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The Miami Ute's avatar

When all of this became known a few months ago, my first thought was that USC/UCLA had essentially made a deal with the Devil. Sure, they'll get a lot of money, but at what cost? Personally, I'm having a hard time coming up with a scenario where both of these schools become consistent winners in the B1G. It's things like the grueling travel schedule (across all sports) and its effect on athletes' social and educational lives. Then there's the cognitive dissonance of two teams from a Mediterranean climate playing half of their games in a cold-weather environment. Both USC/UCLA will always be viewed as outsiders and I'm certain that the rest of the teams in the B1G, or the conference in general, will do them little favors. Lastly, the game these teams play is not a good fit with the rest of the B1G. I mean, it's like they're going to be playing Utah or Utah-like teams nine or ten times a year. Good luck with that. Nebraska presented you with a cautionary tale of what can happen to a premier football program and you chose to ignore it.

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John Canzano's avatar

Agree

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SonoranJeff's avatar

So do you believe that USC/UCLA will have trouble competing withUtah-like teams the likes of Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Northwestern, Purdue, Indiana, Michigan State, Rutgers and Maryland. Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State are challenges but I suspect these Mediterranean schools will compete quite well. As for weather, it may be cold for two games in November, but as memory serves Washington State, Washington, Oregon, Oregon State, Utah, Colorado and Notre Dame are quite capable of providing warm weather teams with weather challenges. Nothing like a rainy 41 degree kickoff at 7pm in the Pacific Northwest.Do you think the Pete Carroll teams of the 2000’s had problems with these Big 10 teams. They had tough, physical linemen on both sides of the ball and linebackers capable of tackling a Cadillac Escalade. Has SC gotten “soft” since the Carroll era? Yes they have. But do you think that SC is not scouring the country for “SEC-quality” linemen? I can assure you that SC knows the challenges and understands what this commitment takes. Playing in a sunny, Mediterranean climate in Los Angeles with Hollywood and high tech in the background, for a traditional blue blood college power ranked #27 by the US News & World Report Survey might be a very attractive proposition for young talent.

In full disclosure, I hate this whole Big 10 deal. I love the PAC-12 with its diversity and 12 unique, quality universities in a variety of geographical settings. I will desperately miss these great rivalries The logistics of moving to a midwest conference make no sense. Furthermore I have never heard or spoken to a UCLA or USC alum/fan who likes this idea. It really stinks. But it is so emblematic of commercial interests taking over the college sport we love. The commercial interests prevail and we must compete. Btw…wouldn’t it be great if Washington, Oregon, Stanford and Utah could join UCLA/USC to create a western pod of the Big 10. Making lemonade out of lemons.

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The Miami Ute's avatar

For my purposes UCLA is irrelevant, but I did some checking and it turns out that USC is 14-12-1 in "cold-weather" games. To add, the last time USC played a game in cold weather temps was on 21 November 2020 (an aberration due to scheduling issues associated with Covid) against Utah on the road. The Trojans won 33-17 despite temps falling in the mid-30s. Based on the low number of cold weather contests USC has played in, it's pretty obvious to me that they've stage-managed their schedule to avoid playing in, say Pullman or Salt Lake City in mid to late November, for most of their history. Something tells me that's probably not going to be possible in the B1G.

Yes, I for sure believe USC/UCLA will have trouble competing with Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan State. Anyone of those teams is capable of winning 10 games a season and even winning the conference if the stars align correctly. I'd even throw in teams like Purdue, Illinois, and Northwestern especially if we're talking about a contest in late November at their place. The fact that you take those teams for granted is just another example of pride before the fall. Based on what I saw on social media. most USC fans thought the same thing of Utah prior to the game in Las Vegas.

Not sure why you bring up Pete Carroll and whatever he did when that ship has sailed and is never coming back. USC has a guy for a head coach whose tenure in Oklahoma was consistently plagued by weak defenses. Unless that gets fixed, and why would it get fixed in LA when it was never fixed in Norman, USC will get absolutely destroyed three to five times a year. I'm also of the opinion that Riley isn't long for USC and will jump to the NFL soon, maybe as soon as this offseason if Sean McVay retires from the Rams. Think it can't happen? Sooner fans thought that Riley would be there forever as well.

In closing, I would say good luck in the B1G but then I'd be a hypocrite. No offense, but all of us staying in the PAC hope you guys suffer the same fate as Nebraska or Miami in the ACC. That is, occasionally having a winning season, making a little bit of a splash but mostly hopelessly treading on a treadmill of mediocrity. Sorry, not sorry...

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Ed Hill's avatar

GO UTES!!

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The Miami Ute's avatar

Yes indeed, go Utes!!!

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