Loyal student fans have already started playing defense ahead of Saturday’s UCLA and USC football game, guarding the iconic statues on every campus in Los Angeles.
It’s the 94th edition of the Crosstown Showdown between the Bruins and Trojans on Saturday night, and foul play that has preceded rival games in the past has left student security teams keeping a vigilant eye on their bronzed campus statues.
The UCLA Brown Bear is protected behind a black box, where a group of students keep a constant eye on him. In 2018, ahead of the rival game, the Brown Bear was spray-painted red and gold.
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Early Friday morning, a small group of students stood near the giant black box to keep pranksters at bay.
“This is like our Super Bowl. We’ve been here all week, every night since Monday, and we’re super excited about the game,” said UCLA student Jason Taormina.
About 10 miles away, USC students stand guard at the Tommy Trojan statue, wrapped in silver duct tape for extra protection.
USC said the statue will be under “24-hour protection” the week before the rival game by student organizations, the Helenes and the Trojan Knights.
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“It really makes us feel like we’re part of something bigger than ourselves…,” said Sandy Cull, vice president of the Trojan Knights.
Students also admitted that it is light-hearted fun, and keeping watch allows friends to spend time together.
As for the gaming rivalry, the teams have met at least once a year since 1936.
The Trojans are one win away from making the bowl after holding out against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Bruins enter the Crosstown Rival with a 4-6 record, and a loss on Saturday would eliminate them from bowl participation.
Last year, UCLA defeated USC 38-20 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Kickoff for the game is Saturday, November 23 at 7:30 PM at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl.
