Top 10 Bruin moments and performances

Digger says something to the effect of “what a comeback by those bruins, those are some winners there.”

Winners. That is the mindset our basketball team needs to get back, finding a way to win even when things are going smoothly.

And the great part was that you got all that video.

The 20-16 win over just$c* in 65. I wish someone could find a video of that game. It was spectacular.

The weather was sunny and 65 degrees. Michigan State was a two touchdown favorite and the consensus #1 ranked team, but the undersized Bruins held their own through a scoreless first quarter. In the second quarter, UCLA recovered a muffed punt inside the Michigan State 5 yard line; QB Gary Beban eventually took it in from one yard out to give the Bruins a surprising lead over the stunned Spartans. Then UCLA coach Tommy Prothro went into his bag of tricks and called for an onside kick. Kicker Kurt Zimmerman executed it perfecty and Dallas Grider fell on the ball. UCLA QB Gary Beban then threaded a pass between 3 Spartan defenders to Kurt Altenbeg, who made a great catch that put UCLA on the 1 yard line. Beban then scored on a short run to make it 14-0. UCLA’s undersized defense continued to play well, but the larger Spartans were beginning to wear them down and began picking up bigger and bigger chunks of yardage on the ground. Midway through the 4th quarter, Michigan State finally broke through for a touchdown, but failed on the try for a 2-point conversion and UCLA led 14-6. Michigan State go the ball back and began to march down field in the waning moments. With under a minute to play the Spartans scored again, and trailing 14-12, lined up for a two point conversion attempt. They pitched out to their large Samoan fullback Bob Apisa, and as he turned the corner, it appeared he would fall into the end zone to tie the game. But UCLA defensive back Bob Stiles ran full speed and threw himself into Apisa, keeping Apisa out of the end zone and knocking himself out in the process

The 1966 UCLA- U$C Game NORM DOW

UCLA star QB Gary Beban was out with a broken ankle, but backup Norman Dow, making his first and only start at QB, led UCLA to a 14-7 win.1011 A vote the next Monday among the AAWU conference athletic directors put USC in the Rose Bowl. It was speculated that this was to make up for 1964 when Oregon State was controversially voted in ahead of USC, and also because the directors believed Beban could not play for UCLA in the Rose Bowl due to the broken ankle, thereby giving the Big 10 representative (Purdue) a better chance to win.1213 UCLA students protested by blocking the Northbound lanes of Interstate 405 at Wilshire Boulevard. A week after the vote, USC made the voters look really bad as they lost to Notre Dame 51-0. This still stands as the worst defeat in USC Trojan football history. USC entered the Rose Bowl unranked and lost to Purdue, 14-13. Ironically, Beban’s ankle had healed and he could have played. UCLA finished fifth in both polls. In matches with the Rose Bowl on the line for both teams, UCLA was 6-1-1.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzIR0lKeYT4

it is hard to name 10. They are all the same for me. Whether it be the historic Gonzaga game, or the Tyus Edney coast to coast……….there are so many great memories. However, for me, one stands out alone.

1982: UCLA vs. USC football @ the Rose Bowl. I was in my senior year of high school and was working as an usher in the greatest rivalry of them all. 95, 763 were in the Rose Bowl that day and I was located exactly on the goal line, on the field, as USC quarterback Scott Tinsley went back to pass. I had been through so many horrible moments as a kid in this rivalry that I thought USC would for sure pull it out. However, #40 had other ideas. Karl Morgan, our defensive captain and star nose tackle appeared out of nowhere and smothered Tinsley to the turf like a ragdoll. Even though USC was on probation and couldn’t go anywhere, with a win they would have technically won the Pac-10 and been able to brag that they were the best, even though they were on probation. When big #40 came through that line, he looked like he had been shot out of a rocket. I had such a good view that the play still in inbedded deep in the recesses of my brain as a moment I will never forget. I actually ran on the field (yes, in my yellow shirt) and jumped up and down with all the players. Me, just a grimy little high school kid, getting to celebrate a victory, on the field, with my Bruins. It felt like I was on the team!! What a moment. I made sure to go up to Morgan minutes later and thank him and tell him how proud of him I was. He said thank you, and then gave me one of his wristbands. Unbelievable!! I will never forget Tinsley on the ground, crying, and picking out pieces of he Rose Bowl turf from his facemask. The Trogans were dejected, and Morgan, a true Bruin, played with the guts and glory in making that final play. I really believe that one play led to many years to follow where were had confidence we could win in the final moments against those cross-town phonies. I owe big #40 a big debt of gratitude of that moment. I will never forget that one.

As I mentioned in the favorite bruins thread I started UCLA in 2002 and did not follow the school much before that ( I dont think I knew what 4.2 meant until my sophomore year) so my list is going to be recent history heavy

5. Josh Shipps block against texas A&M and subsequent pass to Westbrook and thundering dunk to seal the game in the second round in 2008 tourney

4. Arron Afflalo’s buzzer beater against USC in 2007.

3. Josh Shipp over the backboard shot v Cal in 2008.

2. BATISTA WITH THE CAAAAAATCH

1. 13-9 Eric McNeal pick.

Im going to add scoring Drew Olson and Maurice Jones drew leading us from a 3 TD deficit with 8 minutes remaining in the game to beat Stanford and stay undefeated in 2005

…especially for Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl – January 1, 1998

Cade McNown was bottled up in the Bruin end zone. UCLA comes out on 3rd down in a typical ‘push’ play to get room for Chris Sailor to punt on 4th down.

Instead, McNown fakes a handoff, moves to the corner and fools everyone by laying out an eventual 76 yard punt perfectly fielded by the receivers!

Eventual result: UCLA 29 v Texas A&M 23 with Cade the MVP

Astonishing stuff, especially in a national game!!!

but I remember being at Pauley against USC when Billy Knight drained a 3 at the buzzer to win the game. May not be top 10, but man it was fun to be there that night.

I recall many years ago when UCLA was playing Louisville in a final four game. John Wooden had already won nine national championships. If I remember correcty, that game was in its’ final seconds & Louisvile was about to win when one of their players was fouled. He had made 28 straight free throws (had never missed one that season). I don’t remember if he missed one or two of his free throws but he missed. Richard Washingrton subsequently made a jump shot seconds later winning the game for UCLA. It was after that game that Wooden announced that he would be retiring after the championship game. UCLA then beat Kentucky for Wooden’s 10th national championship. That last championship would not have been possible if Washington had not made his shot.

First a correction to one of the previous posts. The 97 Texas game was not at the Rose Bowl. IT was played at Austin and there were about 7,000 UCLA fans at that game, I was one of the brave who made the trip. By half time there were more Bruin fans than Texas fans.
  Gary Beban’s 65 season was one to remember. In the 65 $c game Beaban led the team to one of the great come backs in UCLA football history.
Trailing 16-6 with under 4 minutes left in the game Bruin linebacker Dallas Grider hit $c quarterback Troy Winslow and caused a fumble that the Bruins recovered. UCLA then scored on a Beban touchdown pass to Dick Witcher and successfully converted a two-point conversion to make the score 16-14. Then Grider then recovered the on-side kick. Facing a 3rd and 15 situation Beban hit Kurt Altenberg on a 49 yard touchdown bomb to win the game and a berth in the 1966 Rose Bowl. The Bruins beat #1 Michigan st. 14 to 12 in the 1966 game for their FIRST ever Rose Bowl victory. The Bruins had lost their opening game to Michigan st. 3-13 at east Lansing.