You also have to remember that USC’s rise over the last 20 years or so has also brought out all sorts of insecurities on the part of some UCLA people. Most are comfortable enough in their own skin, but some can’t seem to handle a change in the dynamic that UCLA is the smart and poor kids whereas USC is the dumb and rich kids. USC has had better undergrads for a decade now and the writing is on the wall vis a vis its long term growth. For whatever reason, some Bruins can’t handle that and are always looking to insult USC and take the school down a notch.
I’ve just learned from the Harvard grads I’ve worked with to not even mention where I went to school because it’s a red flag for some people. Even then, plenty of other people are always going to mention where you went to school, and that’s where it’s about their insecurities and has nothing whatsoever to do with you.
This event was clearly a tragedy, but from all I can gather it was a kid who made some stupid decisions and paid for it with his life. And, since USC is nominally involved, therefore those knee-jerk USC haters are going to be out in force and try to blame USC for something they had nothing to do with.