USC Conspiracy Afoot
Today’s Daily Cal had an interesting ad - an open letter to students going to this Saturday’s showdown against USC. There’s no link, but here’s some text:
… It is important that the traditional goals of the game be reinforced this year: a lively competition on the field and an enjoyable experience for those in the stands.
Unfortunately, in past years, the spirit of this and other big games has been dampened by the irresponsible behavior of some that resulted in fracas and property damage.
We ask that you refrain from engaging in pranks and other activities that may draw law enforcement and security personnel and resources away from more pressing matters…
Please respect this treasured Pac-10 tradition and celebrate your school spirit, pride and sportsmanship in a safe, positive and civil manner. Enjoy the game!
Interesting idea. The letter is signed by Birgeneau and USC President Steven Sample. However, it’s clear that USC is talking out of both sides of their mouth. Their message board is full of claims of 30,000 USC students coming north (where will they all stay? How will there not be conflicts?) and a large group of them conspiring to take over Tightwad Hill, a mainstay territory for loyal Cal fans.
While I am not usually one to condone violence, they are from USC.
It certainly says something about Cal’s football program that the USC can get the Big Game treatment now.
Comment by Beetle — November 9, 2005 @ 3:05 pm
I think it says more about the Stanfurd football program.
Comment by Anonymous — November 9, 2005 @ 3:45 pm
how does one get up to tightwad hill to watch the game?
Comment by Anonymous — November 9, 2005 @ 6:19 pm
Dear USC fans
To get to tightwad hill, first go to the intersection of 98th and bancroft, it will be obvious from there.
Comment by chet — November 9, 2005 @ 6:22 pm
Steven Sample would have made a better chancellor than Birge.
Comment by Bhanu Singh — November 9, 2005 @ 6:28 pm
Can someone please provide a link to said boards? I’m just curious.
Comment by f — November 9, 2005 @ 7:01 pm
yay. My cousin just got into USC on a flute scholarship for their band and he gets to come on this trip. They bought the best football team + support available.
Comment by ogg — November 9, 2005 @ 7:29 pm
have you been to 98th and Bancroft, Chet, or is it just this location you’ve read about?
Comment by chp — November 9, 2005 @ 7:33 pm
i just talked to my friend at usc who called to see if i had tickets. he said there is a facebook group all about taking over the hill. i told him that we’d throw them off.
Comment by Anonymous — November 9, 2005 @ 10:53 pm
since USC has less than 15,000 undergraduates, somehow I’m thinking that 30,000 wont show up in berkeley. (and I know that there are alumi + grad students from USC but come on, not 15000 willing to come up)
Comment by obbb — November 9, 2005 @ 11:17 pm
What makes you think USC’s President would be a better chancellor?
Comment by RepBast1984 — November 10, 2005 @ 12:49 am
Victory Cannon + Ammo + high ground on Tightwad Hill = one failed USC assault on the hill. Just take them out, Civil War style.
Comment by Anonymous — November 10, 2005 @ 7:04 am
Like Fort Wagner in Glory?
Comment by Anonymous — November 10, 2005 @ 7:24 am
You know they’ll still win the game though. It is only their fans you will beat. If Nebraska came, you wouldn’t even want to beat their horde of fans coming 1200 miles in RVs. They are too nice and would far outnumber you.
Comment by chp — November 10, 2005 @ 7:30 am
my sister got into USC on a skin-flute scholarship.
Comment by tom — November 10, 2005 @ 11:24 am
i got into usc with my matricula consular
Comment by chet — November 10, 2005 @ 11:44 am
He knows how to raise a lot of private money, esp. given the mediocrity of his current institution. And he puts his school’s interests first, not those of the state. USC, like it or not, has come a long way in 10 years.
Comment by Bhanu Singh — November 11, 2005 @ 9:03 am
I didn’t get into USC because I didn’t bother applying. Kinda sucks when you dish out that much money and your school is worse than a public school.
He better know how to raise private money. That’s why it’s called a private school. I think Dean Edly, while I may disagree with him on race issues, is doing a damn good job of making Boalt a good school.
Comment by Anonymity — November 11, 2005 @ 11:30 am
USC students sometimes can hire servants to do their homework, but the OC and other shows make it look fun. I bet the medical school etc. are good.
Comment by . — November 11, 2005 @ 1:54 pm
Wrong county, buddy. USC is much more left wing than Orange County.
Comment by Anonymity — November 11, 2005 @ 5:52 pm
anonymity, edley is on the right track.
i sense in your message a bias that somehow private schools are automatically “supposed” to be better than a public school. if you are a berkeley student, you should know better.
Comment by Bhanu Singh — November 14, 2005 @ 9:58 am
Nah, I don’t necessarily think so. However, when we’re losing money, we damn well better know how to raise it so our rankings don’t fall and our reputation doesn’t go to hell. Dean Edly knows what’s best for the students at UC and I wish he would get promoted to something higher up at Berkeley. Be he wrong about affirmative action, that’s his opinion.
As for our stupid chancellor, he rejected $150 million dolalrs of funding because it was for specific purposes, not “social justice”. Well, douchebag Chancellor, did it ever cross your mind that we could have used that money?
Comment by Anonymity — November 14, 2005 @ 11:13 am
Anonymity, God, I couldn’t agree with you more. When I heard about that $150 M rejection, my blood boiled. What a complete jackass.
My sense is that Edley and Birge don’t see eye to eye re:fundraising. Edley, being from Harvard, has an appropriate sense of urgency. We’ll get killed unless we practice better wealth management.
Comment by Bhanu Singh — November 14, 2005 @ 11:44 am