25,000 expected for tonight's East LA Classic football game

Nov. 6, 2009 | Frank Stoltze | KPCC

The Garfield and Roosevelt High School football teams face off in what’s known as the East L.A. Classic Friday night. Some call it the oldest and biggest football rivalry west of the Mississippi.

As many as 25,000 people are expected to pack Wingart Stadium at East L.A. College to see Garfield’s Bulldogs and Roosevelt’s Roughriders clash on the field.

CA/Local News

It’s an annual tradition dating back to the early 1920s – and it’s become a reunion of sorts for many families who for generations have attended the largely Latino schools.

Seating arrangements can be touchy – especially in cases where a Garfield grad marries someone from Roosevelt.

The rivalry runs deep. Halftimes are usually electric as the two schools’ drum majors strut their stuff to prove who’s best with a baton. And, the marching bands, drill teams, and cheerleaders show off for bragging rights.

It’s each school’s homecoming game, and kickoff’s at 7:30.

LadyyBulldogg.
1 week, 6 days ago

Go bulldogsssss .!!!!!

Medina
1 week, 6 days ago

Riders on the Storm!!!!

Jasmin
1 week, 6 days ago

Roosevelt WON!!! The game was awesome! One of the best game in years.

Adam Maciel
1 week, 6 days ago

Hahahahahaha where the little dogs? The dogs had to eat their dog food... haha.. Roosevelt was a winner as always... To offense to the bulldogs.....So who chased the cat out,, We did the rough riders...

lues lira
1 week, 6 days ago

The best game in years. RHS handled the bulldogs. Bad ass diving touch downs by #2 Ayon and #5 Lira! GO RIDERS!!!!!!

Joe M
1 week, 6 days ago

Hey Adam Maciel, pay more attention in you English class. Your sentence structure sucks. Oh wait...you go to Roosevelt...never mind. By the way. Where are the dogs? Standing proud in East L.A.

A_Sanchez
1 week, 6 days ago

Actually, Joe M, YOUR sentence structure leaves a lot to be desired. There was no need to insult a Roosevelt fan, and the same goes for you, Adam Maciel. Both teams played a good game, and that's what matters.

E. ROMERO
1 week, 6 days ago

ACTUALLY..GARFIELD DIDNT PLAY GOOD IT WAS ALL US THAT TOOK IT ALL THE WAY THOSE TOUCH DOWNS WERE NICE BY SIIFUENTES AYON LIRA ALL THEM MANN NO MORE BULL DOGS HERE!!!

J Robles
1 week, 6 days ago

It was one of the best games played. The atmosphere and the excitement can not be compared to those highly prospect teams like Marte Dei, Christian Oaks because in the "eastside" brings both communities together for this ultimate event. Ayon, Sifuentes, Barraza and Lira played well. Go Riders!!!

lucky
1 week, 6 days ago

What was the score?

mando mora
1 week, 5 days ago

MY DAUGHTER AND I ATTENDED THE GAME AND WE BOTH ENJOYED IT. I ATTENDED ROOSEVELT BACK IN THE 60'S. GARFIELD AND ROOSEVELT ARE TWO GREAT HIGH SCHOOLS WITH ALOT OF TRADITION AND PRIDE AND I AM PROUD THAT FOR ONE NIGHT A YEAR ALL THE COMMUNITIES THAT SURROUND BOTH SCHOOLS CAN COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT EITHER HIGH SCHOOL AND ENJOY THE RIVALRY.

athenian14
1 week, 5 days ago

Its all about Roosevelt Rough Riders!!! Score was 28 to 16..Obviously Roosevelt is the one with the leading score..

1936 ROOSEVELT HOMECOMING QUEEN
1 week, 5 days ago

Hey... did everyone see me at the game? I was sporting the white long hair with the homecoming tiara from 1936. OMG, we had a blast chanting
R double O double O S E S E V E V E L T

j. espinosa
1 week, 5 days ago

(to the roosevelt homecoming queen of 1936)
yeah, my daughter and I saw you and your crazy friends having a good time, you were hillarious!

lucky
1 week, 5 days ago

Thanks for the score athenian14. Go Riders!

Rough Rider Alumni Band
1 week, 4 days ago

It was a great evening. Congrats to both schools for not getting out of hand like last year. And congrats to the RHS drum majors for not dropping their batons. I was an RHS drum major for the 1982 Classic and I know how much pressure these guys were under to perform well. Hope you all enjoyed the 3rd quarter performance of the Rough Rider Alumni Band. We worked hard all season to put on a good show for you all. If you were a member (in good standing) of the RHS marching band for at least one season, and you graduated from RHS, you can join us. Ride On!!

Rudy Silva
1 week, 4 days ago

Those guys with the wigs and the prom queen was funny. WOO WOO Ruff Riders

licha
1 week, 3 days ago

just coming together with everyone and remembering past games when I was in high school made it all worth it. It don't matter who wins. It's communities and students, new and old, coming together that matters.

Miriam
1 week, 1 day ago

PROUD TO BE A ROUGH RIDER... ONCE A ROUGH RIDER-ALWAYS A ROUGH RIDER.. LONG CELEBRATE THE CLASS OF 86

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