A Classic Confrontation : The Background

The Garfield-Roosevelt rivalry, one of the oldest in the state, generates more interest than any other. Some background:

--The schools are located three miles apart in East Los Angeles. Many families in the community have some members who attended Roosevelt and others who attended Garfield, so they often don’t sit together when the schools play each other.

--The game was dubbed the “East Los Angeles Classic” in 1972 after a meeting among former Garfield coach Vic Loya, Roosevelt Coach Al Chavez and Garfield publicity director Ted Davis. The game had no name before that.

--Records don’t mean anything when the schools play. In 1990, Roosevelt was 0-6 and Garfield 6-0 before the game. Roosevelt won, 7-0.

--USC Athletic Director and 1965 Heisman Trophy winner Mike Garrett, former Atlanta Falcon Lynn Cain and former Dodger Willie Davis all played for Roosevelt. Garrett scored six touchdowns in the 1966 game.

--Garfield’s best-known athletic alumnus, boxer Oscar De La Hoya, never played football but was the grand marshal at the 1992 game.

--Garfield won the most lopsided game in the series, 54-10, last year.

--The game was moved to East L.A. College in 1951, and the rivalry intensified a few years later when the schools were put in the same league.