Tradition Travesties
I'm really tired of the life being drained out of the USC-UCLA rivalry, with the exclusion of the band and song girls by UCLA administrators on Saturday just the latest travesty.
Over the course of attending USC-UCLA games, here's some of the traditions erased by the bean counters and pinheads I've witnessed:
1. Both teams wearing home jerseys for football games. Each school is to blame for this one for refusing to an agreement that would return the tradition.
2. The stadium being split 50-50 for the crosstown rivalry instead of the current ``let's stuff the visiting teams fans in the end zone'' policy.
3. No longer allowing opposing schools' students to be on the floor level at basketball games.
4. Sticking the other school's band in the nosebleed section for basketball games. Now apparently a privilege based on Saturday's action.
And here's a question: If UCLA did not have time for the song girls to perform, why couldn't they just sit behind the basket and cheer?
SW:
If it bothers you that much why don't you just start suggesting that the game be played at a neutral site! Staples Center would be a perfect venue for the game and you could split the stands right down the middle?!?! Anyway, I think the current way is fine...give the home court advantage to the home team in any way you can!
It is a complete joke what ucla has become. I have been to this game for years and both bands and both cheerleaders have alwyas been there. I was the lone trojan fan sitting in the lower section near the ucla student section today. I was able to go because a good friend of mine got tickets from the ucla staff. I got those same tickets two years ago when ucla won by almost 30 points over SC. It is funny how my friend got in trouble and yelled at by the coaching staff of ucla for him inviting me there. It is funny how when they lose they get upset about that stuff. Talk about a bitter bunch. ucla people have no problem when there team is winning. But all of a sudden they lose, and they are upset because one trojan fan is sitting in the court side section. Maybe the coaching staff should care about the Triangle and Two defense, or the fact that they just got punked by the crosstown thugs as they like to call us. ucla is a complete joke and cannot even win the sport they clame to own. But hey at least it was not Florida again! Hey whatever the game is over, but like I said to the ucla students leaving the floor. JUST LIKE FOOTBALL!
Not bad for a football school huh?
How do you do a 50-50 split with UCLA at the Coliseum when SC season ticket holders occupy somewhere areound 75% of the seats?
I am as much for tradition as the other guy, but then, maybe UCLA should still be playing at the Coliseum. The song girls and a small pep band should at least be allowed. That was petty on the bRuins part in an increasingly nasty rivalry. I have never been in favor of this type of rivalry, but when the school administrators become part of it, my gloves come off.
Mike Garrett shouldn't stoop to the level of the bRUINS. He should invite UCLA's band and cheerleaders to the Galen Center next month and expose the money sharks across town. Of course, if I played my home games in a dilapidated "cathedral," I'd be concerned about money too...
And how about that boneheaded thing about not letting the fans ask Coach Wooden for autographs? That's like if Paul Hackett showed up to an SC football game and the PA announcer told everyone not to ask him for an autograph. Good luck with that one.
Wooden is 97 freaking years old. How much should he have to endure while trying to watch his team?
I happened to be standing in line behind him in the Post Office a couple of years ago. I was in awe, but said nothing.
I'm a Trojan through and through, but UCLA absolutely did the right thing, in this ONE instance (as opposed to all their other bonehead moves mentioned in this thread.)
I was at SC when FUCLA moved to the Rose Bowl. It was a good move for them since the Coliseum is right next door to SC and it was always like a home game for us. We walked to the game and they drove. But it was UCLA who broke the tradition of both wearing home uniforms and not spliting the stadium.
To the point made that how do you split the stadium when there are more season ticket holders than 50%? It worked back then. And UCLA said that the conference required the uniform change. How convinent that this happened the same year they moved to the Rose Bowl. It has taken the luster off this game and hurts UCLA much more then USC. USC/UCLA used to be one of the best rivalry games.