Flames lit up the dark sky as about 3,500 students, alumni and Bruin fans braved the cold to witness the burning of the 30-foot wooden structure at the annual Beat ‘SC Bonfire and Rally Monday night.
Students lined up long before the start of the event to trade in red articles of clothing in exchange for the 1,000 limited edition Beat ‘SC T-shirts that were given out by organizers.
The exchange, dubbed “Get the Red Out,” collected red clothing for donation to Goodwill, said Gloria Koh, a staff member of the UCLA Alumni Association.
Koh, a 2006 alumna, said the bonfire is her favorite UCLA tradition and looks forward to it every year.
Wayne Cook, a former UCLA quarterback, acted as master of ceremony for most of the night, getting the crowd excited for the upcoming game.
“It’s a new decade and we have to bring that stinkin’ bell back to Westwood,” he said to a cheering crowd, in reference to the victory bell housed at the winning university for the entirety of the year.
During the pre-show leading up to the bonfire, student dance and a cappella groups provided onstage entertainment.
ScatterTones, a coed a cappella group, changed the lyrics to Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary” to fit the spirit of the crosstown rivalry.
San Fernando Valley resident Meg Smith was never a student at UCLA, yet she and her 5-year-old son Ondris were in attendance, Smith said she has always been a Bruin fan and often brings her son to UCLA football practices and scrimmages.
Ondris is on a first-name basis with many players and occasionally plays catch with wide receiver Ricky Marvray at practices.
Long-time Bruin fans were also on hand for the event.
Graduate student Sean Wang has not missed a Beat ‘SC Bonfire since his first year as an undergraduate in 1997.
He is now a graduate student in statistics.
“My parents met here as graduate students,” Wang said. “So, I was raised as a Bruin since birth.”
Wang said he has not missed a home game this season. He will be at the Coliseum Saturday night to watch the Bruins take on the Trojans.
Football coach Rick Neuheisel thanked the crowd for its continued support and called upon various players to speak.
“It means more to us than you know to see you all in the stands,” said quarterback Kevin Prince to attendees gathered around the stage.
Fourth-year physiological science student Danny Durbin, the executive director of the Bruin Spirit Committee, said attendance for the event was higher than in past years.
First-year undeclared student Megan Beck danced around with her friends while watching the bonfire go up in flames.
Beck said she enjoyed the event and will be watching the game on television on Saturday night.
Once the bonfire was ignited, students watched in awe as the fire lit up the night sky.
“(The bonfire) gave me chills. It made me feel like I was a part of the school because everybody came together (for it),” said Tatum Pollard, a first-year English student.