Elite 8 in 2007
In 2007 the Trojans were able to marshall a year-long work effort into success at the national championship tournament.
The USC team of Jones and Jones (below) just missed qualifying for elimination rounds after losing a closely contested decision that split the judging panel in the final preliminary debate.
Their opponent, Harvard University, parlayed this close success into an eventual quarterfinals appearance. Jones and Jones fought through a tough schedule including debating five teams who would qualify for elimination rounds. Their signature win came against a first-round at larger qualifier from Northwestern University.
The USC team of Iftimie and Smith (below) advanced to the Elite 8 after defeating three elimination round qualifiers in preliminary debates.
Their most impressive preliminary round win was a unanimous victory over the eventual national champion from Emory University.
On the strength of their preliminary performance, USC IS was seeded sixth heading into elimination rounds. Alex Iftimie was also recognized as the 15th individual speaker in his final tournament representing USC. Click here for a list of all USC debaters to earn speaker awards at the NDT.
Alex, who qualified for the NDT in each of his four years at USC has enjoyed one of the most successful careers in USC debate history.
The team defeated the University of Texas at Austin on a unanimous 5-0 decision in the first elimination round. Early the next morning the Trojans eliminated Whitman College in the Sweet 16 (Octofinals) on a 4-1 decision. USC's run was ended by a unanimous decision to the 2nd ranked team during the season from the University of Oklahoma.
USC's elite 8 performance was the best single NDT accomplishment since 1978 when Steve Combs & Jon Cassanelli made it all the way to the NDT finals. For Combs this was a back to back finals appearance.
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