Bruins enjoy a different kind of smoke

  BRIDGET O’BRIEN/Daily Bruin Senior Staff Chanting
obscenities about USC, a crowd gathers in front of Janss Steps to
witness the annual bonfire as a part of last night’s Beat “˜SC
Rally.

By Jeff Agase
Daily Bruin Staff

An estimated 2,500 people packed Wilson Plaza Wednesday night to
see if two losing streaks are flammable.

The 2001 installment of the Beat ‘SC Bonfire and Rally had
all the typical ingredients: boisterous students, blatant profanity
and organized burning ““ yet so much was different.

For starters, the Bruins (6-3, 3-3 Pac-10) found themselves on
unfamiliar ground the night of the bonfire, facing a four-game
losing streak this season and a three-game losing streak to the
Trojans.

Also, the venue was different ““ because the usual
Intramural Field site has been torn up due to construction of an
underground parking lot, the stage was set up in front of Janss
Steps.

But the fire ““ both literally and figuratively ““ was
there as always.

“I want the 12th Man all up in the Trojans,” said
senior safety and co-captain Marques Anderson. “We’re
gonna show them that we’re gonna take this game to the next
level.”

Despite rumors to the contrary, ageless alumni section leader
and an eternally sweater-clad Geoff Strand appeared halfway through
the evening, ringing his trademark bell and clutching a
microphone.

Just to give the Bruins a little push toward their desired
return to normalcy, Strand called for “every man, woman and
child” to put their hands together for an 8-clap.

After the cheer, Strand inquired, “What were those last
three words?”

Almost instinctively, the throng of Bruin supporters changed
“fight, fight, fight” into the expletive-laden
variation, damning USC eight times over.

“Don’t you ever do another 8-clap without those
words until we’ve kicked their asses,” Strand said.

But not everyone on campus was as fired up for the evening.
Fourth-year English student Cynthia Rabuy didn’t know the
bonfire was even taking place, but has followed UCLA through this
at times testing season.

“I’ve watched all the games on TV, but they’ve
been losing,” she said, her voice trailing off. “A
bonfire seems a little high schoolish.”

Most who decided to attend the event defended their team and the
bonfire itself.

“The pageantry, the tradition, the profanity ““
that’s what the bonfire is all about,” said third-year
English student Mike Robrock.

Head coach Bob Toledo called Beat ‘SC Week “a week
you’ll never forget” and told fans that the rest of the
season ““ which has been a source of frustration for Toledo
and fans alike ““ doesn’t matter if the Bruins take down
USC.

Absent was senior tailback DeShaun Foster, who remains suspended
in the wake of the revelation of possible “extra
benefits” he received.

With the 15-foot pile of wood set to go up in flames, senior
wide receiver Brian Poli-Dixon provided the last spark.

“It’s gonna be on and crackin’,” he
said.