I moved it to the front page

Like many of us from LA, I grew up with the rivalry EVERYWHERE. My math teacher was an ‘SC grad and my English teacher was a UCLA grad. It made for awesome rivalry weeks. I ended up choosing UCLA because I like the Westside better than South Central, and of course, I feel UCLA is better (sorry, had to do it). Heckling and a bit of bad-mouthing is to be expected, but it really makes me uncomfortable to be around USC or UCLA ultra-fans. 90% of both school’s fans are entirely civilized, prone to making a few sharp jabs at the appropriate times, but keep it sane and fun. The other 10% are just immature about the rivalry.
The whole band thing is still a mystery to me, although the whole rumors of band behavior has been raised before. As a HUGE marching band fan, I’d love to hear both bands (although I think most of us, including quite a few ‘SC fans, would love to hear a little more variety in the Trojan March Band’s repertoire). If there are legitimate concerns about space, behavior, etc I’m sure the two schools should be able to go come together to work it out.

I’ll never stop being a partisan UCLA fan, just like 99% of CC readers will never stop being rabid USC fans. I really enjoy both points of view from BN and CC… This all wouldn’t be worth it if we agreed all the time, so thanks for what you all do.

The USC-UCLA rivalry is one of the best there is in college (sports). Unlike any other rivalry in the country, both schools are located in the same city, so that just fans the flames even more. As has been posted many times, most anyone living in SoCal knows/works/lives with people who went to either or both schools. It’s really part of the fabric of life here.

The good-natured taunting is always gonna be there – and should be. Things ratchet up a bit during rivalry week, but that, too, is to be expected (minus extreme behavior like scaring kids or poking someone’s eye out). I also give more leeway to impassioned online posts from anyone who is currently attending either school (or recently graduated), because those students are truly living the rivalry now.

On the other hand, If you’re more than a couple of years removed from campus life, yet seem obsessed with trashing your rival 24/7, that says more about you and your own personal issues than it does either school.

The reputation of the band was pretty bad in the early 90’s but has softened up since then. Its bad behavior is a shadow of its former self. ucla banning the USC band is a smokescreen to sell more tickets. USC banning the ucla band is solely in response to ucla’s move. So basically if bruins want to bring the bands back, they are going to have to yell at their administration to open the doors back up to the TMB. I doubt that USC will allow their kids at our events if the bruins don’t reciprocate.

. . .if it weren’t for you (historically), the world would never have had Romulus and Remus- and the foundations of the Holy Roman Empire. You are a MASSIVE citizen/icon for Troy!

That said. . . . . .DAMN SON! I want me some ‘SC football! And I want it RIGHT FRICKIN’ NOW! Way to go brotha! Epic post!

So, if our bands can’t get together on game days- let’s rent out some Elks Lodge and have ourselves a “grass”-roots Battle of the Bands, a’la Cheech and Chong’s “Up In Smoke” (grass imbibing is entirely optional). I figure, since neither of the bands have Dead Kennedy’s or Black Flag or Metallica songs in the repertoire (or do they?), there will be no need for a Pit! (can you imagine? f_cking bang out of order, i tell you!)

It sure would be nice to get these bands on the field, court, and/or pitch! Our respective teams are CHAMPIONS squared! The players, fans, and alumni DESERVE THEM!

I’ve never actually been to any of the crosstown rivalry games at either venues … mainly because I didn’t attend either school. But I have been at games at both the Collosseum and Rose Bowl to watch Cal play. Sad to say, in the past few years my experience at the Rose Bowl has grown worse. This quote from your post really resonated:

The verbal abuse was incessant and indiscriminate; equally directed at men, women, and children with complete abandon.

Last year was just brutal, as my wife, friends and I were harrassed mercilessly by bruin “fans” and I even saw children dressed in Cal gear get yelled at. At one point a drunken bruin tossed their leftover nachos at a group of Old Blues while laughing. Last year was absolutely the worst I’ve experienced.

And if it was that bad for me, I can’t even imagine what it must be like for SC alumni and fans when they travel there.

I honestly have no idea if (or how much) of this is because of some over-zealous, hyperbolic, hateful, and incendiary blogging or just another aspect of society. Still, it’s gotta stop. Here’s hoping your plea takes hold.

Welcome to the club Oski!
Thanks for the historical feedback Bix. Indeed, Aeneas was the last great Trojan hero. The legendary Trojans conquered the Latins, and their descendants the Romans conquered the treacherous Greeks, absorbing them into their Empire. The score was settled.
For the record, I don’t consider myself worthy of the name.

Of note: There are two Bruins playing for the Lakers in the NBA championship series. Congratulations to Farmar and Ariza; but no one should forget these guys work for a Trojan.

I too come from a house divided. Me and my dad sit together and watch the lakers (beat Boston) and the dodgers play. But when Usc and Ucla play we are no longer father and son. we’ll talk so much smack to each other that you’ll think we would start exchanging blows.

I would love to see this rivarly get back to where it used to be.

I could ask some of my contacts over in the Band Office what the deal is with this if I did.

The days of “Old Band” are thankfully pretty much gone. I think our band can be plenty effective without being complete dicks to each other and everyone around them.

Also as a former band member I love the effect that TTT has on opposing fans and teams. How many other schools have that kind of effect on their opponents, 3 or 4 tops. I remember my freshman year (2001) when the Stanford QB at the time said he hoped to shut us up and have us not playing that song by half time. You bet your ass we played it twice as much and twice as loud that weekend.

Yeah I was in the “old band” and was witness to a lot of the bad behavior. I’m not going to confirm or deny any participation in said behavior though. I’ll take the 5th. One thing is for sure. The USC and ucla bands hated each other when I was at USC. There were obscenities flying, cars vandalized, arenas vandalized, uniforms and instruments hijacked, you name it.