I apologize in advance to those who are tired of my strange brand of devotional sports writing, but I simply can’t NOT write about this one. At least this time it’s not about baseball. On Saturday I am going to the USC v. Oregon NCAA football game at the Los Angeles Coliseum. (That’s University of Southern California, not University of South Carolina. It depends on where you live what USC means.)
The game has the make-up of a potential upset. Oregon is #1 in the nation in at least one poll and USC is #24, having lost two games to last second field goals. USC is also ineligible for a bowl game due to NCAA recruiting violations, so they really have nothing to lose except to knock off someone who does. This is actually a new position for them. They are most acquainted with being a top ten team who continually gets pressure from lesser teams as underdogs, playing their hearts out in an attempt to topple the big guys. Suddenly the shoe is on the other foot. Not that they have much of a chance beating a team as fast and multi-talented as Oregon, but you never know. The Trojan offense is capable of being on the field with Oregon but its defense is going to have to show up in a big way – something it hasn’t done so far this year. Being the underdog is humbling and also can be character-building.
Wearing the shoe on the other foot is something we could all learn how to do better. We get so used to one way of seeing things that we have no idea how someone else sees the world. Nor can we tolerate someone else’s position if we can only see ours.
An opinion column in the paper yesterday pointed out how universities foster a very liberal take on diversity that places a high value on tolerance as long as one does not have to tolerate the conservative point of view. So how diverse are we at the end of the day if we can only see and think like liberals? The whole idea of having two political parties is to get a broader perspective on everything. And shouldn’t the university be a place that fosters a breadth of views?
The apostle Paul was willing to be “all things to all men” for the purpose of saving some. Certainly he would want us to be well versed in all perspectives for the same reason.
If USC can win on Saturday, it would be a major upset, unless, of course, you are from South Carolina, in which case USC had better win, since the Gamecocks are favored by 17.5 points over Tennessee. It all depends on your perspective.
John Fischer The Catch 
I admit the football part went a little over my head, but it was a very good column nonetheless! 🙂
Gee, John, thanks for enlightening me. After 40 years as a Notre Dame fan I thought USC simply stood for University of Spoiled Children…….:)
Appreciate all you do, sir. Peace /Jim
Actually I am a legitimate USC dad in that my daughter gets her P.A. degree from USC School of Medicine in a few months. I can guarantee she is not spoiled, in fact she will have a mountain of loans to pay back, but the education and opportunities she will receive is worth it. Of course there is some truth to the spoiled children thing but there are always exceptions.
Go ducks–I do love my ducks!!!! but I get your point, too.
You should. They are a great team.
Reminded of the verse Romans 12:15 …”Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” This whole paragraph of Romans points to how we relate to God’s world of all kinds of people. It is right to come up with full empathy for any with whom we rub elbows. Attend a “Gay Wedding” or not? They are rejoicing so can I rejoice? It is a real issue for the USC crowd out west, not so much for the other USC crowd, but I predict it will be pretty soon.
PS – To balance your feedback … in music it is “More cowbell.”, in sports it is “More baseball.”
Hi John,
Have a great time at the game! May USC play well, but if UO prevails then the Pac 12 still looks very good.
jk
John, I love your sports commentary (even though I understand the finer points of baseball not at all). My daughter is a freshman at Washington State University – following in the proud heritage of her dad. He along with 7 out of 9 siblings graduated from WSU. Just wanted you to know I agree completely with you pointing out what it means to be open minded. I think our conservative brothers and sisters have been given a bad rap. We all need to be loving and accepting of our differing viewpoints without demonizing one another. Sign me, Proud Cougar Mom & Wife (WSU – home of the true underdogs(cats)!)
Hey John,
Can I remind you that a World Series of Baseball is about to be played?! The SF Giants could possibly win their first since moving to Northern California in 1958.
I agree USC and O is a very exciting venture, but I just thought I’d give a little attention to something that is important to us Bay Area folk.
I still love you, but we’ve got priorities…. :^)
Go Giants,
Doumer
I have not forgotten the World Series, in fact I’m rooting for the Giants. Texas got there, good enough for them, but the Giants need to win one. Of course I won’t even bring up 2002, will I?