Conflict Begins Long Before Games

It was pure 21st century cyber-smack, the latest twist in the UCLA-USC rivalry.

Matt Ware, Bruin loyalist and Loyola High star, turned as red as a Trojan jersey last January when he saw newspaper comments from supposed friend Marvin Simmons suggesting that African American players UCLA recruits are “from Malibu” and that the Bruins pay scant attention to defense.

Simmons, a Long Beach Poly linebacker, had just withdrawn his oral commitment to UCLA and said he would sign with USC.

Ware logged on to the Bruin Report Online chat room, furiously hammered out a response and pressed send.

All from the comfort of his Malibu home.

“Marvin’s comments really pierced Matt’s soul,” said Julie Ware, Matt’s mother. “Matt shows his loyalty and expects you to do the same. That e-mail was a venting session for him.”

Matt’s rant received the most hits of any posting in the life of the site.

“It was history in the making,” Julie said.

Simmons had not enrolled at USC because of academic problems, but Ware, the only true freshman starter for UCLA, is eagerly anticipating his role in a heated rivalry that spans generations and splits families--at least for one week.

Julie Ware’s father, in fact, was an associate professor of dentistry at USC before passing away in 1992. His grandson spent untold hours at his bedside, but Matt’s eyes averted the Trojan towel hanging on the wall.

Matt’s parents are UCLA graduates and there was never a doubt which direction he would go.

“I’ve always hated USC, everything about them,” he said.

USC recruiters knew as much and didn’t bother calling beyond a few early inquiries. However, most local prospects choose USC or UCLA because of factors other than a longstanding allegiance.

The rivalry game is key, especially this year because USC has a bowl berth on the line and UCLA is trying to end a three-game losing streak after a 6-0 start.

That is not to suggest every prospect on the fence is going to drop into the backyard of the winning team, but the game provides a reference point for recruiters as the Feb. 6 signing date approaches.

“Kids growing up in Southern California are tuned in,” USC Coach Pete Carroll said. “There is no doubt about it, bragging rights come out of this game.”

A Trojan victory would ensure a bowl appearance in Carroll’s first season and greatly enhance the recruiting pitch: We took over a program in disarray and played in a bowl game by winning our last four conference games. This program is going nowhere but up and you can be a part of it.

A Bruin victory ends the three-game skid, ensures a better record than USC and could lift UCLA into a more prestigious bowl game: We were ranked all season and had a much better record than the guys across town. We came close to vying for a national championship and you are a player who can get us over the hump.

The game will be attended by several prospects coveted by both schools. The home team is allowed to host recruits, putting them on the Trojan sideline and in the locker room.

Running back Lorenzo Booker of St. Bonaventure, defensive lineman Fred Matua of Banning and two prospects from Long Beach Poly, running back Hershel Dennis and offensive lineman Winston Justice, are expected to be there.

All are strongly considering both schools.

“You can’t judge a team on one game, it has to be the whole season,” said Justice, considered the top lineman on the West Coast. “I’ll look at the coaches on the sidelines, see how they talk to the players.

“I want to see a motivating coach eager to teach. But nothing I see Saturday will make my decision.”

One top prospect who will not attend is the nation’s top tight end prospect, Marcedes Lewis of Long Beach Poly. He gave UCLA a commitment in March yet continues to receive calls from Trojan recruiters.

“They invite me to every home game, but I don’t want to leave any impression that I might be changing my mind,” he said. “I asked them to respect my decision, but they keep calling and telling me I’m still welcome and there is a spot for me in the USC offense.”

Walk around either campus and comments insulting the other are impossible to avoid. USC is in a trashy neighborhood, Bruins say. UCLA is a bunch of trash-talkers, Trojans say.

However, coaches who do the recruiting rarely disparage the other side. A UCLA recruiter did take a detour in the neighborhood surrounding the USC campus two years ago while driving a carload of recruits who were visiting both schools, but making negative comments only deflects from the central message--our school offers everything you need.

“The only thing USC recruiters told me about UCLA was that they would turn me into a defensive lineman,” said Mike Seidman, a Bruin tight end. “They know players don’t like to hear them bashing another school.”

Apparently, that’s the way it has always been.

“I’m there to talk about USC,” said Marv Goux, a Trojan assistant from 1957-82. “I might just say, ‘I don’t know a thing about UCLA except we beat them last year.”’

Seidman, a junior, grew up a Trojan fan but was recruited during a time of uncertainty at USC. John Robinson was under fire. Nearly every top school in the nation pursued Seidman except the school he always dreamed of attending.

“I couldn’t understand it,” he said. “I wore a Trojan uniform on Halloween when I was a kid, my dad and my uncle went there. I didn’t like UCLA at all.”

Robinson was fired Dec. 17, 1997, and Paul Hackett did not take over until Jan. 8. The Bruins took advantage of the turmoil, moving in and snapping up Seidman.

Although this year the Bruins have commitments from 16 players compared to the Trojans’ seven, the days of UCLA’s easy pickings might be nearing an end.

In lean years, USC recruiters resorted to recounting Trojan Heisman Trophy winners and national championships, leaving out the fact that those glory days came before current recruits were born.

But USC has won the rivalry game the last two years after eight consecutive Bruin victories. And the recent surge under Carroll has brought a measure of respectability.

“Half your friends are USC fans and half are UCLA fans,” said Trojan linebacker Matt Grootegoed, a redshirt freshman from Mater Dei High heavily recruited by both schools.

“Both schools are good. You just want to make the right decision. USC had the tradition and I thought they were on the upswing. That’s why I came here.”

UCLA should continue to get its share of players. Even ones with Trojan ties. Bruin lineman Matt Mosebar, a freshman who is redshirting, grew up at the knee of his uncle Don Mosebar, whose stellar USC career propelled him to a 13-year stint in the NFL.

After visiting both schools, Matt became enamored with UCLA, and his uncle gave his blessings.

“But he roots for USC,” Matt said.

Once players make a decision and suit up, the niceties cease. Anyone at UCLA who requires reminding need only ask Ware.

“I feel this even more than the rest of our guys, no matter how old they are,” he said. “What Marvin said hurt. It hurt bad. But my feelings about this game go much deeper. I’ve looked forward to it all my life.”

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Times staff writer David Wharton contributed to this story.