It is easy to write about how thankful the students and team are to play USC after a win. But even after a loss, the Notre Dame family should still be thankful for the USC rivalry.
This season, the Irish will not play famed rival Michigan, nor Michigan State, or in state rival Purdue. Instead, Notre Dame will be replacing many of these rivalries with 5 ACC opponents each year. Thankfully, for all of us, USC stayed on the schedule.
USC and Notre Dame have been playing since 1926, with 87 meetings and the Irish leading the series 46-36-5. The record we have against USC is one of the many reasons that playing USC is important for Notre Dame. Whether we are 1-6 or 6-1, playing USC brings out the best in the Notre Dame players and fans. During some of our darkest seasons, the Irish family still came out in full force to watch Notre Dame face USC, whether home or away.
I am thankful for the long-standing rivalry that USC has blessed Notre Dame with. Without conference ties, it can sometimes be hard to have that deep-rooted hate for some of the opponents that we play. Don’t get me wrong: If someone is playing against Notre Dame, I am rooting against them. But mainly, I am rooting for the Irish. But when it comes to USC, I am rooting against the Trojans just as hard as I am rooting for the Irish.
Even through all the hate, there is a sense of respect that both teams and fans have for this rivalry. For the fans, we have a game, set-in-stone, to look forward to each year. The USC vs ND game brings in a huge number of alumni, parents and even students from other schools. For the team, it gives Notre Dame bragging rights when we win, and a reason to improve if we lose. The height of this rivalry brings out the true talent of the Notre Dame players. The rivalry brings out the true spirit and tradition that Notre Dame football brings to the University. After attending many games at Notre Dame Stadium, I can honestly say nothing brings out the loudest cheers and that infamous Notre Dame family feel more than when we play USC.
So, thank you to USC and Notre Dame for keeping this rivalry alive in a time of so much change for each school.
Photo by Matt Cashore
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It’s this simple: Without USC all these years, we would not quite be be the ND that we are. And without Notre Dame, SC would not be the Trojans as the country knows them.
All the thrills, drama, hype, Heisman’s (won and lost), National Championships, controversy, etc., helped form these two iconic programs. (And without USC, we probably would have been in a conference long ago).