While not unique to UCLA, camping out before basketball games
has become a well-loved and important tradition for students
supporting the Bruins during their undergraduate years in
Westwood.
Hundreds of students camp out for up to two days before big
games to secure all-important priority numbers guaranteeing
court-level seats for the die-hard fan.
Priority numbers are released at 6:30 a.m. the morning of home
games. Students will usually camp out until they receive their
priority numbers, and then return home to sleep until the game
starts.
“A priority number in the top 350 usually lets you sit on
the floor. I’d say there are about 350 to 400 floor-level
seats,” said Josh English, a fourth-year psychology and
religion student.
Many students are willing to give up their time and the warmth
of their beds at home to get better seats.
“I do it to be down on the floor along with all the other
students ““ everyone gets pretty invested in the game,”
said Stephen Perisho, a third-year political science student.
Obtaining floor seats also means potentially witnessing
first-hand great upset games, such as UCLA’s victory against
No. 1 Kansas two years ago, and being among the first to rush the
court.
Diann Brizzolara, a fourth-year psychobiology student, fondly
remembers the Kansas game for the circumstances surrounding it.
“We had just come off a lost to USC, and to come back with
a win after camping out, and to rush the court like we did, was
crazy,” she said.
Brizzolara happens to have an important role when it comes to
UCLA basketball games, a “responsibility” she said has
been passed onto her through generations of Bruin faithfuls.
At the beginning of each game, she leads a cheer which
introduces the starting five players of the opposing team.
As the announcer calls out each player’s name, Brizzolara
holds up a sign with taunts such as “Who’s he?”
and “Go home,” which hordes of fans in the Pauley
Pavilion stands call out.
In order to maintain this leadership position, Brizzolara must
ensure that she always obtains priority number one.
She does this with the help of a team of fellow campers and
friends, who turn out in style long before everyone else and settle
in at the bottom of the stairs in front of Pauley’s student
entrance.
“It’s like the Tour de France ““ she has a team
around her to make sure she gets No. 1,” said fifth-year
sociology student James Jackson, who has been camping out at games
since he first came to UCLA.
The tradition Brizzolara leads began at UCLA before the 1977 USC
game, when then-student David Wilson hastily put together signs
using blank poster board and blue tape.
The same signs are still used today.
“Everyone who leads the cheer signs their name at the end
of the year,” Brizzolara said, adding that the duty is
appointed each year to a new “die-hard Bruin fan.”
After years of experience camping out, Brizzolara and Jackson
now wait for their priority numbers in style and comfort.
Not only do they indulge in queen size air mattresses and
snuggly sleeping bags, they also boast a full-fledged entertainment
system, complete with television, DVD player and TIVO.
Other students, like first-year undeclared student Ashley
Waxman, are merely happy with a blanket, pillow, warm clothes and
some snacks.
“We brought lots of candy,” she said.