House Divided: The Unique Traditions of the UCLA-USC Rivalry
The rivalry between the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Bruins and the University of Southern California (USC) Trojans is one of the most intense and storied in college sports. More than just a game, it's a year-round affair steeped in tradition, pranks, and passionate fan bases. While the University of Texas Longhorns and the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame are fierce historical adversaries of the Trojans, no feud is bigger than the one with crosstown rival UCLA.
A Shared Home in Enemy Territory
Adding a unique layer to this rivalry, USC receiver Greig Carlson, UCLA quarterback David Koral, and Bruin running back Manuel White found themselves in an unusual living arrangement. These players shared a three-bedroom apartment in Westwood, blurring the lines between rivals and roommates. In fact, for these players, there is no escaping college football’s only major cross-town rivalry, because the rival does not live across town, or even across the street or the hall, he lives in the three-bedroom apartment the three friends share in Westwood.
"To us, it's just home," Carlson said, highlighting the unexpected camaraderie amidst the fierce competition.
This unorthodox housing arrangement, which exists with the blessing of Trojan and Bruin coaches, is another unique plot point in USC’s and UCLA’s long-running L.A. story. "Where else could you do that?" Trojan Coach Pete Carroll said. "I'm sure it's fun for those guys right now."
While coaches from UCLA and USC are not concerned about potential espionage. "I trust those guys, and I know that they are not going to do something that will cause any problems," UCLA running backs coach Eric Bieniemy said. "I know that they are not going to leave stuff around that may be detrimental this week.” USC receivers coach Lane Kiffin said it would not matter. “You could give someone our playbook, and it would screw them up,” he said. “That stuff is overrated.”
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Despite the looming rivalry game, the atmosphere at the players' home remained relatively calm. None of the walls is painted cardinal and gold, or blue and gold. "We talk about football, but we don't really get into anything too serious about our teams," said Carlson, a former walk-on who earned a scholarship before the 2003 season for his work as a punt-return specialist. "We talk about what happened nationally. We're fans of the game before we're rivals."
Carlson and Koral, who backs up starter Drew Olson, have been best friends since they played together as seniors at Palisades High in 2000. They shared an apartment near downtown Los Angeles for more than a year before moving to Westwood when Koral was accepted by UCLA. "We're pretty much like brothers," said Koral, who was a redshirt at Vanderbilt in 2001 and played at Santa Monica College in 2002 and 2003. White, a senior from Valencia who is the Bruins' second-leading rusher, moved in before the season.
USC and UCLA players, many of whom grew up together or played with or against each other in high school, are aware of -- and apparently enjoy -- the trio's housing arrangement. "It's funny to think about the situation, but it's not really a big deal," Trojan quarterback Matt Leinart said. "Everyone is mature enough to handle it." Said Koral: "A lot of guys on the team know Greig. Even when he has his SC friends over, it's nothing special because we all respect each other."
Although teammates were never a problem, coaches were considered another matter. Carlson and Koral said they were apprehensive about informing coaches about their living arrangement. "As soon as he got admitted to UCLA I was like, 'Uh-oh. Now what am I going to do?' " Carlson said. Carlson followed his friend if not, in the minds of many Trojan loyalists, his senses. He moved to Westwood. Before the season, he checked with Mark Jackson, USC's assistant athletic director in charge of football operations, to find out whether there would be a problem. "We know who Greig is and what he's about," Jackson said. "He's always been a mature kid. We were fine with it." Koral did not immediately inform UCLA Coach Karl Dorrell. But one day, during a film session, Koral saw Carlson on the screen and asked whether the play could be run back. "Coach asked why, and I told him that I wanted to see No. 19 block," Koral said. "That's when I think the coaches started to know."
While Koral and White make the short trek to the UCLA campus each day, Carlson commutes by motorcycle to USC. Despite being friends off the field, White said he would not hesitate to level Carlson on Saturday. "If I get a shot on the field, I'm taking it," said White, who has played on punt coverage teams. "I'll hit him a little harder than I would anyone else. That's like if I was playing against my brother, you always want to outdo him."
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That potential collision is still a few days away. Today and Thursday, the roommates will enjoy household camaraderie. On Friday, the players will leave their apartment, head to their respective schools and then bus with their teams to different hotels. "We'll probably just say, 'See you tomorrow,' " Carlson said. And then remind each other to lock the door and turn out the lights.
The Prank War: A Battle of Wits and Colors
Beyond the gridiron, the UCLA-USC rivalry is defined by a long-standing tradition of pranks, rumored to have begun in the 1940s after USC stole a bell from UCLA’s campus. This act by the Trojans not only sparked an enduring war of practical jokes, but is the reason behind the winning team being awarded a victory bell. This prank war has become historic in its own right, and even overshadowed the game at times.
