USC & UCLA Are Already Regretting Their Decision To Join The B1G - Kliavkoff

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

Fast forward a few years and what you're going to either hate or enjoy are the stories about how a good USC or UCLA team dropped one after practicing for a couple of weeks in beautiful 65 degree weather and then having to go play a tough game in windy 25 degree weather. There will be stories about how players don't like being up for 16-18 hours because of weird starting times + the travel. It's a two-edged sword. Both schools will benefit from the B1G association. And the $$$ will be there too. It's just too early to say it will be mostly good, or a PITA or a combination of the two. We'll see.

It will certainly happen on occasion later in the year, but in general our days throughout most of the fall are typically beautiful until later in November. I'm going to enjoy the first time UCS or UCLA has to play in a raining cold game, but 25 degree weather probably won't happen. I don't think in the last 2 decades of having tickets I've ever been to a game truly that cold. If anything, they might actually enjoy going to campuses that actually have a real fall football feeling to them lol.

And on the flip side, our teams are going to love being schedules in California for a November game.

 

[Volbound1700]

All I will say on that issue is if Riley doesn’t change his “we’ll just outscore them” and recruits 15 offensive playmakers to 1 LB recruit yearly in a few years you will have the same feelings about the guy alot if OU fans have. It’s really my only beef with the guy as OU had the filet mignon offenses to win a natty but sadly a chicken nugget defense.

Some of that was the playstyle of the Big12 which has rush offenses. It makes the defenses look worse based off their schemes. That can work when you are undertalented but it doesn't work in big-time games. Oklahoma could have probably just adjusted their playstyle and improved on defense as well.

 

[trojanfan12]

I always think that's a funny argument. "But what about the distance!!!!!"

What's really the difference between a 2 hour flight to Eugene Oregon and a 5 hour flight to New Jersey? Are we saying those 3 hours causes irreputable harm to athletes? It's a weird argument to me. Especially since I bet they often shove these kids on bus rides that are longer than that.

The PAC is the most ''spread out'' conference in the country. Most of the traveling that USC and UCLA will be doing is right around the distance they travel to play Washington St.

And people act like they'll be traveling to Rutgers every year. The B1G is going to have what? 16 teams when USC and UCLA join?

Even if the B1G went to a 15 game round robin schedule, they'd only be making that trip every other season.

 

[Wild Turkey]

Your ''facts'' have been shown to be wrong multiple times in this thread.

Good to see your still working through your grief though.

The cold weather crap is BS. The northern guys want to bring it up all the time but it just doesn’t fly. How many games in the snow do you watch in the B1G? Literally there might be one a year per team if that. Most of the time those guys are out there in short sleeves playing in at worst 40 degrees.

Play in the humidity and 90 degrees. Early in the season down south high schools have mandatory scheduled water breaks for player health.

There is a reason those guys play all their bowl games in Florida and it’s because they don’t want to play in the cold either.

It’s the biggest bunch on bunk they can’t give up. I would say a bigger concern for USC would be the games against teams like Rutgers, Purdue, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, Maryland and can the kids even get excited about playing them.

It’s a lot different when you’re playing Cal, the Arizona schools and even Washington State where there is a history and it’s part of your culture. That is going to be the hardest part of the move is getting these kids up every week to play schools they don’t give a crap about.

 

[Kevin12773]

Some of that was the playstyle of the Big12 which has rush offenses. It makes the defenses look worse based off their schemes. That can work when you are undertalented but it doesn't work in big-time games. Oklahoma could have probably just adjusted their playstyle and improved on defense as well.

You’re not wrong but I gotta say I’m very happy with the 23 recruiting cycle with the defensive talent being signed. As I’ve said many times I’d rather win a game 24-14 than lose 55-52. So tired of watching OU games thinking “last team with the ball wins”

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

The cold weather crap is BS. The northern guys want to bring it up all the time but it just doesn’t fly. How many games in the snow do you watch in the B1G? Literally there might be one a year per team if that. Most of the time those guys are out there in short sleeves playing in at worst 40 degrees.

