The UCLA-USC annual football game is in serious danger of no
longer being a rivalry. For this rivalry, which is rich in history
and tradition, to survive, UCLA is going to have to win a game from
time to time.
Not only has USC beaten UCLA seven times in a row, but only one
game since 2001 has even been close. Even then, UCLA’s
standards had fallen so low that the 29-24 loss was deemed a moral
victory.
The Trojans have been the far greater team over the span of the
streak, winning a national championship along the way (not two,
like they say they won) and compiling 61 wins in their last 67
games.
UCLA has been mostly mediocre, with the exception of its 10-win
season in 2005, which we now realize was an anomaly, fueled by a
weak Pac-10 and good fortune.
And it’s not like the rivalry was competitive before 1999
when the Trojans’ current unbearable winning streak started.
Before that, the Bruins had won eight in a row against USC from
1991 to 1998 and were the better program by a significant margin
(though not as wide as the margin is now). The last time the winner
was different for three straight years was 1985 to 1987.
Rivalries are supposed to feature two strong, competitive teams
where both teams win. That hasn’t been the case here for a
very long time.
This once great crosstown rivalry game used to be the biggest
game of the year for both teams. Now, UCLA isn’t even among
the biggest games USC will play this season. Just following college
football from a national perspective, how many big games has USC
played this year? Arkansas, Nebraska, Notre Dame and Cal were all
bigger, more-hyped games for USC than this week is.
UCLA has become just another game on the schedule, and the
Bruins have become like every other team whose biggest game of the
year is against USC.
To a certain extent, it is understandable that the nonconference
games are so big because of the different regions of the country
involved. But for non-UCLA fans, USC-Cal was a much more
anticipated game than UCLA-USC and has been for the last few
years.
The UCLA-USC game has just been an afterthought recently.
For weeks, sports-media figures and football analysts have been
saying that if USC got past Cal and Notre Dame, the Trojans would
be heading to the national championship game, not even including
UCLA as a realistic threat.
During Saturday’s broadcast of the USC-Notre Dame game,
analysts discussed a possible USC-Ohio State matchup for the title,
not even considering UCLA could throw a wrench into the equation
and beat the Trojans.
UCLA has become irrelevant. The crosstown rivalry has become
irrelevant.
That is just another reason why the Bruins need to win on
Saturday.
To save the rivalry.
To make a statement that the UCLA program is still
important.
To make this rivalry important again, just like it was when we
were children. Back when both teams regularly entered the rivalry
game with a chance to play in the Rose Bowl. Back when both teams
actually won the rivalry game. Back when UCLA mattered on the
national scene.
Those were the days. And those days could happen again. Upsets
happen in college football.
Back in 1999, then-USC receiver Chad Morton summed up the
emotions of ending their rivals’ eight-year winning streak:
“After the game, being lifted up by the fans, that was
probably the best feeling in the whole world. There’s nothing
sweeter than beating UCLA and ending the streak.”
With some luck and a well-played game, a UCLA player could say
that about beating USC on Saturday. Because there could be no
sweeter feeling than that.
E-mail Quiñonez at gquinonez@media.ucla.edu.