Daily Bruin File Photo Legendary UCLA alumnus
Geoff Strand boosts the crowd’s enthusiasm.
By Christina Teller
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
When students receive their diploma, there is a fear that all
things college will come to an end: no more basketball games, no
more football games, no more Diddy Riese runs, no more direct
involvement in the UCLA community.
But that isn’t the case for many alumni.
Take Geoff Strand (’71) for example. Though his name may
not ring a bell right away, Strand is a staple of every UCLA
football game.
Tell anyone who’s ever been to a UCLA football game that
he’s the guy on stage leading the “Every man, woman and
child…” cheer and they know who Strand is right away.
Take Rich Brisacher (’88). The son of a former president
of the Rally Committee, and himself a former chairman of the
committee during his time as an undergrad, Brisacher has been
attending UCLA games since the age of five. Not only that, but he
proposed to his wife Kathy, also a former chairman of the Rally
Committee, in a card stunt at the USC football game in 1988.
“I don’t know what I’d do for six Saturdays
every fall but go to UCLA games,” said Brisacher, who to date
remains an active member of the Alumni Rally Committee.
Take Sean Geraghty (’90). The first recipient of the Harry
Brisacher Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund, given by the Rally
Committee, in 1988, Geraghty is now the president of the ARC.
“I was born at UCLA at the Med Center,” Geraghty
said. “I was fortunate enough to get into UCLA, and I
thoroughly enjoyed my experiences there and want to make sure that
the (Rally Committee) stays around as long as possible.”
 Daily Bruin File Photo Alumnus Geoff
Strand takes a break from his cheering to watch the
football team take on Michigan last season. Even take Blanch Baker
(’29). At 94, Baker still feeds off the spirit and
camaraderie of Bruin athletics as a member of The Westwood Bruin
Touchdown Breakfast Club.
The spirit of the UCLA community is the common denominator for
these four people.
“I’m privileged to have the opportunity to serve and
expand the UCLA community, because there are not too many things in
life where you can sit down with these kinds of people and and
cheer and stand up and scream for a common purpose,” Strand
said.
A 31-year veteran of promoting UCLA spirit, Strand, who was
elected head cheerleader in 1970-71, says that UCLA gives him all
the pom-poms he can take in compensation for his effort.
But he hasn’t quit his day-job. The senior vice president
for Morgan Stanley has been at every home football game for the
last 26 years.
While most people see Strand as someone who leads cheers, his
role extends way beyond that.
In 1976, Strand, along with other members of the UCLA community,
was asked by former UCLA football coaches Terry Donahue and Jerry
Long, as well as former athletic director J.D. Morgan, to help
change the face of UCLA football and make it a more family-friendly
environment.
So Strand set out to involve more alumni in the spirit of the
game. But it was not a one-man effort.
“I just happened to be the focal point,” Strand
said. “It wouldn’t have happened without other people
helping.”
Alumni activities such as as a breakfast club and an alumni band
were organized, providing UCLA alumni with a stronger sense of
community.
“Loyalty and allegiance began to be built, and the alumni
section was creating so much noise that opposing coaches would file
protests,” Strand said. “You couldn’t ask for
better PR.”
And Strand knows how important all fan support is to UCLA teams.
At the 1979 home game against Cal, UCLA was behind more than 17
points at halftime. Then head coach Terry Donahue approached
Strand, and said, “Geoff, I need you. We can win the game if
we can get the fans in the game.”
That was all Strand needed to rally the Bruin troops. After
relating Donahue’s request to the cheering sections, everyone
stood up for the last half of the game.
The Bruins took home a 28-27 victory that day.
“(The fans) were a major part of the game that day,”
Strand said. “After the game, the team came over and went on
the platform and thanked the fans.”
The Rally Committee and ARC promote UCLA spirit in a more
behind-the-scenes manner.
The Rally Committee, established in 1922, has been most visibly
involved at UCLA athletic events with its card show at football
games and the priority numbers at basketball games.
When asked what the most special aspect of the Rally Committee,
Geraghty and Brisacher agreed: the card show.
“I take a lot of pride in the continuing existence of the
Rally Committee and the card show,” Brisacher said.
“When it works, it’s an amazing art form.”
When Geraghty and Brisacher were students, the Rally Committee
had to create instruction cards for the card show by hand. Now this
is done by computer.
“We definitely spent a lot of hours in Kerckhoff 129. It
was very labor intensive,” Brisacher said.
The drive of the ARC is to keep the alumni and current Bruins
connected. They do this by hosting an annual tailgate party at the
Rose Bowl, as well as providing funding for a small group of Rally
Committee members to go to the Bay Area football game.
Through the ups and downs of UCLA athletics, one thing remains
the same ““ the Bruin faithful can remain faithful, even after
graduation.