)
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