Rose Bowl opponents USC and Penn State share curious legacy

Even though the series between USC and Penn State is older than Joe Paterno (barely), the historic college football powerhouses have faced each other only eight times.

Maybe that's why they can coexist with basically the same mottoes.

The Nittany Lions consider their most famous athletic cheer, "We are ... Penn State!"

But the Trojans shout an eerily similar, "We are ... SC!"

USC thinks they invented the phrase "Fight on!"

But Penn State fans also tell each other to "Fight on!"

Appropriately, that's how the first game between the schools started.

During a conference call with coaches and reporters on Sunday night, USC's Pete Carroll joked about the legacy with PSU's Joe Paterno. "I heard that in 1923, SC played Penn State. I don't think you were there, but there was a fight between the coaches in the pregame. I know that you're a little under the weather recovering, but I'm sure you still got a good left hand."

Paterno shot right back, "If you got to worry about my left hand, you're in real trouble."

It never came to blows on New Years of 1923, but a heated argument at the Rose Bowl was reportedly caused by the most traditional of LA reasons -- traffic.

According to "Tournament of Roses," a book by Joe Hendrickson, the game was supposed to start at 2:15 p.m., but Penn State's bus didn't make it until 15 minutes after the scheduled kickoff. USC Coach Elmer "Gloomy Gus" Henderson was waiting in the Lions' locker room and berated Penn State Coach Hugo Bezdek, "You tried to stall so we would get itchy. Furthermore, you wanted the sun to lower, believing you'd have a better chance when it's cool."

Bezdek called Henderson a liar.

Henderson said Bezdek was full of "bunk."

Bezdek suggested Henderson remove his glasses.

No, I'm not making this up.

Fortunately (depending on how you look at it), some people stepped in and the game was able to kick off at 3:05 p.m. Though still early by today's standards, it threw reporters and telegraph operators for a loop. Evidently there was no electricity, so they needed matches for enough light to finish their stories.

USC won that evening, 14-3, and the schools wouldn't face each other again until the 1982 Fiesta Bowl. Perhaps that pregame conversation is why they avoided each other for almost 60 years.

In another strange twist, a newspaper column ran days before the game titled, "Tom Thorp, Famous Coach, Recites the Cardinal Rules for Success on Gridiron."

Rule No. 1?

"Never get conversational with your opponent."

-- Adam Rose
(Click the image to see a larger version)

Comments

[We ARE...gonna whup]

USC. You heard it here first. Underestimate Penn State all you want, but USC's offense has never seen a defense as fierce as Penn State's.

[James]

The best defense the USC offese will face all year is in practice.

[chris]

USC won't take penn state lightly - lotsa talk from prognosticators and fans (on both sides), but the Trojan coaches and players are going to make themselves sick watching penn state videotape and charting plays and plans for the game (just not too sick :) )

[EJK]

Does SC have any chance of winning a share of the national title with a dominating performance over Penn St? It would be great to get the AP title like we did in 2003.

[EJK]

Another sacrificial lamb from the Big Ten. It's a shame that SC didn't get to play Texas in the Fiesta Bowl. That would've been a far more intriguing matchup - Texas' explosive offense v. the best defense in the nation. We would also get the chance to avenge the loss to Vince Young.

[robsdc123]

Two words to stay about this: "Oregon State"

[JamesL]

"USC thinks they invented the phrase "Fight on!""

Penn State's 'Fight On, State' fight song wasn't written until after Joe Pa took the reigns... and while that seems like ancient history, it was only the 60's. USC has been playing "Fight On" since the 20's. I don't know who "invented" the phrase first, but certainly SC has the history with the fight song.

[Ray]

Someone has a sense of humour. On the day of the BCS National Championship Game, January 8, USC will face Penn State again! The Men's Volleyball teams will face each other in the Outriggers Hotels Tournament in Honolulu, Hawaii. Coincidence maybe, or is someone
trying to tell BCS what they think of them?

[Ralph Buening]

USC, PSU, this will be a defensive struggle but from what I have seen from both, USC wins because PSU will not be able to sustain any offense in this game.

Whoever said USC's offense faces the best defense in practice has not seen PSU play or hit for that matter. PSU's linebackers are as vicious as any I've seen in college this year. Get prepared for some smash mouth football!

[Adam Rose]

EJK- In a word, no. Florida and Oklahoma are the top two teams in the AP poll, so whichever one wins will be the AP champ. USC and PSU is matching the #5 team against the #6 team.

[Trojan Jarhead]

USC has an opportunity to get a true quality Offensive Coordinator. Please do so!

[shannon]

I love USC!

[USC Hater]

Well we know who's smarter. In the most recent NCAA Graduation Success Rate, Penn State tied for ninth, graduating 78 percent while USC's "student" athletes show a 54 percent rate. More proof Carroll's team can't even spell USC. Go Penn State!

[Eric Sornoso]

Penn St is going to be another Big-Ten Rose Bowl blow....