Tell me USC is 'Southern Cal'

I don'’t care much about how anyone refers to USC. But, the same can't be said for Tim Tessalone, the seemingly been-there-forever USC Sports Information Director.

Every year he includes in the tome that is the USC Football Media Guide, the USC version of the Elements of Style, which insists that USC should not be referred to by members of the media as "Southern Cal."

It's Not 'Southern Cal'
Note to the media: In editorial references to athletic teams of the University of Southern California, the following are preferred: USC, Southern California, So. California, Troy and Trojans for men's or women's teams, and Women of Troy for women's teams. PLEASE do not use Southern Cal (it's like calling San Francisco "Frisco" or North Carolina "North Car.") The usage of "Southern Cal" on licensed apparel and merchandise is limited in scope and necessary to protect federal trademark rights.

Who cares? No one I know. Apparently no one outside Heritage Hall and practically no one in the Coliseum press box cares much, either. We hear "Southern Cal" all the time in the media, especially from closet Trojan haters like Beano Cook.

Still, that's not as messed up as the Buckeyes, who need to emphasize a definite article to give themselves a place in the world. "THE" Ohio State University.” What the hell is that?

And, unlike the Gamecocks, we'’re secure in the fact that, aside from twangers in the Palmetto State, everyone knows we're "THE"” USC on a national scale.

The idiots in the Midwest, East and South who don'’t get it --– and again, there are a lot of those people --– can call us whatever they want. The bottom line is We Are SC!

And according to Tessalone we are also USC ... and Southern California ... and So. California ... ... and Troy ... and Trojans ... and Women of Troy ... and the University of Southern California.

Call us "Southern Cal" ... As Michael Jordan once said: "I want you to."