Even if UNLV quarterback Johnny Stanton and defensive end Iggy Porchia weren’t on the field Saturday trying to help the Rebels upset UCLA at the Rose Bowl, the California natives would be in their comfort zone rooting against the Bruins.
That’s because Stanton and Porchia grew up as fans of Southern California, UCLA’s archrival.
“I was a big SC fan growing up, so I was always rooting against the Bruins,” said Porchia, who was born in Los Angeles and raised in Venice, less than 30 miles from the Rose Bowl.
Said Stanton, who was raised in Burbank, less than 12 miles from the Rose Bowl: “I have three cousins and my (grandfather) all went to USC, so they’ll be rooting extra hard to beat UCLA.