Nece doesn’t play nice when it comes to ‘SC

By Adam Karon
Daily Bruin Staff

Two years ago at the Coliseum, Ryan Nece was in a predicament.
After his initial play as a Bruin against USC he found himself
being choked by a Trojan lineman.

So he did what any logical Bruin would do: he ripped the
lineman’s helmet off and chucked it thirty yards
downfield.

“I have a hatred for ‘SC,” Nece said.

That Nece hates the Trojans is a bit of a surprise. After all,
he has some serious ‘SC connections. His father, Ronnie Lott,
was an All-American defensive back for USC in 1980. Nece’s
girlfriend of six years, Ebony Parker, attended USC as an
undergraduate before coming to UCLA for a masters in social
welfare.

But once he steps on the field that all disappears.

Defensive lineman Rodney Leisle said it best. “When
we’re one the field, they are our enemies.”

Head coach Bob Toledo agrees.

“When you cross the white line, it’s a matter of
survival,” he said. “You have to hit him before he hits
you.”

Nece, a senior, has waged a five-year war with the Trojans and
has seen it all, from consecutive wins in 1997 and 1998 to a pair
of losses the last two years.

This year, however, is different. Rather than merely stepping
onto the field and playing his heart out, Nece is trying to squeeze
out every drop of nostalgia from the game.

“They tell you when you’re a freshman that your
college experience goes by quickly, but you don’t believe it
until it happens,” he said. “Well, it’s happening
now.”

Nece knew early on that he wasn’t going to follow in his
father’s footsteps. For starters, USC hardly recruited the
linebacker from San Bernardino. Not until he showed interest in
UCLA did the Trojans begin their courtship. By then it was too
late.

“My hatred for ‘SC developed from the inside
out,” Nece said. “I was part of that lifestyle, part of
being a Trojan growing up. I saw what they were about, and I
didn’t agree with it.”

Nece describes the Trojan lifestyle as “elite,”
“cocky” and “arrogant.”

These are hash words coming from one of the more pleasant,
well-spoken Bruins.

“I’m going to show them why they made a
mistake,” Nece said. “I’m out to maintain
respect.”

Nece is also well on his way in converting a few Trojans. While
Parker still holds out, Nece recently caught his father wearing a
UCLA hat after the Stanford game.

“I think I’m slowly weaning him over to our side,
the good side,” Nece said with a smile.

Whether converting one of the Trojans’ greatest players or
tearing off a lineman’s helmet, Nece is out representing
Bruin pride.

With his girlfriend, father and a host of Trojans looking on, he
will have quite an audience to impress.