USC and UCLA

[Songbird]

This is a tidbit from Bob Keisser's column at the Press-Telegram in Long Beach:

For those who had forgotten, the NCAA approved college football's Division I-A team move to a 12-game schedule, yet the same group refuses to consider even a modest playoff system.

And this move basically allows teams to add a pastry to their schedule. Pac-10 schools, too: Most of the teams have a soft-serve on their slate. Portland State shows up on the schedules of Cal and Oregon, and San Jose State is on the slate at Stanford and Washington. Others: Stephen F. Austin (Arizona), Northern Arizona (Arizona State), Eastern Washington (Oregon State) and Idaho (Oregon State and Washington State).

UCLA (Utah, Rice, Notre Dame) and USC (Arkansas, Nebraska, Notre Dame) are the only Pac-10 schools that chose not to pad the slate. One has to wonder if it was a good idea for the Pac-10 to use the 12th game as a chance to play a full conference schedule. Each team now plays all nine opponents.

I'm a USC honk. One of my things is that the Trojans play the best of the best, so this is exciting they're playing Nebraska -- I've never seen a USC-Nebraska game in all my years. I'd love to see a USC-Miami game, too. USC lost both recent games to Florida State in 1997 and 1998; the '97 game was close (14-7), but the Noles killed USC in '98 (30-10 or something like that).

I'm not sure I've ever seen a UCLA-Notre Dame game, either. Screw UCLA.

 

[Overrated]

This is a tidbit from Bob Keisser's column at the Press-Telegram in Long Beach:

For those who had forgotten, the NCAA approved college football's Division I-A team move to a 12-game schedule, yet the same group refuses to consider even a modest playoff system.

And this move basically allows teams to add a pastry to their schedule. Pac-10 schools, too: Most of the teams have a soft-serve on their slate. Portland State shows up on the schedules of Cal and Oregon, and San Jose State is on the slate at Stanford and Washington. Others: Stephen F. Austin (Arizona), Northern Arizona (Arizona State), Eastern Washington (Oregon State) and Idaho (Oregon State and Washington State).

UCLA (Utah, Rice, Notre Dame) and USC (Arkansas, Nebraska, Notre Dame) are the only Pac-10 schools that chose not to pad the slate. One has to wonder if it was a good idea for the Pac-10 to use the 12th game as a chance to play a full conference schedule. Each team now plays all nine opponents.

I'm a USC honk. One of my things is that the Trojans play the best of the best, so this is exciting they're playing Nebraska -- I've never seen a USC-Nebraska game in all my years. I'd love to see a USC-Miami game, too. USC lost both recent games to Florida State in 1997 and 1998; the '97 game was close (14-7), but the Noles killed USC in '98 (30-10 or something like that).

I'm not sure I've ever seen a UCLA-Notre Dame game, either. Screw UCLA.

I wish he used the word "slate" more.

 

[DisembodiedOwlHead]

I wish he used the word "slate" more.

A worn out joke to keep the flies away
Carried it this far
Got the west side winds to keep it steady
We bury the hatchets we find
Could carry that heavy load
If I really thought it would matter
Farcical hair appears
As a blind side, clean the slate

Working in the halls of shame
Lay it down in full view
Lay it down

What the hell were we thinking
Before the fire burned out?
I can't find you now
And I didn't know you then
Loneliness drinks the bitters
Till the cold winds warm again
It's a feel for the game
Mouth open wide, screams and hollers

Working in the halls of shame
Lay it down in full view
Lay it down

I gambled once and won, never made a dollar
And beauty fades to grey
And I pray the very best will guard her
And provide the way
It's a telltale sign
When it's chairs up, and time to go

Working in the halls of shame
Lay it down in full view
Lay it down

 

[Lester Bangs]

This is a tidbit from Bob Keisser's column at the Press-Telegram in Long Beach:

For those who had forgotten, the NCAA approved college football's Division I-A team move to a 12-game schedule, yet the same group refuses to consider even a modest playoff system.

And this move basically allows teams to add a pastry to their schedule. Pac-10 schools, too: Most of the teams have a soft-serve on their slate. Portland State shows up on the schedules of Cal and Oregon, and San Jose State is on the slate at Stanford and Washington. Others: Stephen F. Austin (Arizona), Northern Arizona (Arizona State), Eastern Washington (Oregon State) and Idaho (Oregon State and Washington State).

UCLA (Utah, Rice, Notre Dame) and USC (Arkansas, Nebraska, Notre Dame) are the only Pac-10 schools that chose not to pad the slate. One has to wonder if it was a good idea for the Pac-10 to use the 12th game as a chance to play a full conference schedule. Each team now plays all nine opponents.

