Fight goes ever on, even in Trojan town

Bruins fans didn’t have much to cheer about, but NewportMesa saw plenty of friendly rivalry.A sold out crowd filled the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday as the No. 1 USC Trojans battled for Rose Bowl rights and a win against No. 12 UCLA.

But 40 miles south, in bars across Newport Beach and Costa Mesa, the fighting spirit was just as strong.

For the Rather family of Costa Mesa, Saturday’s big game was an in-house rivalry. Tamara Rather, 21, is a senior at UCLA and her brother, Tyler Rather, 24, is in graduate school at USC.

For the first time, the entire family watched the game together at Skosh Monahan’s in Costa Mesa.

“He gives me a hard time about it, but it’s not that big of a deal to me,” said Tamara Rather, dressed in a blue UCLA T-shirt.

Across the table, Tyler Rather cheered as his Trojans edged closer to a touchdown in the first half. The competition between siblings started with a bumper sticker placed on a family car, Tyler Rather said. It’s a subtle rivalry, “little jabs here and there,” Tyler Rather said.

“It makes things fun,” Tyler Rather said.

Even their 11-month-old nephew, Daniel Todd, took a side. Daniel’s mom, Teryn Todd, dressed him in No. 11 jersey, the number worn by USC quarterback Matt Leinart.

“It’s an ongoing war in my family,” Teryn Todd said.

One room over, friends Ted Cox and Doug Wren cheered on their respective teams from their perch at a bar table.

Although Cox did not attend USC, he said he supports the team “just because I hate Doug’s team, so I root against him.”

“It gives us a reason to watch games together,” said Wren.

The scene at the bar in the Mi Casa restaurant in Costa Mesa was one part Trojan and one part Bruin. UCLA graduate and unwavering fan Scott Gayner organized the neighborhood party, welcoming in even those rooting for the opposite team.

“It’s hard to find a majority of UCLA people in Orange County,” Gayner said.

Gayner’s neighbor, William Davenport XVII, was invited to the party despite the glaring fact that he supports USC.

“It’s more fun than being at home,” Davenport said of watching the game amid a crowd of UCLA fans.

“When you’re clapping and excited, you’re also dogging the other team,” said fellow USC supporter Cindy Fellenz of Fountain Valley.

Looking up at a television displaying a second-quarter score in USC’s favor, Gayner admitted he was disappointed.

“This is a UCLA party that’s not panning out so well,” Gayner said.

For Gayner and all the other UCLA fans, his early disappointment was a sign of things to come. USC beat UCLA, 66-19.