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

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smell the There was an added emphasis on the annual battle for the Victory Bell between UCLA and USC on Dec. 1. Because of an unpredictable and competitive year in the Pac-10, it was statistically possible for both teams to reach the Rose Bowl with a victory. The added impetus was hardly needed to fuel the competitive flames between the two teams, but nonetheless added an extra sense of urgency to the highly anticipated match-up . The day began with the sun shining brightly over the Coliseum, illuminating a sea of cardinal and yellow, accompanied by defiant smatterings of blue and by Herumi Ann Baylon gold. Before the game, energy and optimism ran high as Bruins hoped for a repeat of the previous year ' s unexpected win. Taunts were thrown back and forth between tailgating parties and tension between the rival schools saturated the chilly air. Third-year business economics student Avani Oswal recalled walking around the stadium, taking in the blinding red and gold. It was like definitely stepping into enemy territory, she said. I was used to seeing all this UCLA gear and it was hard to take in so much red. It was almost hurtful to my eyes. Decked out in blue and gold. Bruin fans stood in the sX. . • ' A r WA ' i[tw ' r ' 1 i O 31 n j 11 Mhimb ' HH H 1 , .r - :: K.-= — rf r i %, l

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i y r y AaJ 6 Blue and Gold Week made it possible for Bruins to show are trying to encourage bonding among Bruins. Guarding off their school spirit before the annual football game the Bruin is carrying the torch of the UCLA versus USC against USC. The main events of the week included a car smash, parade, rally and bonfire. Blue and Gold Week is for everybody — students, faculty, alumni and staff, explained director of Blue and Gold Week, fourth-year theater student Manaf Mansure told the Daily Bruin, We ' re really diverse, but one thing that connects us all is (that) we are Bruins. The week vas organized to involve the entire campus and featured entries and talent acts from many groups on campus. The theme for the 2007 Blue and Gold Week was Celebrate Being a Bruin, which encompassed the five important qualities of being a Bruin — being spirited, active, social, giving and academic. Blue and Gold Week kicked off with the Beat ' SC Car Smash in which students took a sledgehammer to a car painted in cardinal and gold and the word Trojan scrawled acrossed its side. Other Above: Bruins show off tlieir scfiool priOe witli face paint and UCU gear. Blue and Gold Week was a chance for students to unite with Bruin pride l)efore UCLA faced their crosstown rival, USC In an annual rivalry game. Photographed by TungX. Dao. rivalry. Blue and Gold Week also had an event called Bruins ' Night Out, where UCLA students were able to take advantage of various Westwood restaurant discounts. This year, there was a new vay to celebrate being a Bruin at the Beat ' SC Parade. Different clubs, residence hall floors, and other student organizations were given the opportunity to reserve one of five Rooter Sections along the parade route to cheer on their fellow Bruins. They were not only given free UCLA gear, but also competed for the coveted Most Spirited Rooter Section award. As with every year, the parade included various performances and floats from different campus organizations and departments. The grand marshals w ere the 2007 UCLA women ' s water polo team, who helped UCLA achieve their 100th NCAA championship the previous year. The Southern California wildfires that had plagued the terrain around UCLA events, such as the Most Spirited Bruin Contest, Strongest made fans anxious as to whether the bonfire would be lit. In Bruin Contest, Get the Red Out blood drive and the Bruin the previous year, the bonfire was replaced with a confetti Bear Security Force were spread throughout the week. The Bruin Bear Security Force was a nightly campout in front of the Bruin statue to prevent USC students from vandalizing it. Second-year communication studies and political science student Natalie Knight, co-director of the Bruin Bear Security Force, said to the Daily Bruin, We display due to high fire danger. Luckily for students, weather conditions permitted the bonfire to take place as planned. The week concluded with the football game against USC at the L. A. Coliseum. Though the Bruins ultimately fell short, Blue and Gold Week helped the students intensify their spirit ■with numerous fun-filled activities. LDl AlKwe: Fifth-year computer science student Christopher Rose vimds up before taking a mallet to the Trojan wagon in the Beat ' SC Car Smash. The 2007 women ' s water polo team oversees the parade as the grand marshals. Bruin students march along the parade route to Wilson Plaza, where the Beat ' SC bonfire would take place. Blue and Gold week gave students a common venue to show their school pride In anticipation of the annual showdown against USC. Photographed by Howard Kao and Olga Nezhevenko.

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Ci I wish our offense would have played better, but our defense played very well, use has the best offense in the country— it ' s pretty amazing we held them at 24 points. -Jail Miles, graduate student, law ) corner end zone and watched the game unfold play by play. Despite being numerically overwhelmed, the Bruins kept their energy high, ba nding together to represent UCLA in a pro- USC atmosphere. Second-year biochemistry student Bryant Hirai said that being surrounded by fellow Bruins in the student section kept their energy up during the game. Even though we didn ' t know a lot of people around us, there was a lot of unity between the students there, said Hirai. We ' d be chanting together and keeping everyone positive during a slightly depressing game. Although the game was a defensive struggle for the most part, it did have its share of exciting moments. The touchdown thrown by redshirt junior quarterback Patrick Cowan to sophomore receiver Dominique Johnson was one of the defining offensive plays of the game. As Cowan threw the ball towards the corner of the end zone, Johnson reached past the Trojan defender, making a one-handed grab as his feet hit the end zone. The catch was the first and only Bruin touchdown of the game. As the game rolled on, frustration began to mount as hopes of winning the game and going on to the Rose Bo ' wl dimmed. I was hoping for something like last year, commented Hirai, We had Pat Cowan starting again and basically we had the same crew. I thought we had a good shot of upsetting everyone and proving everyone wrong. With just 10 minutes remaining, USC led 24-7. Although the Bruins ultimately fell, no one could deny their fighting spirit and perseverance throughout the game. It ' s really nice to see your team out there and putting up a good fight, commented third-year aerospace engineering student Kyle Martinez. lOi Ako«e: Devoted Bruins who bravely ventured into hostile USC territory in downtown Los Angeles celebrate after sophomore wide reciever Dominique Johnson ' s touchdown reception. Joe and Josephine Bruin entertain the crowd during a break in the action. Redshirt junior quarterbacls Patricli Cowan drops bacic and loolis for an open Bruin reciever. Despite the Bruins ' best efforts, they fell to the No. 8 Trojans 24-7. Photographed by Christal Thavincher ahd Olga Nezhevenko. Left: Undeterred by the thousands of fans rooting against them, Bruin players march onto the field before their showdown with the Trojans. For the the Bruin seniors, the game marised the last time they would face their bitter rivals, which further motivated them to come out with a victory. Photographed by Christal Thavincher.