April 30, 2002
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April 30, 2002
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The battle for the Lexus Gauntlet -- a season-long all-sports competition between USC and UCLA -- is entering the final stretch for the 2001-02 season. With just over one month remaining on the athletic schedule, the inaugural trophy is still up for grabs.
Currently, USC leads UCLA by a 55-42.5 point margin, with the winner needing 57.5 total points to clinch the victory. There are three remaining regular season scheduled events (baseball, men's and women's track & field) and a possibility of three teams meeting in postseason play (baseball, men's and women's tennis). The remaining event schedule is as follows:
May 4 Women's Track & Field Dual Meet Winner earns 5 points.UCLA and USC have competed against one another in 18 total sports this season with a point total awarded for each. In the event of a tie in the season series in a particular sport, both universities split the point total for the sport equally. For those sports that do not compete head-to-head, Pac-10 and/or NCAA competition were used to determine the season series winner. For sports with multiple events, such as men's and women's track and women's swimming, the dual meet finish of the teams have been used to award the points in each to the winner. The 18 sports are worth a total of 110 points. Football, women's volleyball and men's and women's basketball account for 10 points each; the 14 other sports are worth 70 points -- five points per sport.
May 4 Men's Track & Field Dual Meet Winner earns 5 points.
May 24 Baseball Game 1-of-3 Series winner wins 2.5 points.
May 25 Baseball Game 2-of-3 Series winner wins 2.5 points.
May 26 Baseball Game 3-of-3 Series winner wins 2.5 points.
(the following sports would be affected only if the two teams meet in the postseason)
May 10-12 Women's Tennis NCAA Reg/Champ Winner could take-back 2.5 points.
May 11-12 Men's Tennis NCAA Reg/Champ Winner could take-back 2.5 points.
The Lexus Gauntlet was chosen as the rivalry theme between the two Universities due to its powerful declaration of challenge. In medieval times, when one Knight wished to challenge another Knight to a duel, he would take off his armored glove, called a "gauntlet," and throw it to the ground. If it was picked up by the other Knight, the two would engage in battle. The term "throwing down the gauntlet" has since come to represent the ultimate challenge to battle. The trophy, which weighs more than 100 pounds, consists of a pewter glove resting on a pewter-plated base that is topped by simulated gravel that represents the ground.
This is the first time the two Universities partnered with a corporate entity for complete rivalry sponsorship. The schools signed a four-year contract of undisclosed terms with Lexus, America's best-selling luxury automotive manufacturer. In return, the Southern California Lexus Dealer Association receives radio spots, signage, display and promotional opportunities, hospitality and event tickets.
Fans can visit http://gauntlettrophy.fansonly.com/ for the latest news and scoring updates.
Lexus Gauntlet Point Standings
As of April 29, 2002
USC UCLA* Teams could face each other in the postseason, giving USC the opportunity to win-back 2.5 points in men's tennis and UCLA the opportunity to win-back 2.5 points in women's tennis.
Sport Points Points Events Scored
Football 10 0 USC won only meeting.
Men's Water Polo 0 5 UCLA won 3-of-3 meetings.
Women's Volleyball 10 0 USC won 2-of-2 meetings.
Women's Soccer 0 5 UCLA won only meeting.
Women's Cross Country 0 5 UCLA placed higher at Pac-10 Championships.
Men's Basketball 5 5 Teams split two-game series.
Women's Basketball 10 0 USC won 2-of-2 meetings.
Women's Swim. & Diving 5 0 USC won dual meet.
Men's Volleyball 0 5 UCLA won 3-of-3 meetings.
Women's Rowing 5 0 USC won dual meet.
Men's Golf 5 0 USC placed higher at Pac-10 Championships.
Women's Golf 0 5 UCLA placed higher at Pac-10 Championships.
Women's Water Polo 0 5 UCLA won 3-of-3 meetings.
Women's Tennis 2.5 2.5 Teams split two-match series.*
Men's Tennis 0 5 UCLA won 2-of-3 meetings.*
Men's Track & Field -- -- 5 points to be awarded to winnner
of dual meet on May 4.
Women's Track & Field -- -- 5 points to be awarded to winnner
of dual meet on May 4.
Baseball 2.5 -- USC has won 3-of-6 meetings,
remaining games to be played May 24-26**Total USC-55 UCLA-42.5
** If UCLA wins all three remaining baseball games, it gets 2.5 points. USC must win one of the three games to collect the remaining 2.5 points (for a total of 5) for the sport.
TIE BREAKERS (if each university has 55 points at the end of the year):
1. University winning most head-to-head regular-season games/matches
(UCLA leads 14-13 with three remaining regular season games).
2. University winning most head-to-head post-season games/matches (TBD).
3. University winning most PAC-10 Championships in head-to-head sports
(UCLA leads 2-1 with four championships yet to be decided).
