<p><<and when=“” you=“” consider=“” the=“” fact=“” that=“” california=“” schools=“” are=“” only=“” real=“” competitors=“” at=“” sports=“” like=“” water=“” polo,=“” sailing,=“” rowing,=“” fencing,=“” synchronized=“” swimming,=“” squash,=“” tiddlywinks,=“” war,=“” gin=“” rummy,=“” etc.,=“” those=“” national=“” championships=“” aren’t=“” so=“” stellar.=“” pac-10=“” has=“” top=“” contenders=“” in:=“” usc’s=“” obvious=“” prowess=“” on=“” gridiron,=“” and=“” ucla’s=“” hardwood,=“” stanford’s=“” baseball,=“” jeff=“” tedford’s=“” bcs=“” whining=“” 4=“” years=“” ago.=“”>></and></p>
<p>Actually, Ohio State has the dominant program in synchronized swimming having won 24 national championships. Ohio State’s also won 2 of the last 5 fencing national championships. Almost all of the top fencing schools are in the midwest (Ohio State, Notre Dame, Penn State) or Northeast (the ivies and a few others).</p>
<p>I don’t dispute that Stanford and UCLA are unmatched in across the board athletic success, and Cal and USC aren’t too far behind, but to contend that the California schools are the “only REAL competitors” is ludicrous. The final standings of the athletic directors’ cup each year tells a different story.</p>