40 Years of UCLA/U$C

by bruin7982 on Nov 25, 2007 12:47 PM PST Comment 18 comments

This Saturday will be the 40th anniversary of my first UCLA/U$C game and the 41st consecutive UCLA/U$C game that I have personally attended. The first game in 1967 was a heartbreaking 21-20 loss in a game featuring #1 UCLA against #4 U$C and its "slashing" runner, O.J. Simpson, who scored the winning touchdown. I have suffered a lot in going to these games, with UCLA's record being 16-22-2. Nevertheless, I used to view the UCLA/U$C game as my favorite day of the year because even in the John McKay/Robinson era, the games were usually competitive and in the 60's & 70's the Rose Bowl was frequently on the line. In both 1967 and 1969, the national championship was actually on the line as both teams were highly ranked. But now, in the words of B.B. King, "The Thrill is Gone."

I approach this week's game, as I have approached the last several UCLA/U$C games, with a feeling of dread (and fear for the physical safety of Ben Olson). I actually seriously considered breaking my streak of attending these games this year, but was talked into buying tickets by my friends. Since Cheatey Petey was hired by Figueroa Tech, its salary cap was raised, and its school motto became "Just Win, Baby!", the games are rarely competitive and it is viewed as a "moral victory" if UCLA even gives them a good game. Last year's win was viewed as a miracle. It is unlikely that a miracle will happen two years in a row, especially with the game being at the Vomitoreum.

I don't blame Coach Dull for the current state of affairs - the long slide into medicrity for UCLA football really began after Troy Aikman left and the major culprits are Dalis, Donahue and Toledo. Thankfully U$C was also mediocre during much of that time. But now, it is clear that Coach Dull is incapable of raising the program up to the level that it needs to be to deal with Cheatey Petey and the likes of Reggie Bu$h and Ray Thugaluga on a consistent basis.

My plea to Dan Guerrero is to make the day of the UCLA/U$C game once again my favorite day of the year. Hire someone who can go mano a mano with Carroll and his high priced thugs. If UCLA could be competitive with McKay & Robinson back in the 60's and 70's, there is no reason why it can't compete today.

I hope that DG can use the skills he demonstrated in hiring Howland and Savage to hire a top coach who can restore UCLA football to the prominence that it once had. I am confident that this can happen; all it takes is the will!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

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Thank You

for expressing the feelings of all of us old enough to know the wonder of the rivalry.

I started caring about the rivalry in the 50's as a little kid, and went to the games during my years at UCLA starting in '62.

They meant the world then. There was something on the line in each game.

I moved away but continued to follow the rivalry. NOTHING would keep me away from the TV set. When we won, I was elated. When we lost, I was sick.

I moved back to CA and got season tickets -- just in time for the 8 year run.

Then, I moved away again.

Those of us with institutional memory from first hand experience are sick of where the program is today -- and sick of people telling us that this is all it has been. We know better.

I want all to experience what we have -- a season ending game with an arch rival with something on the line and both teams having the talent and coaching to win.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Nov 25, 2007 1:43 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Nice to hear..

..someone who goes back as far as Mr. 66 and I do. You jumped on after two phenomenal games: The Beban/Grider/Altenberg miracle in '65 and the Norm Dow upset of '66. That latter contest, by the way, belies all of this crap about injuries. Beban was banged up pretty bad in the Stanford game the week before by Norm Dow came in and -- with Tommy Prothro's superior strategy and tactics -- outpointed USC, 14-7. (I still remember Cornell champion scoring from about 40 yards out on that magnificent 4-2-5 trap play!)..

But then it all went downhill from there when the stupid-ass committee said USC could go to the Rose Bowl instead of UCLA.

By the way, USC didn't win it in '67, that miserable, drunken Kelp, Zenon Andrusyshyn, blew two chip shot field goals and an extra point. That asshole is still up in Canada kicking for the Toronto Argonauts or one of them Canuck teams. Besides, OJ stepped out of bounds on that run..

