What’s in a rivalry? UCLA newcomers now know after watching video
Red Sanders, the legendary UCLA football coach, once said that the rivalry with USC was not a matter of life and death, but much more important than that.
Now, some 70 years later, nearly half the Bruins roster needed an introduction to what it means to play the Trojans.
“We have so many transfers and stuff,” interim coach Tim Skipper said, “so I wanted to make sure everyone knew how important this game was.”
This could make Ciaran Dooley, the team’s creative content producer, a rivalry hero to rival the likes of John Barnes, Anthony Barr and Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Dooley produced a video that attempted to encapsulate the essence of a nearly century-old rivalry in about five minutes.
Putting aside any concerns about the direction college sports are heading when it comes to explaining anything about its biggest rival, the video had the desired effect, drawing cheers nearly a week before kickoff.
Beginning with a minute-long hype narrated by Barr, the video explained some of the basics of the rivalry, such as both teams wearing their home uniforms and the winner taking possession of the 295-pound Victory Bell before painting it their elementary school color — preferably blue.
“A lot of it looked like clips I’ve seen before in Los Angeles and around the game,” freshman linebacker Scott Taylor said, “but a lot of guys who haven’t been here don’t understand how big this is for Los Angeles and how special this win can be.”
Rivalry lexicon such as “It’s always 8:47 in Westwood” — a reference to the Bruins’ 13-9 win over No. 2 USC in 2006 — and “Eight more years!” — a chant that broke out at the Rose Bowl in 1998 at the end of the Bruins’ eighth straight victory over the Trojans — might need some explaining when facing a roster that includes 57 newcomers, 52 transfers and 42 out-of-state players.
“I made this video to show what the rivalry is really about: the history, the passion, the bragging rights,” Dooley told the Times. “I know everyone on the team already knows what it is, but if there’s anything I can do to get the guys even more pumped up for the game, I’ll do it every time.”
Linebacker Isaiah Chisom, a transfer from Oregon State, said the coaching staff also called on several former players to explain the importance of the rivalry before the Bruins (3-8 overall, 3-5 Big Ten) face the No. 17 Trojans (8-3, 6-2) Saturday afternoon at the Coliseum. Veteran offensive lineman Garrett DiGiorgio and defensive back Cole Martin also spoke about what the rivalry meant to them.
Utah quarterback Devon Dampier (4) holds the ball and pushes Bruins linebacker Isaiah Chisom (32) Aug. 30 at the Rose Bowl.
(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
“I think they did a good job of bringing everyone together,” Chisom said, “so we all know how important this game is.”
Chisom didn’t need a refresher, having grown up in Southern California and played for Bishop Allemany High and Chaminade College Prep. He said he once attended a rivalry game and learned about the Bruins’ hatred of the Trojans from Chaminade assistant coach Reggie Carter, a former Bruins linebacker.
“He didn’t like anyone to wear red,” Chisom said of Carter. “That’s something I’ve been told for a long time.”
Skipper said he grew up watching the rivalry no matter where he lived — his father, Jim, was a lifer coach who moved from one city to another and his older brother, Kelly, was DeShaun Foster’s running backs coach at UCLA.
“It’s great to finally be a part of this project,” said Tim Skipper. “You watch it so much, I’ve never been to one of these games, and to be able to work there and coach it’s going to be awesome.”
Rivalry Signs Week welcomed everyone who passed by the barricaded statues of John Wooden and bears on campus, although it was a little quieter than the Bruins would have preferred. That’s because they couldn’t ring the victory bell that resides across town after USC won last year’s game, 19-13, in the Rose Bowl.
“We want to get it back, we want to get it back after the game,” DiGiorgio said. “THE [USC] guys, they planted flags on our field last year. I don’t know if we’re going to give that energy back because I don’t know if it’s going to trigger anything, but we’re really looking forward to getting that bell back.
The Bruins won their last two trips to the Coliseum, which motivated DiGiorgio to make it three in a row and finish his college career 3-2 against the Trojans. At Sunday’s team meeting, there was consensus that a win against USC would make up for all the frustrations the team endured during a season in which Foster was fired after just three games.
UCLA offensive lineman Garrett DiGiorgio (72) believes a video produced by Bruins staff helped his teammates understand the importance of winning USC’s rivalry game.
(John McCoy/Associated Press)
“Beating ‘SC would undo all the wrongs that have happened this season – that and Penn State winning. [over the then-No. 7 Nittany Lions]”, Chisom said. “I don’t think we can ask for anything more.”
Even those making their rivalry debut will know what they’re getting into thanks to the work of a content creator whose video could help spring the surprise.
“I think it lit a fire, lit a fire in the guys,” DiGiorgio said, “to be a little excited for this week.”
