UCLA’s rivalry week motivation against USC is rooted in the past – Daily News

LOS ANGELES — UCLA receiver Josiah Norwood got his first in-person look at one of Southern California’s most intense football rivalries when he was 12 years old.

“I went with my Pop Warner teammate,” he said of his first UCLA-USC game. “It was just awesome. It kind of just got me excited for it and me and my dad, my family, started going a couple times after that, too.”

“It’s really surreal for me,” he added. “Just to be a part of it and just growing throughout the years. But also I don’t want a participation trophy.”

The motivation for this Saturday’s rivalry game against USC, slated for 12:30 p.m. at the Coliseum, is rooted in the past for many Bruins.

Both teams are also looking to seize the opportunity to bounce back from two straight losses: UCLA (6-4 overall, 3-4 in Pac-12) has fallen to Arizona and Arizona State in the last two games, while USC (7-4, 5-3) has lost to Washington and Oregon.

Bruins defensive lineman Carl Jones Jr., who will be playing in his third rivalry game, distinctly remembers waving the flag after UCLA’s last win at the Coliseum in 2021. He said during media availability Tuesday that alumni and previous teammates like Mo Osling III and Stephan Blaylock have reached out via text message making sure that he and other current players are ready.

“The ones that came before us,” Jones said of his motivation. “Talking to alumni, I know how much this game means to them. And we have that same drive.”

Receiver Logan Loya, who also recalled watching UCLA and USC while growing up in Southern California, has two former teammates from St. John Bosco who are currently on the USC roster. He also has a former Orange Lutheran teammate as a current UCLA teammate in Kyle Ford, a USC transfer.

“Super happy to have Kyle on this side now and not the other way around,” Loya said.

Norwood said Ford has helped the receiver group point out tendencies of current USC players. He hasn’t sensed any ambivalence from Ford in the days leading up to the game, just his usual competitive nature.

“What people don’t realize is, there’s so much more competitive nature when you play someone that you know,” Norwood said.

Weather forecasts call for an 80% chance of rain Saturday. The Coliseum has a natural grass surface that could produce muddy playing conditions for the game – something many football players here don’t experience due to the increased use of synthetic turf.

Jones said he thinks dirty playing conditions would make playing in an environment that already brings out emotions even more fun.

“At the Coliseum, you see a lot more red,” Jones said. “For me, seeing all the other gear, all the other colors, it just gets me more amped up because they’re all talking mess. The Rose Bowl is all love, but I still want to put on a show for our fans.”

INJURY REPORT

Quarterback Collin Schlee was not seen at practice Tuesday morning during the media viewing period for the second day in a row. Schlee played the majority of Saturday’s game against Arizona State, but left the field due to injury and Chase Griffin entered the game in relief.

Linebacker Darius Muasau was seen participating in drills Tuesday without limitations after he missing from practice on Monday morning. Ale Kaho was missing from the group.