[ORIENTATION]: Fans can find a cheerful home in Bruin sports

The records 10-2 and 32-7 might not mean much to the average
person, but to any Bruins fan they are symbols of two of the best
seasons in UCLA sports in recent history. With our football team
boasting one come-from-behind victory after another, and our
basketball team’s dramatic march to the national championship
game, UCLA sports has a lot to be proud of and even more to look
forward to. The program is bringing excitement and attention back
to the West Coast, and this year will add to an already rich
tradition.

With the drama of an unbelievable bowl victory for our football
team and a very young basketball team eager to start up where they
left off, the Bruins are early favorites to compete to be the best
in the nation. Participation in UCLA athletic events is an
experience like no other, and through active involvement in all of
our teams’ competitions, we can contribute to the UCLA
athletic experience.

But there is far more to UCLA than just football and basketball.
We are contenders in every major collegiate sport. The men’s
volleyball team turned a bleak start into an unexpected national
championship last season, and the women’s water polo team
capped off an amazing year with a last-second victory over
crosstown rival “U$C” to capture its second national
championship in a row.

UCLA has the best athletic program of any university in the
country, and this year we will be looking for our historic 100th
national championship. We aim to provide our Bruins with every
advantage possible and prove to every other school in the nation
that we not only have the greatest athletic program but also the
greatest fans. Without the participation and dedication of the
fans, it would be impossible to carry on such a storied history
from one generation to the next.

The Den, UCLA’s official student fan group, seeks to
strengthen the home court advantage in every sport and unite the
students with every aspect of the game. Fusing the fans with the
sport provides for an amazing experience and creates unforgettable
memories, and being involved in the school’s athletics
strengthens school spirit and instills a sense of pride that cannot
be otherwise achieved.

The feeling of the Rose Bowl packed to capacity or the roar of
Pauley Pavilion before a basketball game cannot be explained. Being
a part of the game is an experience like nothing else, and as the
season moves forward, each game becomes more and more exciting. The
best of the best play at UCLA, and we get the opportunity to
witness history every day. The presence of every student in The Den
contributes to a game-time atmosphere stronger than any university
in the country, and without every student contributing to that
environment, it would not be the same.

Crisafulli is the 2006-2007 president of The Den.