Play in the humidity and 90 degrees. Early in the season down south high schools have mandatory scheduled water breaks for player health.

There is a reason those guys play all their bowl games in Florida and it’s because they don’t want to play in the cold either.

It’s the biggest bunch on bunk they can’t give up. I would say a bigger concern for USC would be the games against teams like Rutgers, Purdue, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, Maryland and can the kids even get excited about playing them.

It’s a lot different when you’re playing Cal, the Arizona schools and even Washington State where there is a history and it’s part of your culture. That is going to be the hardest part of the move is getting these kids up every week to play schools they don’t give a crap about.

They'll definitely get hit within the first two years by a cold and raining game. But it will still probably be like 45 and raining. The snow, probably not very likely. it will eventually happen but maybe like 1 time in 10-15 years of traveling around the conference for games.

I think, like you said, is that the B10 now has a lot more teams capable of taking you out vs. the Pac. Sleep on Indiana or Purdue one day and you'll have an L.

 

[trojanfan12]

All I will say on that issue is if Riley doesn’t change his “we’ll just outscore them” and recruits 15 offensive playmakers to 1 LB recruit yearly in a few years you will have the same feelings about the guy alot if OU fans have. It’s really my only beef with the guy as OU had the filet mignon offenses to win a natty but sadly a chicken nugget defense.

From what I have seen so far, he isn't ignoring defense. Which honestly was my biggest concern with hiring him.

Our defense is going to be thin as he hasn't had time to build a lot of depth and it's a young defense, especially in the defensive backfield. The defense has talent and should eventually be pretty good. They just need to stay healthy, be coachable and hopefully add some depth when training camps start and they can possibly get a couple of guys from the portal.

 

[Wild Turkey]

They'll definitely get hit within the first two years by a cold and raining game. But it will still probably be like 45 and raining. The snow, probably not very likely. it will eventually happen but maybe like 1 time in 10-15 years of traveling around the conference for games.

I think, like you said, is that the B10 now has a lot more teams capable of taking you out vs. the Pac. Sleep on Indiana or Purdue one day and you'll have an L.

Now rain is a major concern as most of the California kids have never even seen rain. It might freak them out.

 

[trojanfan12]

They'll definitely get hit within the first two years by a cold and raining game. But it will still probably be like 45 and raining. The snow, probably not very likely. it will eventually happen but maybe like 1 time in 10-15 years of traveling around the conference for games.

So, in other words, it's like playing in Pullman, Corvallis, Eugene and Seattle about the same time of year.

 

[Deep Creek]

Some of that was the playstyle of the Big12 which has rush offenses. It makes the defenses look worse based off their schemes. That can work when you are undertalented but it doesn't work in big-time games. Oklahoma could have probably just adjusted their playstyle and improved on defense as well.

I think it has more to do with how long a defense is on the field than it does scheme.

Saw it play out the first year Coach Hitch ‘ Em Up relented and hired Cumbie and Meachem to install a more quick strike offense. TCU’s defense was on the field all the time when Boykin and his crew scored quickly. Defense got gassed. Didn’t have enough defensive depth to keep up. So he wanted more ball control at times to let the defense rest. Didn’t work but they were in a Catch-22 situation.

 

[Volbound1700]

I think it has more to do with how long a defense is on the field than it does scheme.

Saw it play out the first year Coach Hitch ‘ Em Up relented and hired Cumbie and Meachem to install a more quick strike offense. TCU’s defense was on the field all the time when Boykin and his crew scored quickly. Defense got gassed. Didn’t have enough defensive depth to keep up. So he wanted more ball control at times to let the defense rest. Didn’t work but they were in a Catch-22 situation.

That is what I was talking about with Philosophy. Tennessee had same problem to with Heupel's hurry up. It especially hurt us in 3Q and 4Q when our offense would get tired and stop scoring/moving the ball. One interesting off-season discussion was actually about conditioning of our offense because the 3Q was our weakest quarter from an offensive perspective. They calculated numerous 3-in-outs that forced the defense back onto the field quickly.

 

[HammerDown]

What I've seen from USC fans has mostly ranged from ''wait and see'' to full support.

