A colleague emailed UCLA’s response to the omission of the band and song girls from Saturday’s basketball game at Pauley Pavilion. “USC was provided the opportunity to purchase 100 tickets we hold for each Pac-10 opponent by conference rule. They bought the tickets. It was USC’s choice how to use their tickets.”
This is not even good spin. Since when do USC and UCLA, 12 miles apart, treat each other as just another Pac-10 opponent? Why doesn’t UCLA provide USC with 5,000 tickets for next season’s football game at the Rose Bowl like every other Pac-10 team? Not likely, because UCLA wants USC fans’ money on that day.
It’s a shame that as the rivalry appears set for great interest in football, the petty minds of UCLA administrators take control.
And this statement does not address why the song girls were banned, when they don’t take up any of the precious seats at Pauley Pavilion.