BlueGoldAg
July 16th, 2019, 11:38 AM
The USC Trojans are one of only three FBS programs who have never scheduled an FCS opponent. The other two programs are Notre Dame and UCLA. That USC tradition is now scheduled to end on September 4, 2021, when UC Davis travels to the Coliseum in Los Angels to play the Trojans in the 2021 opener for both teams.
The Aggies see the game as an exciting opportunity:
"That USC agreed to play UC Davis as its first-ever FCS opponent signifies the respect they have for our team and university. It is deserved recognition of the upward trajectory of our football program under the guidance of Coach Hawkins," said Kevin Blue (https://ucdavisaggies.com/staff.aspx?staff=305), the university's director of athletics
https://ucdavisaggies.com/news/2019/7/12/uc-davis-football-opens-with-usc-in-2021.aspx
But, many Trojan fans and some sports writers strongly disagree:
"The more we think of it, the more we realize exactly why the scheduling of FCS opponent UC Davis bothers us -- not to mention every former Trojan player we've heard from since Friday's announcement -- so much."
"The first thing you have to do is decide that it's worth USC's while to remain in the trio with Notre Dame and UCLA, its two arch-rivals, as the only three FBS teams not to have scheduled an FCS team. That's something of value. A record of some distinction. If not, then why has USC noted it with pride in every media guide and game notes we've ever seen?"
"But even more, it's an expression of that greatest of all college sporting mottoes: "FIGHT ON! It's the essence of "fighting on!" to figure out a way to keep that going. If you can't win national championships right now for all the reasons we know, you can still be that team that nobody wants to play, that team that backs off from no one and that team that is building to get back on top."
"Playing UC Davis does not do that. In 10 years, maybe it could make some sense when USC is selling out, when season tickets are at a premium, when fans are so focused on what the next year will bring that they don't care who you're playing in the opener, they'll be there to see the new Trojans team."
https://247sports.com/college/usc/Article/One-more-thought-about-USC-scheduling-UC-Davis-and-falling-off-the-No-FCS-list-133679428/Amp/
The Aggies see the game as an exciting opportunity:
"That USC agreed to play UC Davis as its first-ever FCS opponent signifies the respect they have for our team and university. It is deserved recognition of the upward trajectory of our football program under the guidance of Coach Hawkins," said Kevin Blue (https://ucdavisaggies.com/staff.aspx?staff=305), the university's director of athletics
https://ucdavisaggies.com/news/2019/7/12/uc-davis-football-opens-with-usc-in-2021.aspx
But, many Trojan fans and some sports writers strongly disagree:
"The more we think of it, the more we realize exactly why the scheduling of FCS opponent UC Davis bothers us -- not to mention every former Trojan player we've heard from since Friday's announcement -- so much."
"The first thing you have to do is decide that it's worth USC's while to remain in the trio with Notre Dame and UCLA, its two arch-rivals, as the only three FBS teams not to have scheduled an FCS team. That's something of value. A record of some distinction. If not, then why has USC noted it with pride in every media guide and game notes we've ever seen?"
"But even more, it's an expression of that greatest of all college sporting mottoes: "FIGHT ON! It's the essence of "fighting on!" to figure out a way to keep that going. If you can't win national championships right now for all the reasons we know, you can still be that team that nobody wants to play, that team that backs off from no one and that team that is building to get back on top."
"Playing UC Davis does not do that. In 10 years, maybe it could make some sense when USC is selling out, when season tickets are at a premium, when fans are so focused on what the next year will bring that they don't care who you're playing in the opener, they'll be there to see the new Trojans team."
https://247sports.com/college/usc/Article/One-more-thought-about-USC-scheduling-UC-Davis-and-falling-off-the-No-FCS-list-133679428/Amp/