Fall semester at USC has football season and tailgates written all over it, but sadly enough, we only have two games left until the end of our season. This weekend we’re going Duck hunting in Oregon, but I think all students are looking forward to playing our cross-town rivals, the UCLA Bruins.

“We have had this historic rivalry with UCLA for many years,” says Josh Woo a junior at USC. “It’s a matter of pride for USC playing our biggest cross-town rivals, and we feel a need to prove that we can beat them and the fact that we know that we can. The morale is incredible for this game, if we only win a single game [in] a season this would be it.”

And as we say goodbye to the football season, we also say goodbye to the graduating seniors from all of our athletics. This prompts our annual Conquest rally on Nov. 21 honoring our senior athletes. The rally’s focus is to hype up our campus for the USC vs. UCLA game on Nov. 26 (Kick-off is set for 7 p.m.).

This year’s Conquest theme highlights a USC mascot that not many people know about … Tirebiter. Conquest and USC Program Board presents, “All Bark and No Bite: Tirebiter’s Revenge.”

McCarthy Quad is transformed into a USC festival with food, a Ferris wheel and a huge stage with big television screens showing videos of USC football, Conquest rallies from the past and music. There will be a vendor village with lots of food being served and a great firework show lighting up the sky. The festivities start as early as 4 p.m.; so make sure you get there early. This event has attracted almost 10,000 people in the past. Although many will begin to gather at 4 p.m., the rally officially starts at 7 p.m. and ends at 11 p.m.

The rally is an event full of life, music and fun. Last year, Third Eye Blind headlined the event, which attracted thousands of USC students to McCarthy Quad. This year Cobra Starship will be the main event.

The show features the world famous Song Girls, Trojan Dance Force, Men & Women’s Volleyball, Spirit Leaders, our infamous Trojan Marching Band and our beloved football players. The night is topped off with a bonfire where our wood pile coincidentally mimics the form of a Bruin. One of the most important features is our scholars involved in the Order of the Torch.

“Order of the Torch is composed of 12 individuals who exemplify Trojan excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service, commitment to USC, public speaking skills and an ability to communicate the USC experience to others,” according to the activities committee.

Football is a way of life at USC and so is our precious rivalry with UCLA. Although good sportsmanship requires that we respect every opponent, USC is not looking to give back the victory bell that we have had for the past years.

The Trojan Knights, who headlined our Trojan SideLines last week, are the keepers of the bell and protect our Tommy Trojan and Traveler from UCLA vandalism. Of course this is minimal, but last year those pesky Bruins painted parts of Cromwell Field and our beloved flagpoles blue … nice one! But nothing is worse than when some brave Trojans marched to UCLA and painted their Bruin Bear statue Cardinal Red and Gold.

“It’s a mutual thing, it’s all in college fun,” says Kamille Simmons, a junior at USC.

To make sure you don’t miss a beat of what’s going to happen or if want to tweet about it while you’re there, make sure you follow @USCCONQUEST and follow them on Facebook too. This is an event you don’t want to miss, it’s a great opportunity to bond with your fellow Trojans, eat good food, listen to good music and spend a Monday night.

“Conquest is the combination of all your school spirit and everyone who really believes in it, it’s a good way to rally everyone and showcase our athletes and our seniors,” says Jenny Chen, a student at USC.

One word comes to mind when this time of year comes around: “Tusk,” the song we Trojans play that best describes the way we feel about UCLA.

Have an idea for a future Trojan SideLines? E-mail editor.chief@campuscircle.net.