For those who still discount this Saturday's showdown of California teams as merely a tune up for the Trojans, check out the story by the AP. Both teams have a lot to gain and much to lose. Fresno State is not playing the roll of the little with everything to gain, and USC is not playing the big guy with everything to lose.Granted a loss by USC would likely kill the Trojans chance at a third consecutive national title, but the 16th ranked Bulldogs are not exactly chopped liver.
"This is a great matchup. I don't know if the rest of the country realizes that," Pete Carroll said.
"How much more difficult can it be, playing two 9-1 teams (to finish the regular season)? We'll earn everything we get this year."
Fresno State is 8-1, but same difference. The respect is not just coming from Carroll. The Trojan players know what their up against.
"They've wanted to play us for a couple years. Now they have a chance," USC guard Fred Matua said.
"We know that they're very capable of beating us. I think they're underrated; they should be in the top 10. We feel we have everything to gain."
Fresno State head man Pat Hill will not this go to his player's head. The Bulldogs will be focused for this once in a lifetime opportunity.
"They are the best team in the country," Hill said.
"I've got a lot of respect for them as a team and as a philosophy. They've got great strengths. That's why they've won 32 in a row."
2 comments:
I loved Pat Hill's quote in one of these articles today (possibly the OC Register), to the effect that he actually admires USC and has always been a fan.
Same for me. I'm a USC fan, been rooting for them all year, have seen all their games, much more than UCLA (and I like UCLA too), but obviously am undoubtedly a Bulldog fan if the two should meet.
Even more relevant, I was born in the Hollywood area, and grew up a USC fan before moving to Fresno for grade school, and remained one until I got old enough to start going to Fresno State games (Kevin Sweeney era, who was from my neighborhood, and a fellow Irishman).
Who from California is not some sort of USC fan? Unless your an alum of an opposing school. USC does sit all high and mighty on their thrown, but there are still a West Coast school.
I think I hate is since there is no playoff, a Fresno State win over USC would probably set up a Texas-Miami NC game. No freakin west coast love.
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