DAVE HILL/Daily Bruin Senior Staff USC Band Director
Arthur C. Bartner celebrates after a USC
touchdown. The Spirit of Troy, the Trojans’ marching band,
(background) begins to celebrate with their school song. It was a
sound the Bruins heard all too often during the game.
By Joshua Mason
Daily Bruin Contributor Emotions ran high in the 70th installment
of the UCLA-USC rivalry. More than 80,000 faithful fans colored the
Rose Bowl with shades of red and blue, taking part in yet another
chapter to the storied rivalry for the Victory Bell. Much like past
matchups between the crosstown foes, Saturday’s contest was
close to the final whistle blow, culminating in a narrow 38-35 loss
by the Bruins. The game itself was the story of many things. It was
the story of two coaches, one assured of his future and the other
far from redeeming his past. It was the story of the seniors, many
playing the last games of their careers, others making a mark for a
future in the NFL. It was even the story of two young quarterbacks
who perhaps represent the future of the Victory Bell saga. And,
finally, it was the story of the fans. Students, alumni, band
members and relatives alike stirred up the stadium with shouts and
screams, empathizing with the joys and pains of their respective
teams’ players. In the final two minute drill of the game,
both squads were deadlocked at a 35-point tie. Coaches paced, fans
hollered, and the players left everything they had on the field.
David Bell’s 36-yard field goal with nine seconds to play
snuck through the goal posts to give the Trojans the lead for good,
and close the chapter for this year. For the departing seniors, the
2000 game will be one to remember. But for those returning next
year revenge will be at the forefront of their thoughts until the
next meeting. And thus, the saga continues.
DAVE HILL/Daily Bruin Senior Staff Sophomore Bryce
Bohlander walks off the Rose Bowl field, into the locker
room with the rest of the Bruins. Prior to Saturday’s loss,
UCLA had defeated USC four times in a row at the Rose Bowl. NICOLE
MILLER/Daily Bruin Young Bruin fan Michael Ramirez
proudly displays his feelings toward the USC coach before the game.
KEITH ENRIQUEZ/Daily Bruin Senior Staff Free safety Jason
Zdenek attempts to stop USC’s Antoine
Harris in the third quarter. Defense was a problem for the
Bruins Saturday. NICOLE MILLER/Daily Bruin The Bruin Marching Band
takes the field at halftime to energize the crowd. At that point,
the score of the game was tied at 21