Welcome back to The Rival Rundown! If you’ve always wanted to give props to your school on CC, now’s your chance! Shoot us an email explaining what’s awesome and unique about your school (or what stinks about Rival U) at rivalrundown@collegecandy.com!

This week we hit up the West Coast as we examine the two hottest schools in Los Angeles- the University of Southern California and the University of California- Los Angeles. Amidst the beautiful SoCal climate and a city rife with movie sets and superstars, private USC and public UCLA compete to find out which is most elite in the City of Angels.

1. Superior Sport

USC – The Trojans are known as “the football school” and have been awarded the NCAA national title in football eleven times, including back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2004.  They are perennially ranked in the Top 10 football programs in the BCS by ESPN, USA Today, and other publications. And Trojans have taken home the Heisman Trophy seven times.
UCLA - Meanwhile, the Bruins are known as powerhouses in basketball–also earning eleven NCAA titles. Seven of these championships were won consecutively, from 1967-1973.  UCLA is also the all-time leader in total NCAA national titles across all sports.

Meanwhile, the Lexus Gauntlet is an annual all-sports competition between the two schools sponsored by Lexus. Points are awarded for every victory (particularly in head-to-head match ups)  in NCAA-sanctioned competitions, with the school with the most points declared as the winner. (There is also a separate Lexus Gauntlet awarded to the winner of the Stanford-Berkeley rivalry.)  In the eight years of Lexus Gauntlet tradition, USC has walked away with five titles.

Three credits to: TIE.  The two schools pulled a draw in NCAA titles in their respective predominant sport.  On the one hand, the Lexus Gauntlet record gives the Trojans the edge, but UCLA also has the most NCAA titles of any school. Too close to call!! Read More »

As a strong advocate for play time, I am always up for anything spontaneous. Whether it’s something simple like skipping class to go on an impromptu shopping extravaganza with my closest lady friends, or more daring like impulsively deciding to go bungee jumping in a skirt (A feat my mother has accomplished at the ripe age of fifty-one…and you wonder where I get it from). If it’s daring and it’s fun, sign me up.

There’s just something strangely liberating about being brave, about stepping outside your comfort zone. So for all you bored rigid sun-drunk college girls out there who are feeling fed up with your summer jobs or deliriously restless with your lack thereof, here are five trouble-chasing, fun-seeking, life-loving ways to shove a little excitement into summer. Because we all know rules are made to be broken.

1. Be someone else. If only for a day, undo your daily routine. If you usually spend an eternity on your makeup, stick with blush and let your tan do the talking. If you’re more of an earthy girl, put on some bright colored lipstick and use a little hairspray. If you’re feeling extra ballsy, chop your long locks into a short bob, like Katie Holmes’ or give in to curiosity, buy some bleach, and see if blondes really do have more fun. (Though I can tell you now, there’s no way they do.) Read More »

Why is it that during the school year when I have no time there is so much good TV? So much so, that I find myself having to pick between shows that are on at the same time (obviously I DVR the other to watch after- it’s not like I actually have work to do or anything…). Yet in the summer when I have more time than I know what to do with, I am stuck with reruns and bad reality shows?

I have spent the past two weeks pondering the meaning of life (still no answer, but I’ll keep you posted) and trying to find something productive to do (yet somehow, I always end up on Facebook). But ultimately, I seem to always find myself parked on the couch night after night wasting away while watching these awful, absolutely abominable reality shows (I mean really, The Next Best Thing? America’s Got Talent? C’mon now. Sharon Osborne, I liked you when The Osborne’s first aired on MTV. But since then, well, you’ve been trying too hard to stretch your fifteen minutes of fame).

Sadly I continue to watch, all the while, wondering why I’m watching – because they are just sooo awful.

Well thank goodness for ABC! Wednesday just made my weeks a whole lot better. I finally have something to look forward to (wow, do I sound pathetic or what).

If you aren’t watching Traveler yet, start now. First, it’s an hour of great eye candy. Remember Ryan Atwood’s creepy, yet super sexy brother Trey from The OC? Well Logan Marshall Green is back. And this time around he is still sexy but a lot more likeable. Read More »