Acton, MA. Dec 24, 2007 - 

When someone tries something new, they often encounter the standard bumps along the road. The grander the attempt, the bumpier the road.

But if you possess that prized quality of determination, you figure out how to make it over the bumps and eventually find your way onto a smoother road.

Tyler Kurlas got USC squash started (photo © Kurlas )

This is the case with the USC squash team. Launched in 2004 as a club team, a status they still maintain, the team began as a few guys who liked squash. They did not discover this by happening to meet on USC's non-existent squash courts in between class, but rather through the social networking device known as Facebook. Facebook is often used as a way to flirt with others, or post random "Hellos" to anyone someone has encountered since the third grade. For Tyler Kurlas though, Facebook served a meaningful purpose. Squash was listed under his interest on his page, and one day he got a message from another student at USC who also played squash. And there you have the humble, but extremely modern, beginnings of a considerably successful USC squash team.

The team quickly built a full roster, and in February of 2005 they traveled to the CSA Nationals at Harvard. Their first lesson was that their sunny weather wardrobe, doesn't translate too well in late February in Boston.

"We got off the plane and put on every layer of clothes we had, and then got in the cab," Kurlas, founder and captain of the USC squash squad, said. "We were like the Jamaican Bobsled Team," (in reference to the 1993 movie, Cool Runnings).

The USC team resembles that famous underdog team in more ways than one. They are funded through donations and fundraising and Feather has been generous in providing the team with racquets and bags.

In Boston, that year, USC played in the Emerging Teams division and finished third behind the University of Washington-another West Coast team which continues to improve-and Notre Dame. The following year (2005-06), they finished second in the Emerging Teams division, falling to Notre Dame in the final. Last year (2006-07), they moved from the Emerging Teams to the Chaffee division, a bracket for teams ranked 33-39. They finished 37th overall.

This season started out looking like it may be their best ever. Then came one of those bumps in the road. Charles Braff, who played on Penn's team for three years from 1996-1999, elected not to play his senior year. He joined the USC team at the beginning of the season.

Thirty-year-old Braff is a first year grad student, and initially hoped to coach the team. As that slot was taken at the time, he decided to give playing a go.

Braff went to a practice where he met all the younger players, and was able to "overcome the obstacle of ego regarding my age."

The rules for graduate students playing squash were not spelled out at the time. It was basically understood that a first-year graduate student who had not played four years of intercollegiate squash, was eligible. Beyond that, there was a lot of gray as the matter had never been dealt with head on.

"We were very forthcoming with the squash community," said Braff. "My family is very involved with squash. My brother was an a captain and All-American at Penn. So it was very important for us to put it out there."

USC had a match against Stanford, another California club team, scheduled for Saturday, October 20th. The team notified Stanford coach Mark Talbott ahead of time that they would have a first-year graduate student playing.

"Tyler understood that first-year grad students were eligible,"
Talbott said. "I don't think he knew about the five-year rule. I sort of did, as it is part of the testing you go through to become an NCAA varsity coach. I did not know Chuck was involved at all. When I saw him, I did notice that I had never seen a player that much older compete."

Talbott is good friends with Charles' older brother, Andrew.

"I talked to Charles and told him I didn't think guys in their thirties were eligible to play. I knew Charles had played at Penn when he was 18 and an undergrad," Talbott said. "I advised the team to check out the rule and get it clarified, as I knew Charles was planning to travel and play with the team. This was not Tyler's fault at all. The CSA (College Squash) executive committee had not made things clear at that point."

USC won that match 5-4, including a win by Braff. Later in October, the team traveled to Rochester, where they lost 7-2 to the Rochester Yellowjackets. Braff scored a win playing at No. 2, as did No. 1 co-captain JP Rothie. The Trojans handed down their first ever shutout, defeating Colgate without dropping a game. They also defeated Hobart 8-1.

The official ruling on Braff's eligibility was decided by the executive committee in mid-December. The head of the committee, Dartmouth head coach John Power, explained the decision. Power has known Braff for approximately 20 years, as Braff hails from Canada and grew up playing squash with Power's kids, including his legendary son, Jonathon.

"It was pretty simple," said Power. "I wanted to do the best I could because I've known Charles for years and years. I presented the case to our executives and it was pretty clear cut. In fact we had just sort of solidified those rules and everybody was consistent right down the line."

Power continued, "Basically you have five years to play four. So in this case, if he finished at Penn and he only played three years, which was the case, and then he transferred right away he would have been eligible. But with the gap in between it just doesn't fit in. And really we weren't prepared to make exceptions because it opened the door too much."

Since the rule came out, Hobart has successfully appealed their loss to USC. Stanford's loss has also been reversed, but not at the insistence of Mark Talbott.

"I never appealed it and never wanted to," Talbott said. "The executive committee decided not to let it stand (the Stanford win). I didn't want to create animosity.

"I want all of these West Coast teams to be playing," Talbott continued. "It is a great rivalry between Stanford and USC, and it is good to have other teams out here. I hope they continue to get good players."

USC and Stanford will meet again when USC hosts the Best of the West tournament February 1-3 at the LA Athletic Club, where head-pro Bob Hanscom has been key in helping squash grow. USC, Stanford, Washington, Cal and Notre Dame will play in the tournament.

"What happened makes the next match more important," Kurlas said.

"When Stanford comes down, it will make it that much bigger."

While Braff admits he wishes he could still be a member of the team, he said, "The rules are pretty clear now that they are laid out, so it is hard to say that anyone got hurt by it."

He has nothing but praise for his former team, which he plans to remain involved with in some capacity. "Tyler does a great job. Those guys are definitely doing something right if a 30-year-old can show up and bond with them. It is a testament to them."

"They are good young guys," Braff said. "Would I like to be their coach? Well I am not going anywhere."

"When it comes down to it, he likes us and we like him," Kurlas said.

Regarding the wins that have been taken away from the team: "There is no reason to hold a grudge," Braff said. "Rules are rules. If we are the team we say we are, then we will do well in the next year and will end up where we are supposed to end up."