As the final minutes of the second quarter wind down, the
student section begins to shuffle. Envelopes make their way
conspicuously down the rows of the sections between tunnels six and
seven. As some students glance under their seats, others prepare
for what is to come. Whereas some know exactly what is going on,
others are oblivious to the reason behind all the commotion. It may
be because they are not avid football goers or it could be they
simply are unaware of the tradition surrounding them. But
regardless of their reason for not knowing, they are in for a
show.
The card stunts, formerly known as light stunts for the colored
light bulbs that were used, are displayed during halftime at
home-field football games. Originating in 1935, it is one of the
oldest, and perhaps most spectacular, Bruin traditions.
The card show is essentially a show of school spirit. The
students in the section chosen are given two-sided colored cards.
When cued by a number, the students flip over the side of their
card that corresponds to it, and all together the cards make a
design. Several designs are created throughout the show.
“We’re lucky to be able to do card stunts,”
said Henning Roedel, a third-year civil engineering student and
lead coordinator of the show. “UCLA is one of the few
universities in the nation to still do card stunts.”
Most shows contain approximately 30 rows of the student section,
totaling 900 cards. But for special games, such as the one against
USC, over 40 rows participate, amounting to 1,800 cards, with one
card per person.
Not only is the show distinct for its mass involvement, it is
also dazzling to those who witness the swift change of the
stunts.
“It was amazing to see the formation of the design on the
screen as the cards were raised,” said first-year
neuroscience student Kathy Le, who participated in the show for the
first time at the Washington State game. “It was fun because
it was interactive and something different.”
The stunts vary from game to game, and some are more intricate
than others. A number of popular stunts are repeated, but most
shows are newly designed.
“In the past we’ve displayed Joe Bruin, UCLA script
and most notably a giant rose at the Homecoming game last
year,” Roedel said. “One of our more recent shows
involved a display of Royce Hall at this year’s Homecoming
game.”
Participation in the show is first open to members of the Rally
Committee and then to all students who seat themselves within the
boundaries of the card dispersal. The Rally Committee highly
encourages students to join, providing tickets and transportation
to the games for those who commit to involving themselves in the
program.
“The committee is an inclusive group meant to promote
school spirit,” said Kevin Schraven, alumni historian for the
Rally Committee.
The card show is a tradition some alumni hold dear. Many
continue to participate in the stunts every game.
“The card shows are extraordinarily special because
it’s something different that UCLA does,” Schraven
said. “To this day I sit next to the people of the Rally
Committee.”