FanPost

After 60 Years, Can We Run the Table Again?



For those old enough, the memories come flooding back. Primo Villaneuva, Rommie Loudd, Jack Ellena, Terry DeBay, Hardiman Cureton. Their gold helmets gleamed as they left the huddle in a serpentine movement, lining up in Red Sanders' single wing. Through every game in 1954, they were undefeated, and they remain champions in our hearts.

I was a freshman at 18; I'm 73 now. That makes 55 years I've yelled myself hoarse at UCLA games. This year I decided to buy reprints of L.A. Times stories for all the games of the 1954 season, as well as the Rose Bowl in January 1954 that ended the 1953 season and kept UCLA from meeting co-champion Ohio State in the next Rose Bowl. (The "no-repeat" rule was to blame.) In general, I'm going to try to write a post after each game we play this year, interspersed with a few paragraphs from the Times account, along with an attempt to paraphrase the writers' views. (I can't run the stories verbatim, as I planned to do, because of copyright restrictions.)

There were nine games in 1954; this year there are 12. But although the schedules aren't congruent, it may work out well for me, since I'll be a week late in covering the Texas game because my wife and I will be visiting Alaska's Inside Passage where, I'm told, Internet connections are iffy and WiFi is also unavailable. And I want to write about the two games (1954 and 2014) against the university of surly children in the same post on BN. I've listed the games in the chronological order they were played, with the current team first. Interestingly, we play Cal in our seventh game this year, and so did the Bruins of 1954.

(Week 1) UCLA vs. Virginia and UCLA vs. San Diego Navy; (Week 2) UCLA vs. Memphis and UCLA vs. Kansas; (Week 3) UCLA vs. Texas and UCLA vs. Maryland; (Week 4) UCLA vs. Arizona State and UCLA vs. Washington; (Week 5) UCLA vs. Utah and UCLA vs. Stanford; (Week 6) UCLA vs. Oregon and UCLA vs. Oregon State; (Week 7) UCLA vs. California and UCLA vs. California; (Week 8) UCLA vs. Colorado and UCLA vs. Oregon; (Week 9) UCLA vs. Arizona and UCLA vs. the surly children's school. There are three other games in the current schedule: Washington, Southern Cal, and Stanford. (Please tell me if you see a mistake in the schedules. I had to toggle back and forth between two web pages.)

I'm beginning this project because I think the current team is potentially the most talented group of football players at UCLA that I've seen in my lifetime. (The Sanders era was over by the time I entered UCLA in 1959, and what I know of it comes from reading. I never saw a team coached by Red Sanders play, so I'm not including his teams in this sweeping comparison.)

In the best of all worlds, it would be wonderful to see two eras united in celebration. But frankly, I also feel some apprehension in comparing the teams of 1954 and 2014 because of all the obstacles a football team has to overcome today to finish a season undefeated. (Yes, I know Florida State did it last year, and other teams probably have as well, but that doesn't make the road any less daunting.) In addition, we have arguably the toughest schedule in the country (see Luv's post). And, to state the obvious, injuries and luck are always factors.

And yet ... we have a chance, a real chance. Maybe the guys in blue and gold can dig even deeper when the crowd and clock are against them. Maybe, just maybe, we're on a path to the promised land. There's one certainty, in my opinion: Jim Mora has done a lot of things the right way, and when he's made a mistake, he's admitted it. And needless to say, if we stumble, I'll continue to comment on the games, both old and new.

The first post, below, is on the 1954 Rose Bowl that we lost to Michigan State. The next post will come with our opening game against Virginia. I hope BN readers - and maybe even a few players on the current team - enjoy the series. I have only one favor to ask. Whatever you think of the Times' coverage of UCLA sports in general, please don't criticize it in the comments on this series. I've also been critical in the past - particularly with regard to T.J. Simers - but the Times has been a great help in providing these stories, and I want to reciprocate that kindness.

Finally, if some voices of the players wearing blue and gold have been stilled, their achievements remain undisturbed by time. Then, and now, they serve as silent bulwarks against mediocrity.

Go Bruins!

It is a warm day at the Rose Bowl. (In Paul Zimmerman's words, the game draws "a capacity crowd of 100,000 sun-drenched spectators.") It is also, perhaps, one of the events in the sports world that have given rise to such expressions as "the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat."

Unfortunately, on this day it is the Bruins who must deal with the agony of defeat. Again, Zimmerman: "Not since 1926 when Alabama defeated Washington, 20 to 19, has a team staged a rally comparable to that of the green-shirted warriors representing the Big Ten Conference."

Along with 100,000 spectators, the Bruins enjoy their moment in the sun. But that is earlier, before disaster strikes. Paul Cameron, the legendary tailback, throws two touchdown passes. He runs from four yards out for another score; it is not enough.

(Note to readers: As far as I can tell, this was Cameron's last game for UCLA. He was succeeded by Primo Villaneuva on the undefeated team.)

It is almost entirely a UCLA show in the first half. The Bruins lead 14-7 at halftime but hold the Spartans scoreless until the last five minutes.

What happened? The kicking game mirrors the economy. At times, its success lifts everyone. At other times, it damns almost everyone's efforts. Case(s) in point: Cameron quick-kicks twice in the first quarter, and his team is rewarded on the second attempt. A Michigan State player, "hit hard by Jack Ellena," fumbles and UCLA recovers. Ball on the 37-yard line, and the Bruins eventually score; it's now 7-0. They score again in the second quarter when Earl Morrall (later of the Baltimore Colts) is intercepted.

But this game has a decidedly mixed scorecard. Toward the end of the second quarter, Cameron's punt (not a quick kick) is blocked, recovered on the 6-yard line and run into the end zone. So much for the good times.

It is a different Michigan State team that takes the field after halftime. The Spartans score after taking the kickoff. With the Bruins unable to move after the score is tied, Cameron again quick-kicks but to no avail. Michigan State scores its third touchdown.

UCLA storms back. Hardiman Cureton recovers a fumble on Michigan State's 24, and Cameron eventually passes to Rommie Loudd for what should be the tying score. Nope, the extra point fails, and UCLA trails by 1.

After an initially strong surge by the Bruin offense, in an attempt to go ahead, the drive stalls, and Cameron again punts. But disaster awaits; the Spartans return it for a touchdown. Game over, and the stage is set for UCLA's magnificent season in 1954.

There is an even more unfortunate consequence to this loss than the pain felt by UCLA. Because of the "no-repeat" rule, UCLA cannot meet co-champion Ohio State in the following year's Rose Bowl. The surly children's school, which UCLA has beaten 34-0, goes to the Rose Bowl instead and loses to Ohio State, 20-7.

Next up: the first games on the schedule of the 1954 and 2014 teams.

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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