December 2, 2006, A Day That Will Live in Infamy

by 78Bruin on Sep 27, 2007 12:08 PM PDT

I was listening to the game radio broadcast the other night (something I rarely do) and repeatedly heard, during commercial breaks, a 5 second station ID which said something like: "KLAC 570... where the Bruins beat Troy."

It struck me kind of odd and as I kept hearing it, it made me realize how everyone associated with the Bruin football family, from the team on down to its broadcasters and fans, needs to move on. Yes, 12/2/06 was a great, great day in Bruin history. I still get goosebumps watching highlights. But really folks, is that the pinnacle of our success? In a way, it's very symbolic of our lowered expectations -- that we crown the achievement of beating our arch rival during a season filled with disappointment and unfulfilled expectations.

But, what did that victory really mean? Here at BN, we all know that victory, much like Lavin's 2nd round NCAA tourney victories, saved KD's ass and assured another season of inconsistent play from unprepared teams. It assured that we would live to see another day like the Utah game.

So as some continue to celebrate that great win over $C, we need to understand that winning that game masked a cancer that is slowly killing our beloved football program in agonizing fashion.

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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I couldn't agree more

Now, the win over SuC was much, much better than a "normal" win over them because it prevented them from possibly winning a national championship. So, in that sense, it was a "bigger" win than normal.

But I don't disagree with anything you said. It was a great, great win, but it was, overally, a pretty crappy year punctuated by the Nut Bowl loss and having to live with Dorrell for another year (or more).

by Barnes2JJ on Sep 27, 2007 12:19 PM PDT reply actions

Im with you

The SC win was great and if an SC fan tries to give you crap, it's still great to throw in his face, but this is a new season. We have problems to solve and beating SC doesn't do us any good this season. Had we gone 10-2 with a win over SC last season and we were 4-0 right now, that win would mean a lot more.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Sep 27, 2007 12:24 PM PDT reply actions

Other sports?

Maybe the station ID is referring to the beating we regularly give them in other sports... especially the ones administered by our Ben Ball Warriors.

by schubert69 on Sep 27, 2007 12:49 PM PDT reply actions

Excellent observation

While I will never downplay a W against the SCum, that game most likely saved Dorrell for the time being.

by Ajax on Sep 27, 2007 1:02 PM PDT reply actions

12-2-06 will always be a good day.

(1) $C went down.

(2) $C got knocked out of the BCS Championship.

(3) THE '91-'98 STREAK WAS KEPT UNMATCHED.

It may not have meant that any pages, fortunes, or corners were turned, but it STILL means something.

But as has been said before, that was then, this is now.

WHY NOT US? WHY NOT NOW?

by Meriones on Sep 27, 2007 1:03 PM PDT reply actions

Right on!

There's more:

(3a) U$C is supposedly the football powerhouse, yet UCLA is the one with the longest victory streak.

(4) Pete Carroll's face after having been beaten by Karl Dorrell...KARL DORRELL!!!

Yes, even if it is a catch-22, IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO BEAT U$C. And it is oh so sweet to beat a good U$C team with a mediocre UCLA team. And to give the bird to the pundits.

by tasser10 on Sep 27, 2007 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Don't Take This the Wrong Way

The win over SC was undoubtedly one of the greatest experiences I've had in attending games for over 45 years. I'll never forget the euphoria of walking (on air) out of the RB chanting "Overrated!!" in the face of humiliated SUC fans. I would not trade that experience for anything.

The point I was making is that the game is now part of Bruin football history and we have new goals to achieve. We'll never forget the day, however, we should never lose sight of the current sad state of the program less than one year later.

by 78Bruin on Sep 27, 2007 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions

Absolutely!

The feeling was great, for that day, and up until the debacle against Florida State. It is history. It shouldn't give anyone "coaching capital" indefinitely. You don't see U$C still crowing about beating Notre Dame two years ago on the Bush Push. That win is the outlier of Karl Dorrell's career.

by tasser10 on Sep 27, 2007 2:37 PM PDT up reply actions

December 1, 2006

If, the day before the game, God me a choice of:

1) Lose to SUC, KD gets fired immediately, and then watch SUC probably beat up an overated OSU team for a National Championship,

2) Beat SUC, end the 7-year streak, and suffer for one more year with KD.

It's a no-brainer for me, I'd take door #2!

by bornagainbruin on Sep 27, 2007 1:07 PM PDT reply actions

Couldn't agree more

The pain of one final year pales in comparison to the pain of watching SC win a national title in another lopsided game.

by Rhapsode on Sep 27, 2007 1:28 PM PDT up reply actions

Excellent

Very well said. I've been torn on this issue, but you make an excellent point.

by Barnes2JJ on Sep 27, 2007 1:29 PM PDT up reply actions

Yes, win over SC=1 more KD year

Heaven forbid if we get several more years of KD out of that.

In addition, the defense played their butts off to get that win, and yet KD took credit for it. The WCO had nothing to do with win.

by bluegold on Sep 27, 2007 1:52 PM PDT up reply actions

I actually said out loud on December 1, 2006...

Even if it means another year of Karl Dorrell, please let him beat SC.

