An hour or so after the most embarrassing loss in UCLA history,
Susie Sunshine decided to pay me a visit. She couldn’t have
come at a better time.
Having spent Saturday afternoon watching the Arizona debacle
with Debbie Downer, I needed a positive perspective on Bruin
football. And as ugly as things looked in Tucson, Susie gave me 10
things to be upbeat about.
1. A possible opening: I had previously written off any hopes of
scoring a ticket to the USC game next month. Prices on eBay had
climbed to well over $300 and students seemed willing drop their
classes if it meant securing a seat in the Coliseum.
But with UCLA’s loss, maybe those prices will start
falling to more reasonable levels. I just hope they don’t
plunge for the same reason Enron’s stock did.
2. Springing the upset: Part of me thinks the Bruins might fare
better against the Trojans with a loss on their record.
After all, it’s hard to fathom USC taking UCLA as
seriously after Saturday’s collapse. It’ll be an
opportunity for the Bruins to sneak up on their crosstown rivals,
so to speak.
3. Still a comeback team: If anything, I’m as convinced as
ever that UCLA can pull off the win over USC if it keeps the game
close for the first three quarters.
Against Arizona, the Bruins once again demonstrated they are a
fourth-quarter team. Too bad they fell behind 52-7 before starting
their rebound.
4. The comfort of home: Susie also reminded me to be thankful
last Saturday’s game was on the road, sparing Bruin fans an
extremely long and depressing ride home.
Watching on television, I could erase the game from memory by
changing the channel or picking up a book. Three plus hours in the
Rose Bowl followed by a two-hour drag through stop-and-go traffic
wouldn’t have provided for that luxury.
5. Better time management: Since UCLA’s BCS bubble has
pretty much burst, that’s one less distraction keeping me
away from my schoolwork. Over the past couple weeks, I’ve
probably spent a bit too much time scouring college football Web
sites, imagining national championship possibilities. I probably
won’t be so tempted by thoughts of potential Sun Bowl
match-ups.
6. The health factor: Earlier this year, it seemed like UCLA
would lose one of its starters to injury every game. On Saturday,
the depletion seemed to finally come to a halt. Even better, the
team can only improve the more it gets used playing without the
likes of Justin London and Mike McCloskey.
7. Looking into the future: Drew Olson has had a phenomenal
season, but it never hurts to get the second-string quarterback
some experience going into next year.
In that regard, it’s sort of a good thing that
UCLA’s loss came in such blowout fashion. It gave Ben Olson a
chance to take some snaps and showcase his skills. So what if he
played just one series and only completed a couple dump-off
passes?
8. Some diverted attention: The football team was pretty much
hogging all the glory around campus during its undefeated
start.
Never before have I heard less buzz about a pre-season top-25
UCLA basketball team. Perhaps Saturday’s loss will get
campout nights to start earlier at Pauley Pavilion.
It couldn’t hurt for students to check in with the Olympic
sports heading into playoff season, either.
9. A change of pace: Every week for way too long now, I’d
worry about UCLA suffering a letdown against some mediocre
opponent.
But with the letdown in the rearview mirror, I can move on to a
new set of concerns. The simple question now is asking how the
Bruins will respond. The scary one is wondering whether
they’re just a mediocre team themselves.
10. Sitting pretty: Sure, Football 101, and its
one-game-at-a-time mentality might say that UCLA is 0-1 at this
point.
But Susie has encouraged me to look at the big picture and in
that frame, the Bruins’ 8-1 record isn’t too shabby.
Particularly since I pegged them to only go 7-4 before the season
began.
They’ve already exceeded my expectations in that regard.
All the better that they didn’t even need November to do
it.
E-mail Finley at afinley@media.ucla.edu if Susie Sunshine
has you feeling equally optimistic right now.