Readers Are Tougher on Embarrassed USC Than Notre Dame Was

When does a rivalry cease? When does tradition become torture? Are history and effort enough to keep the torch of competition lit year after year, or does one of the teams have to win once every, say, couple of decades? Did the Christians and the lions have a rivalry? How many years, administrations or the return of Halley’s comet have to pass before the most famous annual collegiate contest of modern time, the USC-Notre Dame football game, becomes just another game? Even the USC basketball team beats UCLA once in a while!

TED L. BARTSCHERER

Pasadena

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I am a lifelong USC football fan and a USC graduate. I just can’t believe how much time I’ve wasted during the last decade or so looking forward to the Notre Dame game.

We need canine carbon dating to figure out when a dog last might have known how to behave if USC beat Notre Dame. This time the mighty Trojans couldn’t defense the draw play, the screen pass or Mr. “Five Minutes in the 40” No. 45.

I now feel quite confident that USC will never defeat Notre Dame. That’s it. I’ve had it. I’m done wasting time, furniture, blood pressure points and four-letter words for these losers.

JACK VON BULOW

Temple City

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When will the Trojans learn that they are so completely scouted by Notre Dame and UCLA that they will never win until they surprise these teams with new game plans when they face them?

V.B. KNIGHT

Dana Point

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Cheer, cheer for old Notre Dame,

We proved Mike Downey wrong again.

Send a note to L.A. Times,

His bandwagon writing is a crime.

What though the odds be great or small,

We’ll suffer his articles through it all.

As his loyal fans will tell

From their padded cells.

RICHARD ROMO

Norwalk

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In 62 years of watching USC football as a fan, student and alumnus, I have never seen a more pathetic, gutless performance than I saw Saturday at Notre Dame.

John Robinson is an outstanding coach and fine gentleman. Saturday he was stiffed by his players and got no help from his staff.

The rest of the season? Forget it. No matter what the team does, win the Rose Bowl, whatever, people can and will say: “So what? You can’t beat Notre Dame.”

CALVIN L. GUSTAVOUS

Laguna Hills

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I hope Allan Malamud was serious about recommending that USC discontinue its series with Notre Dame because I wholeheartedly agree. The Fighting Irish have always considered this their biggest game and rightly so, but USC has too many other things to contend with. The Pac-10 race plus the Trojans’ other “biggest game” against UCLA make it all but impossible for USC to be competitive against Notre Dame. This is especially true when the Trojans face the Irish and the Bruins back-to-back every other year.

FRANK L. PETERS

North Hollywood

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In reference to Allan Malamud’s suggestion that USC schedule another school in Indiana, it is perhaps unwise to include Wabash as a possible foe. The Little Giants, alma mater of Pete Metzelaars, et al, have beaten Notre Dame in the past.

DONALD G. HIATT

(Wabash ‘55), Murrieta

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Maybe Israel Ifeanyi and the Trojans should have gotten a temporary restraining order against Notre Dame specifically instead of the NCAA in general.

RON HEYMAN

Fontana

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In order to maintain its national stature, Notre Dame should drop schools like Army, Navy and USC from the football schedule.

TOM McINTOSH

Fullerton

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As a UCLA fan enduring another injury-ridden, mediocre season, it was comforting to see USC carry on the time-honored tradition of being embarrassed by Notre Dame. My next joy will come when another tradition continues and USC loses Nov. 18 to UCLA.

BOB POWLEY

Cathedral City

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It must be heartbreaking for Southern Cal to compromise, for the sake of football glory, everything that a university should believe in and still get thrashed by a mediocre Notre Dame squad.

TIM McOSKER

Long Beach