All the problems this year fall squarely on me for making that deal with the devil. I'm sorry.

by isodore on Sep 28, 2007 4:32 PM PDT up reply actions

I would take the SuC win easily

It preserved our record 8 game winning streak for probably our lifetime. That goes well beyond any time Dorrell will be coach. It also proved that we had the talent to win, AND the coaching to lose. Now that we have even more talent AND we still lose, then the matter is practically settled, coaching must change.

Had we lost last year when everyone expected it, maybe DG pulls the trigger, maybe he doesnt. But if he doesnt, would the expectations for this year be as great?? Would Dorrell then be able to survive with just just 8 wins this year (and then the inevitable "rebuilding year" in 08)??

All in all, depriving SuC of matching our record of wins against them AND the national title was a lifetime worth of everything we stand for, of everything all our past teams have stood for. If that cost us 1 more year of Dorrell, and maybe even hastened the inevitability of Dorrell getting the boot .. it's a helluva bargain.

editor, DumpDorrell.com ... formerly posted as DumpDorrell

by BruinCore on Sep 27, 2007 2:56 PM PDT reply actions

No way

That 13-9 was special and it did preserve our 8 game streak. I know it cost us being saddled with Dorrell for one more year. But I will take it. We will get rid of this moron sooner or later.

But I think 13-9 was lot more meaningful than a Steve-16 win. It prevented SCum from getting a shot at winning another title. And that is big in my book.

Now if Dorrell doesnt win the Pac-10 this year, he will need to go even if he beats SuC at the end of this season.

by bluestreet on Sep 27, 2007 3:18 PM PDT reply actions

That one day

was the best experience I've ever had at a Bruin game. Probably the best sports experience.(The Dodgers 4 homeruns in the 9th against the Padres could be #1) But I wish we were a program that expected more. The most that win should have bought him is one more game. If we would have smoked Florida St. like we should have than I would understand allowing him back this year. But after blowing that game he should have been blown out.

Paul Hackett was undefeated against the Bruins, that didn't save his job now did it? Why can't we have this attitude?

I always expect to beat sc, I will never be able to stand losing to sc, but the expectations don't end there.

"Someday we'll look back on this and it will all seem funny" - Boss

by TCbruin32 on Sep 27, 2007 3:23 PM PDT reply actions

Hackett was undefeated against Bruins

We blew up his team in 1998, Cade's last year in Westwood.

by bluestreet on Sep 27, 2007 3:36 PM PDT up reply actions

damn!

my bad. Point is, he was fired even after beating the bruins.

"Someday we'll look back on this and it will all seem funny" - Boss

by TCbruin32 on Sep 27, 2007 4:01 PM PDT up reply actions

13-9 Could Have Been A Defining Moment

While we celebrate any victory over $c, it is unfortunate that last year's win is only considered one of mythic portions because of the disparity between the level of the two programs and not because 13-9 become a magical moment in Bruin football history where the team rose to a new level. Instead it was a short-lived peak, an upset. Since 13-9, UCLA has played in five games. Based on the Bruins 3-2 record in those five games, including the unfathomable blow-out two weeks ago, it is clear that all 13-9 represents in UCLA football history is another great win against $c.

The game last December lost any long term significance because of the games that have followed. It certainly doesn't compare to the 66-6 upset of Texas as a UCLA football milestone. After starting 0-2 that season, the Bruin turned a corner with that impressive win and then went on to win 19 more games and come within a blown call (or a decent defensive effort) of playing for a National Championship.

by Bruin77 on Sep 27, 2007 3:35 PM PDT reply actions

Perhaps a compromise, 78?

How about December 28 (or whatever), 2006, the date of the Nut Bowl, as the day of infamy???

Or, shoot, what date was CTS hired?

WHY NOT US? WHY NOT NOW?

by Meriones on Sep 27, 2007 3:43 PM PDT reply actions

the players deserved that win

I don't care who was coaching, or what it did to his career longevity, those guys are all BRUIN HEROES and I wouldn't take an L in that game if it got KD fired at the end of the season. I would never want to take it away from our guys who fought so valiently against such odds.

"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"

by silverlakebruin on Sep 28, 2007 3:53 PM PDT reply actions

13-9 Was Great But We Need To Move Forward....

I'll always cherish 12-2-06 and knocking the Evil Empire out of the BCS Nat'l Championship game. Now, had we accomplished that ALONG with going, say, 10-2 last year ALONG with a victory over FSU in the Nut Bowl - and stand at 4-0 (like a UCLA program SHOULD)that victory over USC would mean so, so much more.

Even though I had to see it on TV, the blank looks of dismay on the USC faces at the end was priceless; especially when I was jumping up and down in euphoria.

by Minnesota Bruinfan on Sep 29, 2007 7:03 AM PDT reply actions

I love that game

but its sad that we have to focus on that to get our minds off a terrible start this year. Instead of focusing on this year we have to talk about 13-9 to feel good.

Go waterpolo!
Go Bruins!!!

by joeb @ Bruins Nation on Sep 29, 2007 8:20 AM PDT reply actions

Knew that was the price we would pay

But I would not trade that moment for anything. I cried tears of joy and I was thrilled when I was the Victory Bell in blue. This nightmare will end one day. Each day is a day closer.

by bruinbabe2000 on Sep 30, 2007 10:56 AM PDT reply actions