I was wondering how LA has greeted the news that Illinois will be in the Rose Bowl this year. Obviously Chicago and the Midwest couldn't be happier that the Illini will be playing in Pasadena. The Rose Bowl is HUGE to us and even with the national championship game, we still covet those trips to the west coast for new years in California.

I realize that the RB could have gotten higher ranked teams that Illinois and perhaps much better match ups for USC (BTW...I fully understand why USC is favored and will probably win). But are you guys happy to see the B10-Pac Ten tradition carried on this year or would you hav preferred another matchup for the Trojans?

I think for Trojan fans going to the Rose Bowl is a bit of a disappointment. This team expects to the national championship game every year. They feel they are a better team than Ohio State, had a tougher schedule so therefore they should be in the game. I am a UCLA fan, cant speak for SC fans, but I believe more than 50% of the fans don't care of the Rose Bowl game anymore.

pretty much right on. USC is suppose to win every year, and being in the Rose Bowl is a consolation prize. I am glad that the tradition of the Rose Bowl is continuing, but the general feeling here is let Illinois come, spend all their money, enjoy the weather and the parade and then USC will blow them out.