For once, Ricky Manning Jr. looked awfully good in red. At the
annual Beat ‘SC bonfire and rally, the UCLA senior football
player proudly donned a USC cap before about 1,000 people.
Well, to be exact, it was a cap reading “FUSCK.”
That was the basic theme on Tuesday night at Wilson Plaza as the
UCLA fans came out to cheer on their football team and yell
profanities before the game against cross-town rival USC on
Saturday at the Rose Bowl.
“I hate them,” said Manning, a cornerback, of the
Trojans. He then proceeded to lead the crowd in a profane chant
condemning USC.
Manning and the rest of the seniors on the team have reason to
hate USC even more this year, as they have yet to defeat the
Trojans in their careers. UCLA has lost the last three contests,
which include an embarrassing 27-0 defeat a year ago.
This season, however, the Bruins go into the game having won
three in a row, as opposed to losing three straight before the game
last year.
“We’ll be whooping their asses all day,” said
senior tight end Mike Seidman, who was one of about 20 players to
show up at the event.
The rally featured performances by the spirit squad and the
marching band before the bonfire was lit.
“This is what you support,”said yell leader Geoff
Strand, motioning to the team. “The education means nothing
on Saturday.”
According to Shaun Lagadi, event director of campus spirit and a
third-year microbiology student, the event took a month and a half
to put together.
“We had to get them to beat the Trojans,” he said.
“This can unite the campus. If they know the fans are behind
them, they will have confidence to win.
“I’ve heard that UCLA is lacking in school spirit,
but right now, it feels great to be a Bruin.”
Football team members echoed Lagadi’s sentiments.
“I wish they had more events like this,” said junior
wide receiver Tab Perry. “This is college.”
Fans rejoiced in the atmosphere by watching wood burn and
professing, in no uncertain terms, their hatred for USC.
“The bonfire is a symbol of what we’re going to do
to USC this weekend,” said UCLA fan Cindy Morales.
Otherwise, red is the only color UCLA fans and players will be
seeing for the next year.