..wow, sounds like I am in a serious case of denial, doesn't it?

by whp68 on Nov 25, 2007 2:16 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Great Memories

You left out the pass to Dick Witcher in the '65 game.

He was one of my best friends at UCLA.

The game was in the Coliseum. It was full. I was a yell leader. My parents were in my free seats -- on the 50 yard line. We were behind most of the game and getting pushed around. And then our two touchdown passes that won the game.

The noise was incredible.

We won the right to go to the Rose Bowl, which we won.

No one can ever tell me that we are not a football school. Never.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Nov 25, 2007 2:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Thank you..

It was a sin of omission, I assure you! I remembered Altenburg for the one TD catch and Grider for the on-side kick recovery(?), but dis-rememberd who caught the other one of Beban's bombs.

..by the way, the Rose Bowl was no slouch, either. Bob Stiles came up big with, surprisingly, a pass interference call (stopping a touchdown), then a big stop on a two-point conversion play that left him unconscious.

You're right; not only did UCLA have a good football program, it had a smart coach and smart players.

by whp68 on Nov 26, 2007 6:31 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Before he went to Canada

Zenon got a nice job working for the Dodgers - kicking ground balls during infield drill.

20-16 was my second game. My first was the miserable game the year before.

And as we Geezers know, in the old days, there was always a reason to care about the justsc game. They got all the breaks then, too, but sometimes we managed to beat the guys in mustard and ketchup and the guys wearing black and white.

The kids today have had a great part of their college experience stolen from them. I feel very sad for them, not getting to experience the thrill of knowing that you at least had a chance because Tommy Prothro or Dick Vermiel or a young Terry Donahue could figure some way to beat the thugs.

Alas, these children have never known better. They think this is it, and that 6-5 with a great performance like the Oregon game is all they are entitled to. Very sad.

by Fox 71 on Nov 25, 2007 2:40 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The first UCLA game I ever watched

was the Rose Bowl in 1966. What a great game that was, with an undersized UCLA team beating highly ranked Michigan State (were they #1 at the time?). As a boy, I viewed Prothro as a genius. My dad started taking me to the games in 1966, but my mom went to the UCLA/USC game that year. She graciously allowed me to go the following year. 1969 was also a very sad loss, with the typical fourth quarter pass interference call against UCLA on 4th down followed by the pass into the corner to Sam Dickerson. But, there also have been some good moments, such as the 1975 win that led to the defeat of Woody Hayes in the Rose Bowl. With a good coach, we could be playing significant games like these again!

by bruin7982 on Nov 25, 2007 3:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, they were #1

and had beaten us earlier in the year.

I'm sorry that so many Bruins don't have the memories we have.

But, as soon as DG hires the football Howland and "restores order to the universe", the good times will roll, again.

sjh

PS. Love that Walton quote. Love Walton -- what a great Bruin.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Nov 25, 2007 3:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The No Fun Zone

A beautiful 75 degree November Saturday afternoon...72,434 in the house...a Bruin shutout over the Ducks...and the Rosebowl is as quiet as the Pauley Opera House during the deepest darkest days of the Lizard. You rightfully blame Dalis, Donahue and Co. for the decline of UCLA football, but I blame CTS for the lifeless, stick-up-the-a$$ version we see now. It's no fun for the fans, and can't be for the players. Based on the facts, it's time for a change. If college sports are supposed to be "fun," it's time for a change. Do the Kool Aid drinkers get it?

by TfXc79 on Nov 25, 2007 2:35 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

To defend the young-uns

I definitely am well aware that UCLA has been and will one day be great at football.

I was unfortunate enough to go to UCLA in Toledo's last year and have known nothing since but the mediocrity of Dorrell. It is a constant struggle to convince my friends and fellow Bruins that we can, and deserve to, have a great football team.

On the other hand, I was also fortunate enough to only have to suffer through one year of Lavin before my Homeboy and yours, Howland showed up. I even stayed an extra quarter for one more season of student basketball tickets and spent four years at center court within a row or two of the front. I've seen the turnaround happen, and so quickly too.

