The Victory Bell: A Storied Symbol of the USC-UCLA Rivalry

The Victory Bell stands as a potent emblem of the intense and enduring rivalry between the University of Southern California (USC) Trojans and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Bruins. More than just a trophy, the bell encapsulates a history of spirited competition, audacious pranks, and deep-seated pride. The annual battle for its possession fuels the crosstown clash, solidifying its place in college football lore.

Origin and Early Years

The Victory Bell's story began in 1939 when the UCLA Alumni Association gifted a 295-pound brass bell to the university. This bell, originally mounted atop a Southern Pacific freight locomotive, quickly became a campus fixture. From 1939 to 1941, it served as a signal for daily campus life. Bruin cheerleaders rang the bell after each point scored during football games, its resounding clang becoming synonymous with UCLA triumph. The bell's robust construction and historical ties to the railroad evoked themes of progress and endurance.

The Great Heist of 1941

The bell's symbolic importance took a dramatic turn on the night of September 26, 1941, following UCLA's narrow 7-6 victory over Washington State. Six members of USC's Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, some affiliated with the Trojan Knights, orchestrated a daring prank that would forever alter the rivalry's landscape. Disguised as UCLA students, they infiltrated the Bruins' rooting section at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. While the Bruins went to get the key to the truck, they found that the Trojan Knights had removed the key and had driven off with the bell.

The USC students concealed the bell for over a year, moving it to various locations across Southern California, including a fraternity basement, the Hollywood Hills, and even beneath a haystack. The theft sparked intense campus tensions and a series of retaliatory pranks. UCLA students painted the Tommy Trojan statue blue on October 2, 1941, and USC responded by burning "USC" initials into UCLA's lawns. The escalating vandalism prompted multiple police interventions, nearly leading USC President Rufus B. von KleinSmid to cancel the 1942 football game.

Formalizing the Rivalry: The 1942 Agreement

To resolve the escalating conflict and channel the prank war into a more constructive outlet, student body presidents from both universities signed a formal agreement on November 12, 1942. The agreement, negotiated by UCLA's Bill Farrer and USC's Bill McKay, designated the Victory Bell as the permanent trophy for the winner of their annual football game. The signing ceremony took place in front of Tommy Trojan, solidifying the bell's status as the ultimate prize in the crosstown rivalry.

Under the terms of the agreement, the victor would retain possession of the bell on their campus until the next matchup. In the event of a tie, the previous year's winner would keep it. To formalize shared ownership, USC's student body purchased a half-interest in the bell for $150.

The "Victory Bell Wars" and Prank Culture

Following the 1942 agreement, outright thefts of the bell became less frequent, as both schools committed to its shared status and annual transfer based on game outcomes. However, the initial 1941 theft continued to fuel a broader "Victory Bell Wars" era of escalating antics. The trophy served as a symbolic centerpiece that inspired protective measures, vandalism of related rivalry icons, and elaborate disruptions timed around the annual matchup.

In 1943, UCLA students kidnapped USC's live mascot dog, George Tirebiter, shaving "UCLA" into his fur before returning him hours before kickoff. This act underscored the heightened stakes of the trophy game and prompted reciprocal guarding of campus symbols. The prank wars intensified in the 1950s, exemplified by a 1958 UCLA operation where students rented a helicopter to drop approximately 500 pounds of manure onto USC's Tommy Trojan statue, evading over 100 Trojan guards.

By the late 20th century, pranks remained a hallmark of the "Victory Bell Wars," though they increasingly focused on indirect sabotage rather than the bell itself. In 1989, during USC's possession of the trophy, rival students released around 20,000 crickets-painted cardinal and gold-into UCLA's Young Research Library amid finals week.

Traditions and Symbolism

The Victory Bell is more than just a trophy; it is a symbol steeped in tradition and meaning for both universities. When UCLA possesses the Victory Bell, the wooden carriage supporting the 295-pound brass bell is sandblasted and repainted in the university's signature "True Blue" color, symbolizing Bruin dominance in the crosstown rivalry. The Trojan Knights are responsible for ringing the Victory Bell, a duty they perform with precision to amplify school spirit. Before home games, when the bell is in USC's possession, it sits along Trousdale Parkway for fans to ring as they participate in the "Trojan Walk" to the L.A. Coliseum.

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Game Day Rituals and Displays

During UCLA home games at the Rose Bowl and whenever UCLA faces USC at the L.A. Coliseum, the Victory Bell resides on the field in front of the student section. It is rung by members of the Rally Committee after each score. The Bruins also ring the bell using a rope attached to the handle, swinging the whole bell, as opposed to the Trojan style of attaching a rope to the tongue or clapper on the inside of the bell. The bell also makes special appearances at rallies and athletic events.

During home games, and whenever USC faces UCLA at the Rose Bowl, the Victory Bell is displayed at the edge of the field for the first three quarters of the game. Members of the Trojan Knights ring the bell every time the Trojans score, serving as an inspiration to all of the Trojan Family.

Series Record and Notable Moments

Since the Victory Bell was established as the rivalry trophy in 1942, USC holds a 48-34-4 edge across 86 games. In the event of a tie during the trophy period, the team possessing the bell retains it until the next matchup. Notable possession changes include UCLA's inaugural 1942 victory (14-7), which awarded them the bell for the first time. USC captured it in the 1943 season opener (20-0) and held it through multiple wins and a 1944 tie until UCLA reclaimed it in 1946 (13-6). UCLA's eight-game winning streak from 1991 to 1998 marked their longest trophy-era dominance, securing the bell each time.

A significant non-physical incident arose in 2010 when the NCAA vacated USC's 2004 and 2005 victories over UCLA due to violations involving Reggie Bush, retroactively altering the official rivalry series record to reflect the changes without requiring a physical handover of the bell, which had already changed hands based on the original results.

The Modern Rivalry

The USC-UCLA rivalry extends beyond the football field, encompassing academics, student life, and a general sense of crosstown competition. The close proximity of the two campuses, separated by only 11 miles, intensifies the rivalry, making it a personal and often in-your-face experience. While the competition is fierce, it is also marked by mutual respect and a shared understanding of the unique bond that connects these two institutions.

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Mascots and Traditions

The rivalry is further fueled by the mascots and traditions that embody each university's spirit. USC's Traveler, a noble white steed, and Tommy Trojan statue stand as symbols of Trojan pride, while UCLA's Bruin bear represents the strength and resilience of the Bruins. These iconic figures often become targets of playful pranks, particularly during the lead-up to the annual football showdown.

The Trojan Knights, founded in 1921, play a vital role in upholding USC's traditions and guarding the Victory Bell. They are known for their dedication to service, spirit, and brotherhood, and their presence is a fixture at USC football games and campus events. UCLA also has its share of memorable mascots. In the 1930s, a live bear and its trainer appeared at games. That proved unwieldy. After several other attempts to bring in live bear mascots in the 1950s and 1960s failed, the Bruins settled on costumed students.

Academic and Athletic Prowess

Both USC and UCLA boast impressive academic and athletic achievements. USC's distinguished faculty features recipients of major national honors, while UCLA's award-winning faculty includes Nobel Prize winners and Pulitzer Prize recipients. In athletics, USC has produced a remarkable number of Olympic athletes and medalists, but UCLA also boasts a rich Olympic heritage, with legendary athletes like Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Rafer Johnson among its medal winners.

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