Pranks between the two colleges have become historic in their own right, and even overshadowed the game at times. The Trojans once released 30,000 USC colored crickets into a UCLA library in 1989. Decades earlier in 1958, UCLA flew a helicopter over the USC campus in order to dump manure on the Tommy Trojan statue. While the Bruins were successful, the prank backfired as the manure ended up in the rotors and blades of the chopper due to the wind.
The main targets in this never-ending prank war have remained the school’s statues and monuments. Tommy Trojan and Bruin the Bear are often victims of vandalism. The most recent incident was in 2018 when two men were arrested for painting over Bruin in USC colors. The damage to the beloved statue ended up costing UCLA $15,000.
To counter these acts of vandalism, students at both universities have taken the matter into their own hands by standing watch 24/7 during rivalry week and protecting the statues with tape. At USC, a group known as the “Trojan Knights” have at least one person on guard throughout the day to ensure nobody messes with Tommy Trojan. “We do our best to make sure that Tommy is safe and sound,” said Trojan Knight John Bosco. To help pass the time, the Trojan Knights compete in Super Smash Bros. tournaments and play board games and cornhole. Many institutions on campus also help by providing them with food and drinks for their long security shifts. Although the job may get tedious, the Trojan Knights continue to protect Tommy as they feel that the statue represents what it means to be a Trojan - something worth preserving .“Being a Trojan means never backing down, staying true to who you are while still working hard,” said Bosco. “We need to be courageous and make sure that we make this university everything we want it to be, and everything we feel it has been in the past, while still addressing the ways that this university needs to grow and change.” Along with the Trojan Knights, the Helenes of USC also stand guard and look after the statue Hecuba in the USC Village.
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Beat 'SC Rallies: Fueling the Fire
The annual "Beat 'SC" rallies serve as a crucial tradition ahead of UCLA football’s yearly rivalry game against USC. Approximately 2,750 people attended the event. Cheers erupted as the UCLA football team and women’s basketball team went on stage. This year also marked the rally’s return following 2023’s cancellation due to inclement weather conditions. Joseph Lee, a fourth-year human biology and society student who worked at the event, said the light show - which coincided with performances by the Spirit Squad - has been just as successful as the fire at raising school spirit. Santos traded his old USC merch for a Beat ‘SC Rally T-shirt at the “Get the Red Out” exchange event. “You see everyone walking around in blue, you see them really hyped for the games and events,” he said. Between the student performances and varsity team speeches, organizers played highlight reels featuring UCLA’s various sports teams and international alumni network. Audience members exchanged smiles as a video played of people doing the 8-clap around the world. Eric Lozano said he and his wife Vanessa drove an hour to attend the rally for the first time. Despite not being alumni, the Lozanos said support for UCLA has been generational in their family, although divisive at times. “It’s house divided. We have a lot of USC family,” Vanessa Lozano said. Wednesday was the first Beat ‘SC Rally for Sydney McJannet, a second-year economics student who was helping attendees check in for the event. Anticipation for the game was especially high for many freshmen, it being first UCLA-USC rivalry experience. McJannet said she was rooting for wide receiver Carter Shaw as a fellow alumni from Sacred Heart Preparatory in Atherton, California. Eric Lozano said linebacker Kain Medrano was his player to watch this year, having grown up playing defense as well. As the event drew to a close, football team head coach DeShaun Foster repeated a Bruins slogan to the audience.
Home Jersey Tradition
But for the USC-UCLA rivalry, the two schools have a longstanding trend of each wearing their home jerseys, regardless of where the game is played. The tradition dissipated when UCLA began competing in the Rose Bowl in 1982, and USC wore its white jerseys for the game. Once then-USC head coach Pete Carroll got word of this history in 2008, he decided to go against the rule, and, with UCLA’s permission, both teams wore their home jerseys.
The Victory Bell
The Victory Bell - painted blue - is pictured. The bell is claimed by the team that wins the rivalry game and painted blue or red depending on if the Bruins or Trojans emerge victorious. Thus began the famous tradition of the bell swapping between the winner of the rivalry contest.
A Rivalry Beyond the Game
For many players on the field, the rivalry and all that comes with it is something that has existed in their minds for much longer than their time in the jersey. “I’ve been to a lot of USC-UCLA games growing up, so this is - it’s really surreal for me,” Norwood said. “Just growing throughout the years, going back and forth with them. “It’s for something,” Medrano said. Redshirt senior defensive lineman Carl Jones Jr. “It’s, once again, the team across town,” Jones said.
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