Go Joe Bruin
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Go Joe Bruin Talks to The Den About UCLA Football, Getting Out to the Rose Bowl and What’s New in 2016-17

By Mike Regalado

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September 8, 2012; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins student section cheers against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the second half at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
September 8, 2012; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins student section cheers against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the second half at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

GJB: The Den is always the loudest section of the Rose Bowl. Who do we have to talk to in the Athletic Department to get some cameras or microphones on you during crucial parts of the game to help pump up the crowd?

Jeff: The easiest way to relay any ideas for The Den would be to email either one of us. We then can easily communicate it to the proper people in the department and see what the possibilities are. I absolutely love hearing new ideas for The Den, whether they come from students, alumni, or other fans. I like the idea of using the student section to help bring the energy up among the rest of the fans. That is one of our main goals after all! I’ll look into the possibility of Den-focused microphones and/or cameras; I think it would be great. My email is jkohl@athletics.ucla.edu

Kyle: We’re glad you like the noise we bring! As Jeff said, we’re always looking for new and exciting ways to expand the Den’s presence and help our teams as much as possible. We’ll be working closely with department personnel in charge of in-game programming this year to ensure that the Den has the greatest impact possible on games.

GJB: What has been your favorite UCLA Football experience with The Den?

Jeff: You have to make us choose?! For me, it has to be our victory over SC in 2014. That was my freshman year, and my first experience with the rivalry. The passion, excitement, and energy was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before. I twisted my ankle from jumping around so much and lost my voice for a couple days, but it was 100% worth it. That feeling is what I try and bring to The Den for every single game, and it’s what I use to encourage students to come to the Rose Bowl or Pauley instead of watching it in their dorm room. You can’t get that experience on TV.

Kyle: It’s only been two years, but it’s already so hard to choose just one! I think I’d have to go with Myles Jack’s late-game interception to steal the win against BYU last season. After we’d already come back from 10 points down in the 4th quarter, I remember watching Tanner Mangum lead BYU down the field and fearing the worst, especially considering the magic he’d had in their two prior games. Then, suddenly, Myles had the ball, and I was running around the Den screaming my head off. A close second is Josh Rosen’s huge TD run to take the lead against Washington State last year, but I try not to think about that game anymore. In both of those moments, I probably hugged about 50 total strangers and yelled so loud I lost my voice for about a week after. It’s moments like that that you can’t get anywhere else- you only get four years in college, and if you don’t savor every moment you have in the Den, think of all the memories you’ll be missing!

Next: Part 4