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Where did we go right?

11 years ago, the UCLA Football program sat on the edge of BCS glory. 7 years ago, the UCLA Football program sat on the edge of oblivion. 4 years ago, the UCLA Football program sat on the edge of BCS glory. Last year, the UCLA Football program sat on the edge of oblivion. This year, the UCLA Football program sits on the edge of oblivion.

What's wrong with that you might ask? I'll tell you what:

After the jump.

Star-divide

In the 2008 offseason, the big question surfaced: Who will replace one of the worst coaching stints in UCLA football history?

For most people, the answer was anyone...right? Aside from that one guy who has the same name as another college, but is coaching at another college that sounds a lot like his name. TOLEDO would be the answer. We asked nearly everyone; Chris Peterson, Mike Bellotti, Mike Leach, and I wouldn't be surprised if Dan passed a note to Pete in that period of "No-Coach". But then... something else came around-

A prodigal son, with a few quick nicknames reverberating around the slums of the college football world. And then, an old guru, with more evidence for success than the etchings on the Stanley Cup.

We got all giddy, and all questions were answered at around the 14 minute mark of the 3rd Quarter in the Rose Bowl on September 1st 2008. And a week later, the questions resurfaced. And then a few weeks later, we hang in with a superior unit at their place. Then we get blown out of the water by a team that didn't score against us.

It was basically predictable!

Since Donahue (1976 [33 years ago]), we have had 15, count em' 15 seasons with more than a 3 game differential from the previous season's W Total. (Example; 8-3 to 5-6)

"You must be this tall to ride the roller coaster"

Personally, I love roller coasters, but not when it comes to football. But when can we get off the roller coaster? When does this come?

Here are the rules against exiting of the roller coaster:

  1. Consistent losing
  2. Consistent inconsistency
  3. Fans happy with .500 season (unless talent restricts anything better)

On a side note: I have been persecuted for being "overly-optimistic" here at BN, and rightly so for the most part. But looking at those rules, we have gotten through law #3!! 33% is done, we just need the other two to work out.

Using that logic:

As UCLA Fans, we have evolved into fans who expect more and more from the team.

Sure, we might get ahead, or behind ourselves sometimes, but this is what this UCLA Football program needs. Right here, right now. We need to get behind our team, and hope that we can start gradually improving in something other than the kicking game. 

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.

0 recs  |  Comment 18 comments  |  Add comment

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No offense

but, I’ve read this twice and still don’t understand your point. Are you saying we are better off than before and we just need to temper our expectations? Are you saying we will never be good and high expectations are unrealistic? Still not sure what you’re saying.

A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment. John Wooden

by MexiBruin on Oct 22, 2009 10:40 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I think

he’s saying that our expectations are unascertainably ambiguous and amorphous in their current levels of roller coaster riding skills.

by captainqtp on Oct 22, 2009 1:04 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

No

I’m saying that we’re 33% there and we have grown to stop accepting losing, which is a good thing. Read the bold statement. It is a good thing to do that

There's no one in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than _______.

by ucla13_usc9 on Oct 22, 2009 3:07 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I think

he’s saying that instead of building an on-campus stadium, we need to build an on-campus roller coaster.

by drumfool on Oct 22, 2009 4:13 PM PDT reply actions   1 recs

I think I need to hurl...

… just kidding.
Seriously though, I am pretty confused by this post.

by bruinbunz on Oct 22, 2009 4:54 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Ouch guys.

Again

I’m saying that we’re 33% there and we have grown to stop accepting losing, which is a good thing. Read the bold statement. It is a good thing to do that

There's no one in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than _______.

by ucla13_usc9 on Oct 22, 2009 5:49 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

33% is still an F.. hell, 66% is an F

 :-)

by impaulv on Oct 23, 2009 12:27 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

In engineering 33% can easily be the highest grade in the class...

Let’s hope the same curves apply in college FB.

B.F.

by eubruin on Oct 23, 2009 4:45 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

well ya

We’re at 500 right now… isn’t that an F?

There's no one in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than _______.

by ucla13_usc9 on Oct 23, 2009 7:04 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think it means

that he wrote this post because underneath his mean callous heartless exterior he just wants to be loved.

A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment. John Wooden

by MexiBruin on Oct 23, 2009 9:05 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Let me try and clear this up...

He’s saying that there are 3 things that stop teams from getting off the terrible roller coaster:

   1. Consistent losing
   2. Consistent inconsistency
   3. Fans happy with .500 season (unless talent restricts anything better)

He’s saying that we are past the 3rd one, and we just need to accomplish the first 2 now. God, did you guys really go to UCLA? Where’s the reading comprehension?

Just kidding.

by Centric on Oct 23, 2009 10:24 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

lol

thanks man

There's no one in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than _______.

by ucla13_usc9 on Oct 23, 2009 3:08 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I get it

I agree. And for the first time in my life I realized that UCLA football is what it is. My mood has always been dependent on whether we win or lose… Now after years of conditioning I realize that we will always have a couple “good” seasons and some “huge” winss along the way. I think we can get there, but i am now cautious and don’t “expect” a win anymore. Because I, like many bruins have been let down time and time and time again. All I can say is: Go Bruins!

by westwood12003 on Oct 23, 2009 6:25 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Unfortunately, I still suffer the highs and lows

that comes with wins and losses. I don’t expect us to win National Championships every year, but I see no reason we can’t compete for Pac 10 championships every year. And, once we reach that level, the occasional National Championship shot will sort itself out.

That’s pretty much where we are in Basketball. All we have to do is hold down the Pac 10 and the rest will take care of itself.

A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment. John Wooden

by MexiBruin on Oct 23, 2009 6:54 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Remember Coach Toledo's commercials?

He said flat out that he expected us to compete for the national championship. I see nothing wrong with an attitude like that.

by Fox 71 on Oct 23, 2009 8:50 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

But then playing the opposite

Pessimists never are disappointed. But shooting for the sky always hits more birds than putting on the safety

There's no one in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than _______.

by ucla13_usc9 on Oct 23, 2009 9:36 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

well said mexi

I completely agree with you. I always expect to win. But the people who don’t follow the football team as we do, the average fan… They are “soooo dissapointed”! We all know it takes more than two years to build a winning team. Look what we were left with. Give CRN another two years to produce. We all love UCLA!!!!! Lets go Bruins! Just get behind the team and stay positive. We will get to a bowl this year!

by westwood12003 on Oct 23, 2009 7:46 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs


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