I'm a USC honk. One of my things is that the Trojans play the best of the best, so this is exciting they're playing Nebraska -- I've never seen a USC-Nebraska game in all my years. I'd love to see a USC-Miami game, too. USC lost both recent games to Florida State in 1997 and 1998; the '97 game was close (14-7), but the Noles killed USC in '98 (30-10 or something like that).

I'm not sure I've ever seen a UCLA-Notre Dame game, either. Screw UCLA.

I think most of the Pac-10 would upgrade their schedules if they could  get equitable trade. I know Washington State and Oregon State find it almost impossible to get home-and-home dates with anybody outside of the WAC or MWC and it's not much better for Stanford, Cal and Oregon. And to be fair, Hawaii might be a better brand name than all of these teams, but a pastry by any other name still goes down just as easy for the Trojans.

 

[Overrated]

This is a tidbit from Bob Keisser's column at the Press-Telegram in Long Beach:

For those who had forgotten, the NCAA approved college football's Division I-A team move to a 12-game schedule, yet the same group refuses to consider even a modest playoff system.

And this move basically allows teams to add a pastry to their schedule. Pac-10 schools, too: Most of the teams have a soft-serve on their slate. Portland State shows up on the schedules of Cal and Oregon, and San Jose State is on the slate at Stanford and Washington. Others: Stephen F. Austin (Arizona), Northern Arizona (Arizona State), Eastern Washington (Oregon State) and Idaho (Oregon State and Washington State).

UCLA (Utah, Rice, Notre Dame) and USC (Arkansas, Nebraska, Notre Dame) are the only Pac-10 schools that chose not to pad the slate. One has to wonder if it was a good idea for the Pac-10 to use the 12th game as a chance to play a full conference schedule. Each team now plays all nine opponents.

I'm a USC honk. One of my things is that the Trojans play the best of the best, so this is exciting they're playing Nebraska -- I've never seen a USC-Nebraska game in all my years. I'd love to see a USC-Miami game, too. USC lost both recent games to Florida State in 1997 and 1998; the '97 game was close (14-7), but the Noles killed USC in '98 (30-10 or something like that).

I'm not sure I've ever seen a UCLA-Notre Dame game, either. Screw UCLA.

I wish he used the word "slate" more.

Also, isn't the correct term "patsy?"

Keisser's a joke.

 

[BTExpress]

Also, isn't the correct term "patsy?"

I'd say either applies, since I've seen many a patsy called a cupcake, which is a pastry.

 

[Songbird]

It's probably just his way of saying cupcake like Vitale.

 

[Overrated]

Also, isn't the correct term "patsy?"

I'd say either applies, since I've seen many a patsy called a cupcake, which is a pastry.

Thanks for explaining, Keisser. ;D

I see what you're saying. I'm dumb. :-\

 

[Songbird]

Too bad teams like Florida State or Miami or Texas or Michigan won't go play at Oregon or The Paloose, etc.

I've also never seen USC-Tennessee. It would look sweet if 'SC wore the maroon and gold and the Vols wore the orange. I also want to see 'SC between the hedges.

 

[BTExpress]

I've also never seen USC-Tennessee. It would look sweet if 'SC wore the maroon and gold and the Vols wore the orange. I also want to see 'SC between the hedges.

Trojans-Vols happened in 1981 and 1982.

But for some reason UCLA and Tennessee seem to match up a lot but not USC and Tennessee.

Vols just added home-and-home series against Oklahoma and Nebraska a few years down the road. Just finished a home-and-home against Notre Dame and had a home-and-home against Miami before that. ****ing Georgia never plays anyone like that (although I think they might be playing an Arizona State or Colorado down the road).

Too bad teams like Florida State or Miami or Texas or Michigan won't go play at Oregon or The Paloose, etc.

I wouldn't discount the possibility of FSU-Oregon. Seminoles have shown a willingless to go pretty much everywhere. I don't think you'll see Michigan-Oregon because conferences with bowl tie-ins usually try to avoid each other in the regular season (although there are occasional exceptions).

 

[Left_Coast]

I'm glad the Pac-10 didn't let teams add an extra non-conference game with the new schedule upgrade and instead everyone plays everyone else in the conference.

 

[Lester Bangs]

Too bad teams like Florida State or Miami or Texas or Michigan won't go play at Oregon or The Paloose, etc.

I've also never seen USC-Tennessee. It would look sweet if 'SC wore the maroon and gold and the Vols wore the orange. I also want to see 'SC between the hedges.

