USC's sudden recruiting dominance a case of mistaken mystique

As we continue working through the recruiting season the Ducks have to look up to see where USC is sitting, way up, way up to the top. Way up to where Trojan fans expect them to be. Way up to where Oregon fan’s would like to be.

It’s a mirage. Recruiting classes in that part of SoCal have been almost, maybe even as good as that in the past. They haven’t won any national championships, barring the one where their recruiting bent the rules a little too much, in the memory of anyone not now approaching retirement. Regie Bush was a real gift .. paid for when paying wasn’t allowed. SC fans haven’t have received more empty boxes than gifts, since.

1972 was the last year joy came to smogland and, even so, not many kids below 5 years old develop such memories unless maybe their dad went off the deep end celebrating.

Yet USC fans will have you believe the program has a deep history of success and they expect it, demand it, each season now. The deep is covered with a not too shallow layer of regret. Heck they only won one Pac12 title putting them behind at least Oregon and Utah.

Duck fans want the same and have been a lot closer to the golden ring than the guy on the white horse has. I have to wonder how many of those white horses have passed on since the last one reared up in celebrating the season’s ultimate victory.

And .. how solid is that class of 30 they have now? With expectations of great improvement will the boosters, the guys with the fat wallets and big voices, settle for a finish below fourth in the B1G next December. I’ll predict that’s what they are going to see along with another loss to the Touchdown Jesus crew.. Would that be enough to secure another year for Coach Riley? Another prediction; NO!!!!

When he leaves how many of the commitments will stand? Anyone who thinks all of them will hasn’t been watching much pig skin loyalty, lately.

So yeah, Oregon should not have an eye on them instead of Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan in the conference and several additional teams elsewhere. The Ducks need to keep riding the wave rather than envying a dune buggy from which mirages are more commonly seen.

It’s certainly not beyond the realm of possibility Oregon has a better class now than USC will have when the smoke clears and possibly even likely the final unit signing will put the Trojans in the green and gold rearview mirror.

Trojan fans need only remember that what is in their rearview mirror is not as close as it seems.

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