So in defense of the kids around here and out there, some of us are doing whatever we can to convince the others that football can be a threat for the PAC-10, Rose Bowl, and, on occasion, the National championship.

by Bruinbown on Nov 25, 2007 2:58 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Kyle - you are what this fight is about

I have mentioned many times that my first Bruin game allowed me to see the Bruins serpentine out of the huddle (which remains the only half-time show performed between plays) and to see lithe single-wing tailback Billy Kilmer make an 80 yard run against Air Force.

In the 47 years since that game, I have had lots of ups and downs. I saw the Sleeper Play called by Prothro that allowed Witcher to catch a 60 yard pass for a TD to beat Washington. (SJH will remember that one.) I saw Beban roll out around Bubba Smith on the first play of the 66 Rose Bowl for 27 yards, and then after our touchdown on our first possession, I saw a successful on-sides kick.

You and your colleagues didn't get to see this. You were robbed of it by an apathatic administration who is content with mediocrity. To put it in perspective, what would your school experience have been if every female Bruin was at best mediocre looking? That describes most of my dates, of course, but that's beside the point. The college experience is not supposed to be about mediocrity. You'll have plenty of time to experience that after you graduate and get a job.

We of Geezer age and all of the honorary Geezers (and you know who you are) will continue to fight. When necessary we will part with our retirement funds to buy ads. We will gripe at Nestor about being too inflammatory and about not being inflammatory enough. We will be the Gutty Little Bruins of old, taking on the MSM, the administration, the Kool-Aid drinkers and whoever else we need to take on to return football season to the student body. We had it, and you deserve it.

(I feel like I should add something about winning one for the Gipper, but anyway, end of rant.)

by Fox 71 on Nov 25, 2007 4:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Olson

I, too am scared for Olson. Yesterday, when Gibbs took a hold of his leg and intentionally twisted it, Olson got in his face, rightfully so. At that moment, the mother lion in me came out and wanted to remove Gibbs from this planet. I got so angry that my husband made a comment: "Honey, why don't you just bring a knife to the game next time and go after the players who hurt our Bruins?" The emotions tug at my instincts, what can I say? It's innate to want to protect.

To see a seriously injured young man out on the field playing disgusts me. It shows that the coach has no respect for that player, his health and his future. It shows that the coach is a narcissist. I've previously written about my feelings of this team playing with injuries, it's just wrong. Dorrell isn't the only one to blame. Norvell is to blame, too. His offense is so pathetic that I doubt he could even coach a high school team effectively.

Then there's Christian Taylor. He's from a nearby town. I know his aunt and uncle. His cousins went to school with my oldest. Christian's a year older but is also a Senior, as is my oldest. Knowing the work ethic of his family, http://www.taylorfarms.com/navigate.asp?L1=f&L2=&L3=, it's difficult to see this talented young man play on a team that is coached by a loser. He deserves better. You've seen him play. You've seen his passion. Didn't this young man (a walk-on!) deserve a better coach?

Our seats are next to a wonderful alum named Buzz. Buzz has attended our games since the 40's. During each game Buzz has waved good-bye to Karl. He hopes for the best - that Karl will be fired. Let's not let Buzz down. Let's not let Christian, and the other stellar Seniors' legacy be for naught. These aren't mediocre athletes but they all have one thing in common...a mediocre coach.

Alumnus/Parent '08/ Chancellor's Associate

by BruinMum on Nov 25, 2007 4:11 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Great post 7982

My only disagreement with you is not blaming the Doofus. Doofus is not a sincere and honest person. If he was, he wouldn't classly insult our entire community to make excuses for his incompetence last weekend.

by Nestor on Nov 25, 2007 5:59 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

No defender of Dorrell!