What I've seen from UCLA fans has been much more skeptical than that. Are you noticing the same?

 

[Deep Creek]

That is what I was talking about with Philosophy. Tennessee had same problem to with Heupel's hurry up. It especially hurt us in 3Q and 4Q when our offense would get tired and stop scoring/moving the ball. One interesting off-season discussion was actually about conditioning of our offense because the 3Q was our weakest quarter from an offensive perspective. They calculated numerous 3-in-outs that forced the defense back onto the field quickly.

Couple a few quick 3-n- outs with a few 2-3 play scoring drives and you really put the defense on the field a long time.

 

[Volbound1700]

I feel like UCLA and USC were almost in a situation where they HAD to move to B1G. The Financial struggles of the Pac12 and its diminishing place in CFB power rankings were a MAJOR concern to both programs.

The mistake that UCLA and USC made was not bringing more friends (if they even had that ability). Getting a Northern California school (or schools) would have helped. They need more local friends to make it work.

The Notre Dame + Stanford addition made sense because it gave UCLA and USC one more local opponent. I am thinking that even without Notre Dame, B1G will eventually have to grab Cal-Stanford. Another wave would be Oregon-Washington.

 

[OlyDuck]

So, in other words, it's like playing in Pullman, Corvallis, Eugene and Seattle about the same time of year.

still sounds like better weather than going to Utah or Colorado in November too.

 

[OlyDuck]

I feel like UCLA and USC were almost in a situation where they HAD to move to B1G. The Financial struggles of the Pac12 and its diminishing place in CFB power rankings were a MAJOR concern to both programs.

The mistake that UCLA and USC made was not bringing more friends (if they even had that ability). Getting a Northern California school (or schools) would have helped. They need more local friends to make it work.

The Notre Dame + Stanford addition made sense because it gave UCLA and USC one more local opponent. I am thinking that even without Notre Dame, B1G will eventually have to grab Cal-Stanford. Another wave would be Oregon-Washington.

HAD to move when in the eyes of a lot of people those struggles are USC's fault for not being the USC they want

 

[trojanfan12]

What I've seen from UCLA fans has been much more skeptical than that. Are you noticing the same?

A little bit. A couple of my closest friends are UCLA fans and they were pretty skeptical about it until I pointed out the difference in the money they'll be getting. They're still a little skeptical, but understand why the move is happening.

I think part of it is that Chip seems to have them headed in the right direction in the PAC and now they're moving to a stronger football conference.

 

[Volbound1700]

HAD to move when in the eyes of a lot of people those struggles are USC's fault for not being the USC they want

To me, it isn't just about on the field performance but also about developing a culture of interest in College Football. Great points:

1. How do you get sports talk to focus more on college and less on pro sports?
2. How do you encourage young people to come out to games?
3. How do you market your product?

Pac12 should have put a lot of effort into marketing their product to young people and getting more interest driven up into Pac12. I have family that lived in California and they never went to Pac12 games or watched them. To a lot of people on the West Coast, it is like Pac12 doesn't exist. You don't have that in the Southeast for example. Everyone, even non-sports fans, know about the SEC and major SEC brands.

 

[trojanfan12]

still sounds like better weather than going to Utah or Colorado in November too.

Yep. I keep forgetting about Colorado and Utah.

Every conference has its weather challenges. As someone else mentioned, the South has heat and humidity early in the season.

When you consider the heat in Arizona early in the season and couple that with cold and rain in the PNW plus Colorado and Utah, you can make a case that the PAC actually has a wider range of potential weather issues than any other conference.

 

[Volbound1700]

Yep. I keep forgetting about Colorado and Utah.

Every conference has its weather challenges. As someone else mentioned, the South has heat and humidity early in the season.

When you consider the heat in Arizona early in the season and couple that with cold and rain in the PNW plus Colorado and Utah, you can make a case that the PAC actually has a wider range of potential weather issues than any other conference.

I would argue Colorado and Utah are tougher road games than B1G stadiums due to the higher altitudes. Also, I think some of the B1G stadiums are indoor (Minnesota).