SoCal Cardinal

If Southern California were its own state, it would lead the nation with 21 student-athletes on the 2016 Stanford football roster. Playing USC last week and UCLA this week is full of emotion and special meaning for these SoCal Cardinal.

"I grew up 100 percent USC," says fullback Daniel Marx (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.). "My uncle won a national championship in baseball there, and my grandfather is an alum who was highly involved at the school. I went to USC games as early as I can remember – I don't even know what age I started."

Kicker Conrad Ukropina (Pasadena, Calif.) grew up without family connections but lived in the shadow of the Rose Bowl. He attended UCLA games and the Rose Bowl Game annually. When he reached high school and engaged with the Bruins in recruiting, Ukropina attended every UCLA home game his senior year.

"I'm going back home," Ukropina says. "I'm comfortable in that stadium because I've been there so many times. That's where we have played the second most games in our career [behind Stanford Stadium], and that's awesome."

Ukropina was passed over by UCLA, who offered a scholarship to another kicker in his class instead. Stanford players from Southern California long remember who wanted them and when.

"In eighth and ninth grades, I went to a ton of UCLA camps, but neither they nor USC showed a lot of interest," says wide receiver Trenton Irwin (Valencia, Calif.). "In the end they did, but not when I was showing interest.

"It makes you feel better when you win, walking on that field afterward with your team and a number of guys who were rejected. This program recruits the right people, utilizes them and gets the best out of them."

"I was a big USC guy, especially because of how popular they are in the Polynesian community," says cornerback Alijah Holder (Oceanside, Calif.). "I went to their camps, but they didn't seem interested until I got the Stanford offer. 'Okay, now you want me when your rival wants me.' I'm glad I made the decision that I did for a lot of reasons. We're the kings of California."

Four seasons already this decade, Stanford has swept USC, UCLA and Cal. The Cardinal owns an eight-game winning streak over the Bruins, the largest by either team in series history. Stanford has held the Axe six straight years with Big Game wins over Cal. Last Saturday's victory over USC was the third straight by Stanford, with double-digit margins in each. Stanford owns eight of the last 11 against the Trojans.

"Showing that we're the best team in California is always important to this team," says offensive guard David Bright (Yorba Linda, Calif.). "Beating both teams down there is cool when you go back home."

"This is where I grew up," says Marx. "It's about being back home, playing where I started."

Holder will be playing in front of his entire family for the first time in his college career, including his twin brother who plays at San Diego State and has a bye this week.

Most of the SoCal Cardinal have two to three dozen family and friends expected to be at the Rose Bowl this Saturday. Players are scrambling for any extra tickets they can find from teammates. Bright has eight thus far. Marx is "looking for as many as I can get."

Nobody may top the Ukropina contingent this weekend, though. He anticipates more than 100 strong will be cheering for the Cardinal and No. 34. Ukropina's parents have long been involved throughout the Pasadena community, and pregame Saturday they will hold "the mother of all tailgates" outside the Rose Bowl.

"You always want to beat your hometown team," Ukropina says. "Nobody is every going to question going to Stanford, but that win helps confirm the choice that you've made."