I certainly didn't mean to imply that Dorrell is blameless in this situation. He has not improved the program; in fact, he has made it worse. He makes Toledo look like a good coach and recruiter by comparison. I also find his playing of the race card to be reprehensible. My point is simply that the UCLA administration allowed the program to slip into mediocrity after 1988. The program was in bad shape when Dorrell took it over and is in slightly worse shape now. It will take a top hire to right the ship and I hope that the administration has the will to do it.

by bruin7982 on Nov 26, 2007 12:45 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Rose Bowl Memories

In the hope that some will still wander over to this fine diary with its reminiscences, they might want to check out this site recounting the 1967 Rose Bowl. Maybe I was wrong (above) about Grider recovering the on-side kick us the USC game; he recovered one in this game as well.

There's the classic shot of Bob Stiles being helped off the field after he stopped Bob Apisa on the two-point try. And, for a real treat, note how clean the MSU uniforms were and how dirty the Bruins' were. I guess it was a win that we really had to work for.

by whp68 on Nov 26, 2007 6:46 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

My Rose Bowls

I attended all of the UCLA Rose Bowls in the 80's (Michigan, Illinois, and Iowa) each a victory. The setting is perfect, sunshine and mountains, and the feeling after the win is euphoric. We will experience that again, just not with CTS at the helm.

Bob O. (Signholder #3)

by TuneMan7 on Nov 26, 2007 12:02 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

A memory

The most vivid one is the view from my seats straight back behind the goal posts of the UCLA - Iowa game. With the Bruins on offense, a HUGE hole would appear in the Iowa line and Eric Ball would churn through for another big gain.

From the same game, we watched it on tape later. There was Dick Enberg calling the game, saying "These Iowa players play in rain and mud and snow, and just don't give up the ball, FUMBLE!"

Bob O. (Signholder #3)

by TuneMan7 on Nov 26, 2007 12:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

loved it

Ronnie Harmon just couldn't hold the ball...while Eric Ball ran for 227 IIRC against the clod-kickers in my first year at UCLA. Even though we lost to USC and Rodney Peete and "backed in" to the Rose Bowl that year, I had confidence that we's be competing for more before I graduated because Donahue seemed to be getting some outstanding talent.

Instead, we got a Freedom Bowl, an Aloha Bowl and a Cotton Bowl (when the Cotton Bowl meant something.) Won them all, which was nice, but even with Aikman we never won the Pac-10.

by ucladj89 on Nov 26, 2007 2:56 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The '76 Rose Bowl, with tOSU

They pushed us all over the place in the first half, with a big fullback (Pete Johnson?) and Archie Griffin, and we were behind but not by much. Then for some reason Woody Hayes decided it would be desireable to pass. (Maybe we had figured out a way to get 6 or 7 extra guys on the field and put them all in the box.) Anyway, they got next to zilch, and Coach Vermeil got us a win.

(I found a blurb on www.rosebowlhistory.org about the game and here it is:

"Woody Hayes bows out of Rose Bowl spotlight with 4-4 record as his Ohio State Buckeyes (11-0) lose another national title when upset by Dick Vermeil's comeback UCLA Bruins who despite a 8-2-1 record pull out a sensational 23-10 victory. Ohio State completely dominates the first half but leads only 3-0 on Tom Kleban's 42-yard field goal despite penetrations to UCLA's 25, 33, 32 and 21-yard lines. UCLA can't make a first down in the first 26 minutes and gains only 48 total yards in the first half. Then thunder, generated by quarterback John Sciarra, strikes. Sciarra completes 13 of 19 passes including 16 and 67-yard touchdown completions to Wally Henry. Wendell Tyler makes a 54-yard touchdown run, winding up with 172 yards on 21 carries. The game completes Archie Griffin's four Rose Bowl appearances good for 412 yards in 79 carries. Pete Johnson again is big for the Buckeyes, but Bruins Cliff Frazier, Manu Tuiasosopo, Terry Tautolo, Dale Curry, Ray Burks and Raymond Bell eventually prevail defensively."

If tOSU had continued to run the ball in the second half, they would have worn us down eventually.

by Fox 71 on Nov 26, 2007 1:19 PM PST reply actions 0 recs