UCLA USC THE RIVALRY

The Daily Bruin and Daily Trojan newspaper staffs will play their rivalry football game today.

And while there won’t be any future NFL players on the Blood Bowl teams, past rosters have included future millionaires.

In 1982 the Trojans’ team had Randy Johnson, who was then known as the quiet guy who liked to take photographs. He later became the Big Unit who likes to stack up Cy Young awards.

That same year the Bruin team had David Kahn, a co-sports editor of the Daily Bruin who later became a Times intern. Kahn is now general manager of the Indiana Pacers.

In 1982, the Bruins won the Blood Bowl and also defeated USC, 20-19, in the other football game at Pasadena.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Henry Shatford, the Daily Bruin sports editor in 1941, played in the Blood Bowl before earning a law degree from USC, but the tradition started even before he was a student.

“I don’t even remember who won or how [the tradition] started, but it was always a lot of fun,” he said.

The Blood Bowl will be played today at 2:30 p.m. at McAlister Field near the USC campus.

For a different cross-town match, go to the Disney Ice arena in Anaheim tonight at 7:30 and watch the Trojan and Bruin hockey teams fight for bragging rights on the ice.

MEMORABLE GAME

Nov. 23, 1996 (UCLA 48, USC 41, 2OT)--The Trojans had a 38-21 lead with 11:06 to play before the Bruins stormed back.

A 47-yard field goal by Bjorn Merten with 6:12 remaining closed the gap to 38-24. Keith Brown’s one-yard run made it 38-31 with 2:49 to play. The onside kick was recovered by the Trojans, but on first and 10 from the Bruin 41, Trojan running back LaVale Woods fumbled, and the Bruins recovered with 1:27 to play.

Quickly moving the ball downfield, Bruin quarterback Cade McNown connected with Rodney Lee, who made a diving catch at the USC 11. On the next play, tailback Skip Hicks scored on a run up the middle.

After the teams traded field goals in the first overtime, Hicks scored the game-winner on a 25-yard run. UCLA clinched the victory when Anthony Cobbs intercepted Matt Koffler’s fourth-down pass in the end zone.

ALUMNI

JUNIOR SEAU

San Diego Chargers

USC Linebacker 1988-89

“It’s the Super Bowl of football. The records don’t matter. The rivalry is always great between the two schools because they are so close together in L.A. and it brings special bragging rights and pride.”

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ZEV YAROSLAVSKY

UCLA Class of ’71

Los Angeles County

Board of Supervisors

“I first went to a game when I was 12 and ever since I graduated I haven’t missed many games. It’s something I look forward to each year. There’s even best friends’ weddings I’ve missed to be at the game. . . . Every play of the game is magnified more than any game. . . . And now working in [politics] we all kid with each other. Like [City Council President] John Ferraro and this Saturday with Sheriff Lee Baca from USC, whom I’ll be taking to the Bruin sideline with me. He said he’s going to behave himself and not be too demonstrative, but if he doesn’t behave I’ll have to send him to the ‘SC side.”

NOW YOU KNOW

Since 1938, the USC-UCLA game has determined the Rose Bowl representative 34 times. USC holds a 21-11-2 advantage in those games. However, the game has not determined a Rose Bowl berth since 1993, the longest drought in the series history.