Back in August 2008, just days before UCLA football was set to play its first game under relentlessly optimistic coach Rick Neuheisel, the UCLA marketing department got a little overanxious.
A quarter-page ad in the Los Angeles Times read, “THE FOOTBALL MONOPOLY IN LOS ANGELES IS OFFICIALLY OVER,” with Neuheisel pointing accusingly into the distance at the implied owner of the monopoly, USC. UCLA and USC fans alike got a good chuckle out of that.
But those marketing folks might have the last laugh.
The departure of USC football coach Pete Carroll, officially announced Monday, signifies the end of the football “monopoly” in this two-horse town.
Though it appears the Trojans have reloaded, hiring Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin on Tuesday and reportedly trying to lure Norm Chow from UCLA, even such a coaching duo is a step down from the high standard set by Carroll.
And we could not be happier.
Carroll’s departure for the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks comes at an ideal time for UCLA. Neuheisel will enter his third year at the helm, and more positive results will be expected from him after the improvement the team showed this season.
USC, on the other hand, just finished its season at 9-4, its worst record under Carroll since his first year in 2001.
And in this year’s game against USC, the 28-7 score was not indicative of how equally sloppy both teams played and how close the game really was. Tempers flared from both coaches in the final minute of the game in a way that indicated that things were finally getting competitive again. The gap was closing, and Carroll just hurried the process along.
This is a great thing for all Bruin fans who figured to be watching the Rose Bowl from home until Carroll retired or jumped ship.
Carroll led the Trojans to seven consecutive Pac-10 Championships, making the annual USC-UCLA end of the season contest often lacking in intrigue. Having such a strong program 20 minutes away made it difficult for Bruin coaches to land the best recruits. For almost a decade, USC has stood in our way. Now, with the conference bully out of the way, UCLA suddenly stands a chance.
UCLA will benefit immediately from recruits who had previously committed to USC and who will deflect in the coming weeks. It is likely a few will consider UCLA.
On a larger scale, the improvement of our football team means increased school exposure, increased revenue for the athletics department and even a potential increase in BearWear sales.
But perhaps most importantly, winning begets school pride. Next year there might be more than a handful of students at the Beat ‘SC Rally, and those that are there might actually believe we can do it.
Now all we need is a sturdier box for the Bruin Bear.
Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the editorial board.