Could UCLA football benefit from trading (card) deadline?

UCLA's marketing department has been oddly quiet this week. The same crew that lured nearly 20,000 Fresno State fans to the Rose Bowl after promising them they would see "history" has been silent about Saturday's USC game, even though tickets were still available as of Monday morning.

Imagine the possibilities -- "Come see the first of two USC victories at the Rose Bowl this season," or, "The Rose Bowl: UCLA's home ... USC's office."

Still, the boys in the department aren't just sitting around playing "Monopoly." They announced a special "trading card" promotion through Bruin Locker Room -- an effort to make sure there are more UCLA fans than USC fans at the Rose Bowl?

"As we salute the seniors, take home a Bruin souvenir of these fine student-athletes. The first 10,000 fans wearing blue will receive trading cards that feature the entire 2008 senior class. Trading cards will be distributed at all Rose Bowl gates beginning at noon."

Which could lead to interesting future negotiations: "I'll give you six Kahlil Bells for one Mark Sanchez. OK, eight Bells and one Brigham Harwell. No? Well, then...."

As for the long-term investment possibilities, a Topps rookie card for Reggie Bush still fetches more than one for Maurice Jones-Drew, even though Jones-Drew holds the edge in career rushing yards (2,261 to 1,440).

-- Chris Foster

Photo: UCLA's Brigham Harwell, left, Kahlil Bell and Michael Norris emerge from the tunnel before the game against Stanford at the Rose Bowl in October. Credit: Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Bobak]

Hilarious overall, but my favorite was "The Rose Bowl: UCLA's home ... USC's office."

[ROMAN]

You forgot: Vince Young and Texas evicted USC.