UCLA needs to unite around own Super Bowl

For four hours, 30 people gathered in my living room, forgetting
about everything save the matter at hand.

Whether you like football or not, this past Sunday was part of
our essence as Americans. The Super Bowl was broadcast to the
entire world and, commercials included, represents a microcosm of
our culture. It’s as American as apple pie or “American
Pie,” and practically part of our citizenship test, right
next to having watched “Star Wars” and disavowing
soccer.

More so than even elections, which actually divide us, the Super
Bowl is the national event that bridges the vast geography and
ethnic diversity. It acts as a great equalizer, able to provide a
common discussion forum from Maine to Hawaii, from biker bars to
Westwood apartment parties.

Monday, at work, in class or on Bruin Walk, there were hundreds
of conversations along the lines of “Hey, did you see Foster
leap into the end zone?” or “How ’bout that Bud
Light retrieving dog!” And, definitely the most popular,
“Did you SEE Janet Jackson?!” For the most part, people
know about each topic, as can be seen by the pictures on the
Internet … of Foster’s leap.

Have we recently had anything at UCLA that produces this
unifying effect or widespread chatter?

One thing I’ve realized in my two-plus years at UCLA is
how amazingly vast and diverse this place is. Every week I see new
campus organizations I’ve never heard of, miss out on a
half-dozen unique cultural performances, and receive a million
fliers on a variety of weekend activities that strangely
don’t involve watching football. People operate on a myriad
of social, class and work schedules and then return to their homes.
Thus, there is no way to peg UCLA students with any sort of
all-encompassing label, except that they are a Bruin.

But as the Super Bowl represents Americans, UCLA sports
represent the Bruins.

As knowledge of sports is one of the most useful social skills,
the Super Bowl is the single event with the greatest potential for
uniting people. To me, that’s the coolest aspect of the day
““ the harmony of a hundred million different people all
experiencing the same thing at the same time.

Nothing I’ve experienced here, though, has made me aware
of a similar cohesive UCLA kinship.

In other words, we need our own Super Bowl ““ a day where
everyone from the casual Bruin fan to the one bleeding blue and
gold can connect.

As we celebrated the biggest day of the sports year, I wondered
what would happen if the artificial passion created by monetary
stakes were to be replaced by a sincere interest more potentially
rewarding than money.

Of course, this scenario has happened numerous times. UCLA
booster clubs across the country are full of alumni still rabid
about UCLA from their experiences celebrating titles in Westwood.
How will this alumni nation fare after more and more alumni
graduate without the sense of community engendered by successful
football and basketball programs?

Granted, maybe my strong personal addiction leads me to
overestimate the power of sports.

And perhaps this school is better off without a dominating
sports presence, as the campus is freer to branch out to diverse
interests.

After watching Adam Vinitieri’s game-winning field goal
sail through the uprights amidst thousands of light bulbs and
millions of cheers throughout the country, the 30 of us in my
living room erupted in appreciation that this oh-so-over-hyped game
lived up to its billing. Then the guests filed out, leaving behind
a wasteland of assorted dips and beer cups, ending Super Bowl
Sunday to continue on with their lives.

Imagine if the party never stopped.

E-mail Peters at [email protected].