UCLA Bruin Bear statue found vandalized ahead of rivalry game

UCLA campus police are investigating the vandalism of the Bruin Bear statue on campus days ahead of the rivalry football game against USC.

The Bruin Bear statue, which is located in the middle of campus, was found covered in red and yellow paint on Thursday morning, according to the Daily Bruin student newspaper.

The Bear statue goes into “hibernation” the week of the rivalry game and is covered up with chalkboard walls to help protect against vandalism. USC does the same thing to protect its campus statues.

It seems like some USC fans were able to get past the boards to vandalize the statue this week.

Saturday is shaping up to be one of the worst iterations of the USC-UCLA rivalry. The Bruins enter the game 2-8 and appear headed for the program’s worst season in 75 years. USC is 5-5 and experiencing similar levels of disappointment.