Not every e-mail I get is riddled with curse words, insults and
personal attacks. Some are just critical. Like the one I got from a
friend of mine last week.
“You’re too cynical,” it began. “Why
don’t you try being more optimistic in your next
column?”
Optimistic? About UCLA football? I wondered if we were watching
the same team. And this was before Cal beat the stuffing out of the
Bruins on Saturday, snapping UCLA’s four-game winning
streak.
Still, you know what, I’m up for the challenge. Sure, the
Bruins have a porous run defense and a history of late-season
collapses.
But for the rest of my column, I’m going to ignore all of
that.
That’s right, nothing but mind-numbing, glass-half-full,
sugary-sweet, check-for-cavities optimism the rest of the way. OK,
here goes nothing.
UCLA, 4-2, controls its own destiny in the Pac-10. That means
even with the loss to Cal, if the Bruins win the rest of their
games they can do no worse than a share of the conference
championship. Heck, even if they win just two more games,
they’ll probably qualify for the Las Vegas Bowl, and there is
nothing wrong with that.
Alright, this isn’t so hard.
UCLA matches up well with its next two opponents. While both
Arizona State and Stanford might be bowl teams this season, neither
one has a particularly effective running game.
The Sun Devils, in fact, rushed for less than one yard per carry
against USC Saturday. That means even the injury-riddled Bruin
defensive line might be able to hold them in check.
UCLA is a very young team. Sixteen of the players who started
Saturday’s game against Cal will have eligibility remaining
next season, which means that next year might be when the Bruins
put it together. Of course, those of us who are seniors
wouldn’t mind if they were a year ahead of schedule, but at
least everyone else has something to look forward to, right?
UCLA has the best linebacker in the Pac-10, junior Spencer
Havner. The nation’s leading tackler, Havner has been a
one-man wrecking crew this season.
But he is reportedly planning to evaluate his NFL Draft stock at
the end of the season, so the optimist in me says to enjoy watching
Havner while you still can.
Hmmm … What else?
UCLA has two of the most consistent tackling safeties in the
conference. Junior Jarrad Page rarely misses an opposing ball
carrier in the open field.
And Ben Emanuel? Well, running backs usually drag him five yards
up field like a piece of luggage, but, hey, eventually he almost
always brings them down.
UCLA is always giving back to the community. The Bruins
participate in an annual athletic department clothing drive and in
the “I’m Going to College” program, which
encourages young children to aspire to higher education. And
don’t forget how charitable the run defense has been this
year as well.
UCLA also has not had a single player arrested this season.
Not one. No assault. No battery.
Not even a handicapped parking scandal for gosh sakes. Is it a
coincidence that since Madison’s Neighborhood Bar closed, the
Bruins have been on their best behavior?
Alright, just a couple more.
UCLA will not let its season unravel at Stanford this year like
it has two of the past three seasons. OK, so this year’s game
is at the Rose Bowl. Wow, I’m stretching here.
And the last one.
OK, how’s this? Win or lose next Monday, I may write
another positive column next week. Hey, I’m just being
optimistic.
Eisenberg’s column runs every Monday during football
season. E-mail him at jeisenberg@media.ucla.edu.