Canzano: Loss of college football tradition is a sad casualty
Plus... Oregon football players storm the diamond!
The USC-Notre Dame football rivalry is at risk. The schools are struggling to come to a long-term agreement that would keep the 100-year series alive beyond the 2026 season. And while Knute Rockne is unavailable for comment and probably rolling in his grave, Petros Papadakis spoke for him.
The former USC team captain, radio host, and football broadcaster is authentic, outspoken, and has little tolerance for nonsense. What I’m saying is — we’re friends. Papadakis spit the truth again on Wednesday and called USC’s attempt to wiggle out of the rivalry vs. the Irish “disgusting and sad.”
He’s not wrong.
The Trojans went 7-6 in their inaugural Big Ten season. Lincoln Riley’s seat is warm, and the only thing that protected him this offseason was his $88 million buyout. It’s not difficult to figure out the motivation. USC wants to schedule wins, not losses, and position the football program for the expanded 12-team playoff.
Conference realignment.
The loss of tradition.
The end of long-standing rivalries.
They’ve become sad byproducts of this money-hungry era of college athletics. But there are some traditions that should be held sacred — the Civil War, the Apple Cup, this Notre Dame-USC clash, among others, for example. Kill too many of the nostalgic things, and you’ve assassinated the essence of college football.