Some moments in life are just too good for words.
There are times when even the most passive people have to let
out their emotions.
Saturday’s game was one of those few, priceless instances
in life that had the power to bring out the essence of humanity in
anybody who was at the game.
For UCLA, there are just so many good stories that it is
impossible to touch on all of them.
First in my mind, above all else, is Karl Dorrell.
Here’s a guy who has been criticized from every possible
angle as a football coach this season.
Dorrell’s unprepared game-planning, failed recruiting,
poor in-game management, inability to get the big win, and lack of
emotion were among the many things for which he came under fire
this season.
And although most of the time the accusations were unfair, there
were some excruciatingly painful moments when even the most
positive Bruin fans couldn’t stop themselves from criticizing
Dorrell.
Boy, did he show up his critics on Saturday.
I don’t want to hear how Dorrell doesn’t deserve
credit for the Bruins’ victory. Success and failure all
starts at the top. Bruin fans have been quick to point out the
latter, and they should be prepared to acknowledge the former.
Dorrell’s decision to start Pat Cowan, his game plan, and
his ability to get his team to come out the way they did on
Saturday are all deserving of praise.
The power of the Bruins’ win against USC should be enough
to unite Bruin fans not only behind their football team, but behind
their coach as well.
UCLA may be just 7-5, but the Bruins’ victory against the
Trojans made this season a resounding success ““ which is
amazing, considering where Bruin fans thought this season was
headed after UCLA lost to Washington State.
There are so many other good stories from this game.
There is the heroic performance of Cowan, who many thought was
the wrong quarterback to start the game.
There is Eric McNeal, whom many people around campus probably
hadn’t even heard of before his legendary interception.
There is an entire defensive unit that played the best
team-defensive game in the country this season. USC had scored at
least 20 points in 63 consecutive games prior to Saturday, and the
Bruins had not held USC to a lower scoring output since 1971. Yet
the Bruins held the Trojans to just seven offensive points, and
shut them out completely in the second half.
There are the unsung performances of Marcus Everett and
Christian Taylor, who were two huge reasons why the Bruins ended up
on the winning side on Saturday.
There is excitement from the fact that, on the biggest of
stages, the Bruins sent shock waves through the nation and had a
tremendous impact on the 2006-07 college football season.
Best of all, the Bruins were able to have that impact while
ending a painful seven-year losing streak against their bitter
rivals, who now won’t get the chance to win a national
title.
And for the Bruin players, there is the knowledge that
somewhere, Marcus Cassel was watching the game and is now flashing
that radiant smile, proud of his beloved teammates in a different
world.
All the years of frustration and all the years of losing to USC
are undone.
It was a moment that was beyond beautiful ““ something that
every Bruin fan can cherish forever, no matter what happened in the
past or what happens in the future.
E-mail Azar at bazar@media.ucla.edu if you too noticed that
Bobby Gordon got owned in Battle of the Columnists on Friday. For
that matter, you can e-mail Bobby at bgordon@media.ucla.edu to tell
him what you think of him.