Go Joe Bruin Interviews ‘The Den’… Again – The UCLA Hoops Edition

Go Joe Bruin once again got the chance to do an interview with one of the Co-Presidents of the UCLA student section, ‘The Den’. Peter Duyshart did another interview via email with us on the best student section in college sports. You can follow Peter Duyshart on Twitter @TrueBruin711 and can also follow The Den @uclatheden and on Facebook for all your UCLA student section needs.

Dec 28, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of the Pauley Pavilion during the NCAA basketball game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and UCLA Bruins. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Go Joe Bruin: So, UCLA basketball is back! How pumped are you?

The Den: We are very excited for this season! We have a solid roster, with a couple of key returners and some talented incoming freshman. Most importantly though, we are thrilled that we get to be back in New New Pauley Pavilion, the most famous college basketball arena in the nation, in our new student section that is closer to the court, cheering on our Bruins!

GJB: For those that do not know, what are some of The Den’s pre game traditions?

TD: First and foremost, our most famous cheer is the Frisbee Cheer (“Is This a Basketball?”). This cheer has been ranked as a top 5 basketball cheer in the nation! It is pretty much a yelled question and answer session with the whole student section. The Den Leader starts off by yelling, “Is This a Basketball?” and the student section responds, “YES, that’s a basketball!” The Den Leader then yells a few more questions, and everyone responds the same way, depending on what the Leader asks about. After the questions, the Leader will run through everything mentioned in the questions, and everyone else will repeat what he or she says. We then finish with a Bruin Spell out and an 8-clap.

Another pre-game tradition is Roll Call. With 18:00 left before tip-off, we want to check our players in and say “hey” to them. We chant each player’s name until they wave to us.

One other pre-game tradition we have is our Opponent Introduction Signs. These 5 signs were made in 1977, and we still use them, despite how beat up, stained, and taped up they are. Each sign holder signs the front of the 1^st sign and writes the year(s) that they were the holder when they pass them off to the next sign holder. Sign Holders are Den Leaders, usually the President, but not always. Each sign has an insult on it. A Den Leader holds one sign up for each opposing starter. The student section is supposed to yell what the sign says when that sign is held up. The signs read: “So What”, “Who Cares”, “Big Deal”, “Who’s He?”, “Go Home.” The 5^th sign, “Go Home” reads “Digger is a Wimp” on the back of it. Digger Phelps was of course one of Coach Wooden’s main rivals during Coach’s incredible run at UCLA. Digger Phelps actually signed this sign when College GameDay visited Pauley.

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GJB: What are some of the in-game traditions?

TD: The most important thing that The Den needs to do during the game is to be very LOUD when we are on defense. Some of us jump up and down, but the main thing is just being as loud as possible. We want both teams to know who has the home court advantage.

When we are on offense, we follow Yell Crew’s lead and do our school cheers slowly and in unison.

Just last year, the First Basket Confetti Toss was started. When our team scores their first basket of the game (not including a free throw), we throw up confetti in celebration. At some games, either us or other students will bring actual confetti, and then students also rip up “The Dirt,” after they’ve read it, and use the pieces as confetti too. It’s a lot of fun and student really get excited and are all smiles when we throw that confetti up.

For UCLA free throws, we point one finger at the basket that we are shooting at. If the free throw is made, the entire student section puts their arms down, and yells “Whoosh!”, which is followed by two thundering claps. If a made free throw completes a 3 point play, then we clap 3 times.

Another main tradition that we do occurs when an opposing player fouls out. We call out his steps as he walks back to the bench. If he stands, then we yell, “Standing!” Once he sits down, the entire student section yells, “SIT DOWN,” and then a Den Leader counts to 3. After 3, students yell “SO LONG, CHIEF!”

January 26, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins student section cheers against the California Golden Bears during the first half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

GJB: In regards to the confetti being a more recent tradition, is there anything UCLA fans should look for this year?

TD: There are a few cheers that aren’t known by all students at the moment, but The Den Leadership, Yell Crew, and the Band know them, so we hope that other students catch on to some of these cheers throughout the season when they see us do them. As for other new cheers this season, you’ll have to wait and see.

GJB: UCLA fans in general tend to slowly saunter over to Pauley Pavilion as the season progresses (although we salute those hardcore Bruin fans that are there for every game of the season!) which results in an often half-full and quiet arena. What is The Den’s responsibility to UCLA hoops when that occurs? (FYI readers, The Den is always the loudest section in Pauley Pavilion.)

TD: The Den’s responsibility is to be as loud as possible and as spirited as possible. The easiest way for us to show school spirit, and to show how proud we are to be Bruins, is by coming games and showing a ton of support for our Bruin teams.

GJB: Speaking of quiet starts, what is going on with a 9 p.m. tip-off against Montana St. for the season opener? How will you counter? Late-night coffee run?

TD: We actually think that the 9 pm start will be good for student turnout. We always have a big student crowd for the home opener, so we think it will be a lot of fun. And if students think they might get tired (which I doubt, because being in Pauley should give you an adrenaline rush), then I hope they grab coffee or whatever else they need to stay alert!!

GJB: This is one of the greatest times of year, the overlap between UCLA football and Basketball. Do you find it overwhelming or is it just part of the life?

TD: It’s definitely the busiest time of the year for us, but we aren’t complaining one bit. The more Bruin athletic events, the better. Last year, we had a weekend where we had a basketball game on Friday night, a football game on Saturday, and then another basketball game on Sunday night. The weekend didn’t seem to stop, but it was awesome!!

GJB: There is a big game against Gonzaga on December 13. Do you have anything special planned or will we have to wait and see? (*cough*cough*Adam Morrison*cough*cough*)

TD: We don’t have anything official planned yet, but you might see the finish to that incredible 2006 Sweet 16 game playing over, and over, and over on the video screen.

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GJB: There are a lot of new faces on the Bruin’s basketball team this year, how do you think they will do?

TD: We think the team will do pretty well. Norman Powell should have a fantastic year on both ends of the court, and he’ll be a great senior leader. Bryce Alford is a vocal leader and is a solid outside shooter. We are excited to see Tony Parker as a starter this year, too. It’ll also be great to see Isaac Hamilton on the court after sitting out last season. Some of the new freshmen, such as Kevon Looney and Thomas Welsh, should definitely contribute a lot as well. Our rebounding should be better this season. There might be some growing pains after losing Kyle, Jordan, Zach, and the Wear twins, but we think that our team will definitely be competing for a conference title!

GJB: UCLA expanded The Den to the area behind the west baseline in Pauley, how will this affect games this season?

TD: The move to bring the student section closer to the court has us very excited. We now have the whole south sideline (first 7 rows), whereas last year we only had 3/5 of the lower sideline section. Moreover, bringing the student section down from the rafters to the middle sections behind the west basket will definitely help with student section unity.

The last two years, it was sometimes difficult to sustain cheers because of how the student section was split up into 3 different areas (sideline, first 10 rows behind the west basket, and the rafters). But now, with everyone closer together and closer to the action, we should be a much louder student section. Also, since we have all seats behind the west basket, we are hoping to have some EPIC, crazy shenanigans going on while the opposing team is shooting free throws at that basket during the second half!

GJB: Is there any additional information you would like Bruin fans to know?

TD: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE wear BLUE. All Bruins fans should be wearing our school colors at games! Pauley doesn’t look as blue as it should sometimes.

It was great interviewing with you! We can’t wait to see you all at Pauley this season. GO BRUINS!

Thank you Mr. Duyshart! Go Bruins!