They Got the Bear

Your move, UCLA fans

The Bruin Bear is wearing USC colors Wednesday morning.

Vandals used paint to add a splash of Trojan colors to the statue at Westwood Plaza. It's likely the suspects are somewhere on the USC campus.

The prank is in connection with some game this weekend.

Not bad, but it's been done before. The UCLA History Project website recognizes some of the more aggressive pranks pulled in the rivalry:

In 1941, one particular incident greatly contributed to the rivalry. After a Washington State game at the Coliseum, some USC students stole the keys to the truck used to transport UCLA’s 295-pound Victory Bell and drove off. The bell – originally belonging to a Southern Pacific Railroad engine – had been presented to UCLA by the Alumni Association. The students began a rash of vandalism at UCLA and USC that ended in fall 1942 when kidnapping threats were made to the USC student body president if the bell was not returned. The Trojan students finally agreed to return the bell on the condition that it become a permanent game trophy. The bell has remained a victor’s trophy ever since.


The six-foot tall, 10-foot long bear weighs 2 tons. It was a gift from the UCLA Alumni Association.

The statue had been covered with a tarp since Monday, but that didn't prevent vandals from carrying out the attack some time  between 10 p.m. Tuesday and 6 a.m., said Phil Hampton of UCLA.

The case was being investigated as a felony vandalism.

USC's Tommy Trojan statue remained under student guard Wednesday.

 

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