It's settled ... USC and UCLA will only lose one timeout

A decision to restore the tradition of USC and UCLA both wearing home jerseys in their rivalry game almost came at a hefty price ... but now it looks like cooperation between the coaches will ensure a return to the practice after more than a quarter-century layoff.

The NCAA Football Rules Committee decided Tuesday that as a penalty for not wearing white, the visiting team (USC, this year) will be penalized one timeout in the first half only. Pete Carroll had already decided to move forward with the cardinal jerseys, even if it meant losing one timeout per half.

UCLA's Rick Neuheisel has agreed to burn one timeout immediately at the start of the game, putting the teams on an equal playing field.

Carroll has invited UCLA to wear their true blue jerseys at the Coliseum next year, and pledged to burn a timeout just like Neuheisel plans to do for him.

-- Adam Rose

Comments

[ldytrjn]

You mean their "true blue" jerseys that aren't actually their school colors? They've been slowly darkening their baby blue and lemon yellow uniforms over the past ten or so years hoping people wouldn't notice. All I'm saying is, if you're school colors are hideous/wussy, just man up and wear them.

[Scott]

Really?
A committee actually had to convene to decide a proper punishment for this "offense".
College football taking itself a bit too seriously these days aren't they?

[John E]

Let's get something straight: this is not a simple act of nostalgia and gamesmanship, it's a ploy to buy this game some more media attention on the national stage - ergo - help USC grab a part of the AP Championship come January (which they probably do deserve). In fact, I think it's easy to argue the past quarter decade has seen the greatest and most exciting football games ever played between these two schools even though they - *gasp* - wore home and away jerseys on the field. The average margin of victory in this period seems to suggest a similar story, despite the famous winning streaks that occured therein. So forgive me if I don't see the great quixotic appeal this gesture provides.

[Eric Sornoso]

USC should have offered UCLA its timeout since "Punting" will lead the Bruins to victory.

[Richard Kang]

Neuheisel is a wuss. UCLA needs all the help it can get today and HE makes a concession to these cocky mean-spirited Trojans!

This was NEVER a gesture to restore any tradition by SC. REREAD the article above---Caroll had ALREADY MADE the decision for Troy to wear red jerseys and to live with giving up a time out! All they want is to strut around the Rose Bowl in front of Bruins and rub their cockiness in Bruins' faces. This is ALL this is about, and they're getting their way!

THANK YOU Rick Neuheisel! I KNEW you were never a competitor----you're a push-over! We don't care about our team wearing blue and gold at the Coliseum next year! Carroll may not even be there next year to honor the agreement. Heck Bruins won't even go to that hell hole for fear of being attacked!

ALL we care about is a WIN THIS YEAR against SC! Can you make that kind of agreement with the Bruins?