PASADENA — Sunk in the depths of football misery, Liam Jenny screamed his voice hoarse, home and away.
The fourth-year atmospheric and oceanic studies and political science double major, who is the director of gameday operations for The Den, UCLA’s student section, had been one of the few students who attended the defeats to Utah and New Mexico at the Rose Bowl – and one of even fewer in Las Vegas for the Bruins’ defeat to UNLV.
“We really believe the fact that regardless of the success of our teams, they still need the support and they still have the energy from the student section,” Jenny said before UCLA’s home Big Ten opener against No. 7 Penn State.
He continued: “For me, personally, of course, disappointment [over the season’s start]. I was upset. I was frustrated.”
Jenny won’t have to stand alone Saturday. UCLA’s fall quarter began a week and a half ago, and Saturday represented the first home game where students could trek from Westwood to Pasadena to watch football.
Jason Taormina, vice president of The Den, said he and the club spoke at New Student Orientation, New Bruin Welcome day, and other events – along with tabling on Bruin Walk to try to educate new students on how to get to the Rose Bowl and get their tickets for UCLA football.
It isn’t easy. Students likely need to pay for both a Rooter Bus pass, which guarantees a bus trip from campus to the Rose Bowl, and their Den Pass, a paid, student-only ticket that secures entrance to football and men’s basketball games.
Jenny and Taormina emphasized how much of their early-year events are about educating the student population on how to get to the Rose Bowl and how to buy a student ticket.
“I’m just making sure students are aware that this is a good time,” Taormina, a fourth-year student, said. “The Rose Bowl is historic. It’s a beautiful stadium. It’s a place you want to be on Saturday.”
UCLA and The Den teamed to provide undergraduate students a free ticket to watch the Bruins and the Nittany Lions on Saturday, a test drive of the Den Pass for future games. Jenny said he was hoping that fans could fill the lower bowl of the student section above the away sideline, which would be around 1,000 students.
He said he understood that fan apathy is at a high, but hoped students can still bring the hunger and fight to try and inspire the winless Bruins on Saturday – support that was rewarded when UCLA led for the first time all season with its first-quarter touchdown to lead 7-0, which then became 10 after a shocking onside kick and 20 at halftime as the Bruins’ stunning start shocked the Rose Bowl faithful.
“Personally, and our club, we have a lot of optimism,” Jenny said. “I know that the vast majority of UCLA students might not share that optimism. Do I think we’re gonna inherently win this game? No. Do I hope that we have at least a good showing and have a good time? Yeah.”
For students, and fans alike, there was finally something to root for at the Rose Bowl.