WATCH: Jon Gaines II Talks Senior Night, UCLA Football's Leaders

Gaines has played in 42 consecutive games for the Bruins, and his family will fly out from Wisconsin for the USC game on Saturday.

UCLA football offensive lineman Jon Gaines II spoke with reporters following Monday morning's practice session at the Wasserman Football Center. Gaines talked about his experience in the USC rivalry, how his dad is doing after undergoing a kidney transplant, the importance of Sam Marrazzo to the team, what his plans are for Thanksgiving and why the Bruins enjoy playing Call of Duty in their down time.

Look at you, got a smile on your face – ready to go?

Gotta love every day. Oh yeah, gotta love every day.

Love/hate between USC and UCLA, you know a lot of people on that team – there's gonna be some trash talking, won't there?

Yeah, you know, in the trenches, you just kinda focus on playing with your pads, nothing else.

How many people at USC do you know?

Um, coming from Wisconsin, I don't know anybody personally. I mean, I've played against these guys for five years now, so you know – like you said – it's always a pretty intense rivalry and, like, it's always fun out there, but I don't know anybody personally. Kinda just focus on the gameplan.

First thing your teammates tried to impress on you about this rivalry?

Um, you know, like, the history of it. There's been a lot of great games, a lot of great players have played in this game and, you know, there's a lot of pride that comes with the game and it's all about the Bell. And I think the biggest thing now is just focusing in on handling one day at a time, cause that's how we go and have your best game on Saturday.

How many times have you rung the bell since you got it back? Go over and ring it just for fun?

Yeah, we had it for Thanksgiving dinner right after the game and I was – it's a great feeling. And then we had it in the lobby, so I did that a couple times. So, yeah.

Had it at somebody's house for dinner?

Nah, nah, nah, nah. It's a great experience though, for sure.

How do you wake up with a little more sauce this week?

Honestly, the biggest thing for me is it's Senior Night, so my whole family's coming out. So that's what's giving me energy, and I'm just excited to be able to play in front of them.

What have you seen from Dorian growing as a leader over the years?

Yeah, confidence. Point blank, period. You know, having his confidence every single day, coming out to practice and then carries that to gameday. So that's confidence throughout us as an offensive unit and through us as a team.

Has your dad come to a game yet?

No, this is the first game he's going to. So yeah, I'm really excited.

A lot of extra meaning?

Oh yeah, for sure. I'm so excited to play in front of him and the rest of my family.

How's he doing in his recovery?

He's doing well. So this is the first time in – like, he just got cleared to travel this month, so it'll be great to be able to see him.

What's the one thing you wish more people knew about being an offensive lineman?

Uh, how fun it is. You know, there's five of us and how together you have to be as a unit. I think that's the biggest thing, there's more of us than anybody else on the field. So I think, like, the communication and time that goes into it and the preparation, and being able to five five people on one page is something that's really beautiful about it, yeah.

What do you think your feelings are going to be like Saturday for Senior Night? A lot of ups and downs since that Cincinnati opener in 2018?

Yeah. I mean, yeah, it'll for sure be emotional, it'll be nostalgic, right? But you can't let emotion play with you, especially when the game starts. So honestly, I'm gonna enjoy the time while it's there, right, take it all in, and then it's straight to the game. And when you're in the game, it's just playing the game.

How strange was the 2020 USC game without fans?

It was definitely a different experience but, you know, like you guys were talking about, the rivalry, it always lives strong. So it's great energy every single time we take the field.

A lot of trash talking in that game?

Yeah, it was a quiet stadium so, you know, it happens every year. But we're just out there to play the game.

Remember the last time these two teams met?

Oh yeah. For sure, yeah.

Do you think there's a certain amount of revenge in the back of one's mind when one gets beat like that?

I think it's like every team you play, you know? You remember the game you played last year, regardless of who you're playing against. And obviously, being a rivalry, it's probably built into being something more. But every single time you go out there as an offense, we're tryna score touchdowns. And as a defense, they're tryna stop us. Point blank, period, I don't think it's anything bigger than that.

How are you keeping everything in perspective and not letting it get blown out of proportion?

Honestly it's the same as every other Monday. Like, we just come in, watch the film from Arizona, move on to USC, and it's just another week. And, you know, you got've got to gameplan, you can only build it up so much if you aren't prepared, so the biggest thing for us is having preparation so we can go out and do what we do.

Talk to your dad after you won Pac-12 Offensive Lineman of the Week?

Yeah, yeah I did. I talked to my parents.

What was his reaction to that?

Just super proud. And, you know, it was crazy, it was really good news, but trying to hold yourself to that standard every single week.

How big was that game in 2018 where you beat USC?

My freshman year? It was a crazy experience, you know? Especially with Josh Kelley – he was my locker neighbor, he's on the Chargers now, but we were locker neighbors – he's a super nice guy as everybody knows, right? And to see him have the game he had, like, being able to celebrate his success was great and just as a team it was amazing.

That win coming at the end of the season after the year you had, a little bit of validation that things were progressing?

Yeah, I mean, every win is validation that we're moving in the right direction. But, you know, win or loss, there's always things to fix, so I think the biggest thing for us was seeing what we needed to fix that game and same with any win, you know? This season, we've had a lot more wins, but you have to learn regardless, win or loss.

Besides a Trojan loss, what's your favorite dish on Thanksgiving?

Macaroni, easy. Macaroni and cheese, without a doubt.

You have one more year of eligibility...

I do, yeah.

Just wanted to confirm

Mmhmm

Senior Night, but you still have it in the back of your mind that you might return?

Yeah, maybe, maybe, yeah.

Plan for Thanksgiving this year with Otito gone?

So it was usually Tito and I. So luckily, it's an away game, so I don't have to cook for everybody. But my parents are actually staying out the whole week afterwards – my parents and my sister. So my parents, my sister, my girlfriend and I, since we're flying out to Cal on Thursday – the actual day of Thanksgiving – we're gonna have a little dinner together on Wednesday, so it'll be a nice experience.

How tough was it seeing Otito's injury last night?

Man, I texted him right away. I'm hoping him nothing but the best and I wish him a speedy recovery.

What role has Sam Marrazzo played for you guys?

Oh yeah, for sure. Sam's the leader of our unit. I mean, Sam was the guy that taught me everything I know since I got here and Sam was actually the people – the one that hold everybody about what my dad was going through. So Sam's my best friend on the team and, you know, he's just – sorry – he's been a leader forever. And the thing is, like, he adds experience, you know? I'm happy cause he's the old man in the room, so I'm not the old man anymore, right, I can always make fun of him about that. But he's versatile, he'll do anything you ever ask of him, he can answer any question you have.

Aware of his musical talents?

Oh yeah, guitar? Yeah, I remember when I first got here, we were up in Hitch my freshman year and he'd always be up in his room. Like, we'd be in the room playing video games, right? I'd be playing with Odua and Zach Cockran, right? And he'd be in his room just sitting by himself playing guitar and I'm like, man, just it's weird, but he's talented though, he's always been talented.

Modern Warfare 2 came out, is that a big thing?

Oh yeah, for sure. It's another way to compete. So honestly, like, we were really big on Warzone. Like, Warzone, you can tell anybody on the team, I'm the best Warzone player, they'll back it up. They'll talk trash, but like, 1v1, so they know what's up. But yeah, Call of Duty's always been a big thing on the team, it helps us compete off the field too.

Not a distraction?

No, no, it's just something else to trash talk about. Same as, like, when you're shooting the water bottle in the trash can in the locker room. It's the same thing, you're talking trash regardless. Yeah, so.

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