East LA Classic

The East LA Classic, also known as the East Los Angeles Classic ('The Classic'), serves as the homecoming football game for both James A. Garfield High School and Theodore Roosevelt High School. It earns its name as the East L.A. classic because these two schools were among the first to be established in the East Los Angeles area. The Classic is one of the most highly acclaimed and attended high-school football games west of the Mississippi River, and it has been a tradition since 1925, coinciding with Garfield's establishment. The exception is during a period from 1939 to 1948 due to the Great Depression and World War II, and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "The game's fame and participation grew over the years to the point where it became challenging to host the game at each school's home field.

East LA Classic 2007 Halftime show

The Classic draws alumni from all around the world, typically attracting crowds of over 25,000 per game.[1] For much of its history, it has been held at Weingart Stadium on the campus of East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park, California. The event was hosted at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for a few years before returning to its original location at Weingart Stadium." On February 12, 2011, the rivalry held its first alumni game, with Garfield defeating Roosevelt, 19-12. In 2016, even U.S. Senate candidate Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez attended the game. Garfield secured a win with a score of 49-3, marking their sixth consecutive victory over Roosevelt at the time.[2] The documentary film The Classic, directed by first-time director Billy McMillin, won the 2017 storytelling award at the LA Film Festival for its portrayal of the football game.[3]

In 2019, Garfield continued its recent dominance in the series during the 85th game, securing a 10th consecutive victory over the rivalry by defeating Roosevelt (The Rough Riders) with a 25-0 shutout. Roosevelt had entered the game undefeated in league play. Garfield leads the series 43-41 with six ties[4][5][6] Before the game, Roosevelt's head coach, Aldo Parral, had been candid, expressing his satisfaction that Garfield had lost in the CIF State Division 4-A Bowl Game the previous season, insinuating that the Bulldogs' recent success in the rivalry could be attributed to recruiting. The Los Angeles Rams and Nike have offered additional promotion and support. For the second consecutive year, these two organizations have collaborated to donate jerseys, shoes, gloves, and other football gear to both schools. Nike has also organized multiple events for the schools. What's more, Nike has taken an extra step in supporting the Classic by providing gear to the cheerleading and drill teams of both schools, a historic first in the rivalry's history.

In 2019, the Classic also coincided with the theatrical release of a documentary from 2014 that portrayed the challenges of being a student-athlete in the Boyle Heights/East LA area, titled 'The All-Americans.'[7] The classic was canceled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the Roosevelt Rough Riders emerged victorious, defeating the Garfield Bulldogs with a thrilling score of 22-19 in one of the most exciting games in recent history. The Riders secured their win when Garfield missed a field goal attempt in the final seconds of regulation, breaking a 10-game drought for the Riders.Following the historic victory, Roosevelt fans jumped from the stands onto the field, and hundreds swarmed the field to be part of this memorable moment. The 86th edition of the East Los Angeles Classic was truly a 'Classic.'

The 2022 classic game returned to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 21, 2022. It featured former Super Bowl halftime performers, the Black Eyed Peas, along with drones as part of the show. Helen Sanchez, the Classic's media coordinator, mentioned that will.i.am and the Angel Foundation had a pregame presentation before the varsity game. Lynn Cain, a former running back for the Atlanta Falcons and will.i.am.'s uncle, oversaw the pregame coin toss. Garfield emerged victorious with a 16-8 lead over Roosevelt. After the game, it was reported that two cameras were stolen.[8][9][10] [11]