University of California Los Angeles - Bruin Life / Southern Campus Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

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beat ' $c we Bruin fans spend an entire week gearing up for the big game I am that we What do you get when you put together a car smash, a bonfire, and a blood drive into one rowdy week? Any Bruin will tell you right away: Beat ' SC Week. The week that traditionally preceded the U$C vs. UCLA game was as usual filled with Trojan bashing enthusiasm as students geared up for the trip across town to the Coliseum. Some students, however, shunned the week ' s activities claiming they, show a lack of confidence. I am convinced we are better, so I don ' t feel the need to prove it, said third year Psychology student Michelle Verkh. Although UCLA entered the week with a three game losing streak, fans were confident that their Bruins could overcome their two-year losing streak in the rivalry game. The kick off to the festivities was the car smash in Westwood Plaza. Bruin fans took out their ha tred of the Trojans on an old car painted in USC ' s colors. Anyone who wished to could have a try with a sledgehammer at the vehicle. Day two was devoted to a more philanthropic cause. The annual Big Game Blood Drive served both as a competition between schools and a means to increase the blood supply in the Los Angeles area, which tends to run low in the winter months. UCLA won convinced are better [than SC]. Michelle Verkh Psychology 3rd year this competition with 894 units of blood compared to USC ' s paltry contribution of 443 units. A competition that had become an annual tradition did not take place this year, however. The Trojans as a result of last year ' s incident at USC, forfeited the Band Bowl flag football game between the two bands this year. Following the game last year, around $30,000 of band equipment was stolen from UCLA trucks. Much of the equipment was recovered, but USC paid for the remainder of the loss. The high point of Beat ' SC Week was certainly the Bonfire and Rally held in front of the Jans Steps because of the construction of the IM field. This event, as usual was attended mostly by freshmen students. This was apparent from the response of a fourth year Psychology student David Cederer. I don ' t even know what Beat ' SC Week is, he claimed. With appearances by players, coaches, the spirit squad, and the band, this was the chance for die- hard Bruin fans to truly prepare for the big game coming a few days later. Despite UCLA ' s record going into the weekend, fans were enthusiastic that the players could overcome them and beat ' SC. The carnival draws huge crowds as UCLA fans visited a variety of booths. Good food, fun games, and smiling faces were all around. Sangtip Chienpradap DO ■ m 73 m m

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Sangtip Chienpradap Rex Visher, a sophomore, and Rex Roberts, a fifth-year student, sell tickets during the carnival. Tickets were redeemable for a variety of fun and exciting rides. Joe Farid. a fifth-year senior, puts some muscle into destroying the ' SC car. The car was painted red and yellow and received the wrath of many true blue Bruins. 26 EVENTS Nathan Wang

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LU LU I CO a: LU CD at went wrong UCLA fails to score against USC in the annual rivalry game Was it the recent disclosure ot quarterback Cory Paus ' DUI? Was it the absence of DeShaun Foster due to NCAA violations? Was it the three consecutive losses in the previous weeks? Whatever the reason, the loss to USC on November 17, 2001 was a tremendous blow to the Bruin football team ' s already bruised ego. In this first shut-out by USC since incident, and USC tans did not miss the opportunity to ridicule them. From the stands in the Coliseum signs read, Hey Cory, wanna beer? and Put me in coach! I ' m drunk too! Thus the game began (and ended) on a bad note. Paus was only able to pass tor 45 yards throughout the entire game, and he was sacked five the 1947 game, not much at all went times, in addition to not leading the right tor the Bruins. Fans felt the pain too. Fourth year Psychology student Sarah Shubert remarked, I hoped I could see us beat SC my last year here. There were early signs that it was not in the cards tor the Bruins to triumph this year. Just two days earlier news broke that Paus had received a DUI in July, his second in two years. Following the end ot the football season, he was expected to serve some jail time from one month earlier when the for the otfense. Head Coach Bob Toledo chose not to suspend his starting quarterback, however. He Not only was I shocked, but I was saddened to think that in my 4 years at UCLA, we only beat USC once. What happened to our winning streak? Suzanne Tardiff Psychology 4th year Bruins to a single score. Ot course it was not all Paus ' fault. The absence ot Foster was telt throughout the game, and the Bruin fans mourned that he would not be returning tor the remainder ot the season. The Bruin defense also lacked its usual ability. In the opening minutes of the game the Trojans ran 66 yards, ending up on the Bruin 17- yard line. It would continue to get worse. What a change was previously unaware of the situation and he claimed he did not have enough time to go through all the details of the case in time to make a decision for the USC game. Bruin team was ranked fourth in the nation, there was talk ot an appearance at the National Championship held at the Rose Bowl, and Foster was a top contender tor the Heisman Trophy. For the team who was once 6-0, the more realistic bowl now seemed to be Needless to say both Toledo and Paus the Silicon Valley Bowl instead ot the took quite a bit ot heat for the Rose Bowl. 28 EVENTS