Nike dough is making it easier for Oregon ... I think they get Oklahoma at home this year and Michigan visited a few years back. But I seem to recall it was something of a big deal when Mississippi State visited Eugene a few years back.  Coug fans were all a twitter when Colorado was scheduled to visit the Palouse in 2001 ... and it was wiped out by 9/11 and rescheduled for Seattle in 2004.

There is simply no impetus for teams like Alabama, Auburn, FSU, Florida, Ohio State, et al to go anywhere out west. They make  far more money with a home date against Louisiana-Monroe than a roadie at, well ... anywhere. Didn't Tennessee buy out a road game at Wyoming for something like $1 million a couple years ago? Of course, the Pac-10 does itself no favors with awful TV and bowl deals. Who would want to bed down with them? Only the Pac-10 would lower itself as to have its No. 3 team play the Big Ten 5 in a bowl. </pac10fanboyrant>

 

[Songbird]

I've also never seen USC-Tennessee. It would look sweet if 'SC wore the maroon and gold and the Vols wore the orange. I also want to see 'SC between the hedges.

Trojans-Vols happened in 1981 and 1982.

But for some reason UCLA and Tennessee seem to match up a lot but not USC and Tennessee.

Vols just added home-and-home series against Oklahoma and Nebraska a few years down the road.

Too bad teams like Florida State or Miami or Texas or Michigan won't go play at Oregon or The Paloose, etc.

I wouldn't discount the possibility of FSU-Oregon. Seminoles have shown a willingless to go pretty much everywhere. I don't think you'll see Michigan-Oregon because conferences with bowl tie-ins usually try to avoid each other in the regular season (although there are occasional exceptions).

I was 10 in '81 so don't have the best memories of those games with the Vols. It'd be nice to see the series renewed sometime in the next few years. And I see your point about the bowl tie-ins, but still ...

 

[Left_Coast]

Also have to remember, these schedules are made 8-12 years out, so it's anyone's guess what the matchup will be a decade later. I would suspect when Nebraska and USC scheduled the game that no one at the time thought when the game came around the Trojans would be a two-touchdown favorite.

 

[Songbird]

Nebraska will be in it till the end. I'm just excited to see the Trojans and Huskers for the first time in my lifetime.

 

[BTExpress]

There is simply no impetus for teams like Alabama, Auburn, FSU, Florida, Ohio State, et al to go anywhere out west.

Well, they go there anyway sometimes.

Alabama played at UCLA in 2000.

Auburn played at USC in 2003.

Mississippi State played at Oregon.

Tennessee regularly goes to UCLA and goes to Cal next season.

FSU has gone to USC.

Miami has gone to UCLA and BYU and Washington.

 

[Lester Bangs]

I've also never seen USC-Tennessee. It would look sweet if 'SC wore the maroon and gold and the Vols wore the orange. I also want to see 'SC between the hedges.

My favorite game of last year ... outside of the classic ND-SC game which I've only seen on ESPN Classic ... was Boise State getting rocked by Georgia. No team in America needed to be put in perspective more than BSU, and Georgia did it beautifully. Thoroughly enjoyed every second of it. </idahofanboyrant>

Now, as for USC-Georgia ... that would be some tasty stuff. Saw SC hang a 16-0 loss on Auburn in Auburn a few years back and UCLA whip up on Alabama in Tuscaloosa in Dennis Franchione's first game. Nothing like a Pac-10 team going to an SEC track and wearing one of those bubbas out.

 

[Lester Bangs]

There is simply no impetus for teams like Alabama, Auburn, FSU, Florida, Ohio State, et al to go anywhere out west.

Well, they go there anyway sometimes.

Alabama played at UCLA in 2000.

Auburn played at USC in 2003.

Mississippi State played at Oregon.

Tennessee regularly goes to UCLA.

FSU has gone to USC.

Miami has gone to UCLA and BYU and Washington.

True enough, but in the context I was referring more to the non-LA schools. There are examples ... Arkansas at SC was last year, or the year before? I'd argue the amount of western teams tripping east is greater than those coming the other direction.

 

[Songbird]

It'll be interesting to see which of the big dogs back east have the balls to go to Fresno State now that Pat Hill has built a contender.

 

[BTExpress]

I'd argue the amount of western teams tripping east is greater than those coming the other direction.

Depends on the matchup.

A powerhouse will demand a home game.

A non-powerhouse needs a payday.

So while Tennessee was willing to go to Laramie to face Wyoming, the Cowboys needed the $2.5 million payday enough to agree to move the game to Nashville.