Despite season of victory, some claim UCLA not a football school

alt="For UCLA students, employees and Alumni Association
members.">

Wednesday, January 13, 1999

Despite season of victory, some claim UCLA not a football
school

COLUMN: Team deserves more credit after only two losses, top 10
finish

I picked up the L.A. Times the day after the Rose Bowl and was
pretty perturbed with what I saw. The articles gave the impression
that UCLA was utterly embarrassed in the Rose Bowl, finally putting
an end to the misery of a season lost.

Well, the Bruins were beaten by a touchdown by the No. 9 team in
the nation in a contest that came down to the wire. If that’s
embarrassment, then what would you call, say, USC? The media, and
even some Bruin fans, immediately began ripping UCLA following the
game. Whether it was their late offensive problems, their porous
defense or the claim that they lacked heart and effort, it was
unfair.

For the second straight season, the Bruins went 10-2. With a
young defense that lost seven starters, UCLA beat Texas, Arizona,
Oregon and its crosstown rivals, providing more excitement and
flair than any other team in the nation.

"This thing that kind of disturbs me – and maybe we’ve created a
bit of a monster – is that because we lost the game, we lost
everything, and that’s not the case," said head coach Bob
Toledo.

Some may call me a homer, but doh, I call myself a realist. It’s
those unrealistic folks – and jealous Trojan fans – who have the
gall to call the Bruins’ season a waste. Maybe UCLA fans are
spoiled, but losing two games in a season is not a
disappointment.

"We’ve obviously raised the bar, and that’s good, but people
can’t be unrealistic either," said Toledo.

According to columnist Bill Plaschke of the L.A. Times, "UCLA is
still not a football school. Period."

Did he not see the same two seasons I have seen? Did he not see
the 20-game winning streak sandwiched by four losses, each one by a
touchdown or less, each to a very good team? Did he not see Cade
McNown do the unthinkable time and time again? What about a top
recruiting class two straight years, attendance records shattered,
reducing a rivalry to a routine, and coming a Hail Mary short of
the national championship game?

That’s what I saw. And if his comment hinges on the Rose Bowl
loss, it’s still a far cry from the truth. Toledo shall
explain.

"We lost by one touchdown, had a chance to tie them up at the
end, broke a Rose Bowl record for offense, scored 31 points – more
than anyone had against them all year – made two big mistakes
offensively, and defensively we were maligned.

"With a lot of guys banged up, we were fortunate just to field a
front. Our kids played hard. I don’t think people realized
Wisconsin had an excellent football team."

The weight of Plashcke’s comment may lie on the strong crowd
support of the Badgers in UCLA’s home stadium. But the strong
showing of Wisconsin red makes sense. When it’s 17 below zero at
home, and their beloved team is playing in its biggest game in
years in a large city where the climate is just right, the fans are
going to travel.

They’re going to travel in masses and plan their vacations
around it. Why would they stay in Wisconsin? Think about it.

And as for UCLA students, I personally know there aren’t many
college kids that can shell out $115 for a football game.
Especially when it follows a huge letdown in Miami.

Of the Rose Bowl loss, Plaschke called UCLA "the flimsy petals,"
a team that "collapsed at the first strong breeze," and a program
"rich in athleticism, but poor of heart." I don’t buy it.

In an age when Jim Rome and his smack-talking style head the
ratings war, media must go out of its way to produce the negative.
An article trashing a team is far better than one full of praise.
In fact, certain media members will even go from player to player,
searching for the right quote that will cause an uproar. If 20
people say one thing, and one guy says the opposite, the opposite
will be the angle of the story if it will stir up emotions.

"I kind of laugh at some of the articles," said Toledo.

Do the Bruins really deserve this treatment? Forget the
Wisconsin defeat for a moment, and remember how proud a feeling it
is to be associated with this Bruin football team.

Remember the flip and the strip. The Melsby catch, the goal-line
stands and the Roques return. Cade throwing up and the freshmen
growing up. The Outland and the Golden Arm. All the All-Americans,
All-Pac-10’s and All-Academics. Smashing the Trojans – again.
49-17, 49-31, 52-28.

Remember the outstanding players. Remember McMasterful McNown
rewriting the record books. The Farmer and the Bell. The
spider-bitten Walendy and the Webb brothers. Price and White.
Atkins and Ayanbadejo. Sailer, Foster, Hall and Holland. There’s
Ferris and Lewis. And don’t forget Mr. Excitement, Mr. Comeback –
Mr. Freddie Mitchell.

The 1998 season was a damn good one, full of great memories, for
better or for worse. And that’s what the game is all about. With
the Bruins, you couldn’t count on a victory every week, but the
odds were good. The only true certainty was that they’d deliver a
thrilling and hard-fought battle.

"I am very pleased with this season. I’m not going to let people
tear us down after losing to two good teams," said Toledo. And if
you’re still not satisfied, just put his next comment into
perspective.

"It’s not like we were embarrassed by say, a 6-5 team."

Toledo is signed until 2005, another top recruiting class is on
its way, and five viable quarterbacks are waiting for the
spotlight. Danny Farmer will return to compete for the Biletnikoff
Trophy as the nation’s best receiver, and DeShaun Foster and
Freddie Mitchell will eventually be Heisman candidates. With that
and two consecutive top 10 finishes, Mr. Plashke et al, UCLA surely
fits my bill as a football school. Period.

Please send feedback to Jizzeff@aol.com.

Jeff Kmiotek