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Bruins in the list (Top 20 Programs of all Time)

By Nestor

So we have a brand new addition to the growing Sports Blog Nation - Alabama's Roll Bama Roll. Nico who blogs at Eccentric Southern Gentleman will be running the show at RBR (while I am assuming he will keep posting at ECG). I must admit I am amazed how these guys can run the show at two different places. So Nico has been keeping track of the Tuscaloosa News, which is counting down their Top 25 college football programs of all time during this off season. Here are the factors being used:

Historical Factors

   1. Bowl appearances
   2. AP National Championships
   3. All Time AP Poll
   4. College Football Hall of Fame inductees
   5. Coaching Legacy:  This one is kind of the "x-factor" stat and is highly subjective whereas the others all at least rely on easily identifiable statistics.

2005 Factors

   1. Final AP poll ranking
   2. Rivals.com recruiting class rankings
   3. Average stadium attendance
   4. Academics: APR Rankings
   5. Pro potential: Number of players on opening day NFL rosters

Of course we can agree/disagree on how relevant/germane those factors are. But anyways, to no one's surprise (at least not to us) Bruins are in the list. They check in at No. 19:
In the Tuscaloosa News' Best College Football Rankings, which will rate the Top 25 programs throughout the summer, UCLA scored points in six different categories but finished in the top 15 in only one: players in the National Football League.

Subsequently, it was also the lone category UCLA finished better than its rival, USC. The Bruins had 25 former players on NFL rosters at the start of last season compared to USC's 24 (The Trojans, however, had 11 players selected in this year's draft compared to UCLA's three.).

Although its legacy includes players like Troy Aikman, Kris Farris, Cade McNown, Jonathan Ogden, and walk-on quarterbacks Rick Neuheisel and John Barnes, UCLA is known for two individuals in particular.

Gary Beban won the Heisman Trophy in 1967, and, before he broke the color barrier in baseball, Jackie Robinson was a four-sport standout at UCLA (football, basketball, track and baseball). Robinson led the nation in punt returns in 1939 and 1940, and his 18.8-yard career average ranks fourth in NCAA history.

Here is the whole story. (reg. req'd) The Tuscaloosa news is doing about a team per week. If you want to see who has made the list so far (they are up to no. 18), click here. Let's hope Dorrell finally fields a program which is worthy of UCLA's rich football tradition. It's been three long years and we are still waiting. And again ... welcome to Nico and the Bama fans to SBN.

GO BRUINS.

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