UCLA’s recent 100th national championship demonstrates that the bar could not be set higher for athletic success in Westwood. A banner only goes up in Pauley for a national title, and most Bruins fans are disappointed without ultimate success.
But that does not mean that those UCLA programs that have never won a national crown have not contributed to the rich tradition of UCLA athletic excellence.
Despite the absence of titles for football, baseball and women’s basketball, these sports have provided a multitude of fond memories for Bruin fans and had athletes that have gone on to have a great impact in the professional sports world.
The Bruin football team, unable to add to the tally because football has not captured an NCAA title, has contributed in many other ways. UCLA has made 12 Rose Bowl appearances and has either won or shared the Pac-10 title 17 times. This year, the Bruin football team provided one of the greatest wins of the athletic season with an upset of crosstown rival USC, 13-9, thus ending the Trojans’ shot at another national title.
In addition to the wins that the football team has amassed over the years, Bruin players have gone on to the NFL and made quite an impact. UCLA has produced four Pro Football Hall of Famers, including the likes of Troy Aikman. Aikman played for the Dallas Cowboys and led the team to three Super Bowl victories and was elected to six Pro Bowls.
A former Bruin football star, running back Maurice Jones-Drew, made a name for himself this past season in the NFL with a tremendous rookie season for the Jacksonville Jaguars, both as a running back and kick returner. Jones-Drew amassed 2,250 all-purpose yards (941 rushing yards) and finished third in the NFL in kick-off return yards (27.3 yard average) and touchdowns (16). His 5.7 yards-per-carry average was the highest for a running back since Barry Sanders averaged 6.1 yards per carry for the Detroit Lions in 1997.
Another team that has yet to win a national championship is the Bruin baseball team. However, Bruin baseball has a rich tradition of sending players to the major leagues.
“UCLA is known for putting a large number of quality players into the major leagues,” shortstop Brandon Crawford said. “The last few years, there have been a lot of former Bruin players drafted by teams, and players continue to be drafted.”
Current and former major league players such as Troy Glaus, Dave Roberts, Garrett Atkins, Chase Utley, Eric Byrnes and Eric Karros started their careers at UCLA.
Bruin baseball has also produced arguably the most influential athlete of all time: Jackie Robinson. The man who broke the color barrier in baseball played college ball at UCLA and is honored with a stadium named after him. It is a source of great pride for the baseball team to be associated with the legacy and legend of Jackie Robinson.
“It is the utmost honor to be associated with UCLA baseball and with Jackie Robinson,” coach John Savage said.
“I feel privileged and very fortunate to be in the position I am in. We focus on sending players to the major leagues and to make the players into solid citizens. There is a lot of respect for the tradition and example that Jackie set and coach Gary Adams. We want to be an Omaha team and I think that we will be.”
The women’s basketball team has yet to raise a banner in Pauley Pavilion but still adds to the legacy of UCLA athletics.
This past year, Bruin basketball player Noelle Quinn was selected fourth overall in the WNBA Draft by the Minnesota Lynx, which is an indication of the high-quality athletes in the program.
Among other star players the women’s basketball team has had are Ann Meyers, the first four-time women’s basketball All-American, and Denise Curry, who set an unbelievable record of scoring in double figures in all 130 games she played while at UCLA.
The team has also made it to the NCAA Tournament eight times since 1983, reaching the Regional Semifinals three times and the Regional Finals once.
While these teams have yet to win a national title of their own, they have contributed greatly to the legacy of UCLA athletics and feel proud to attend the university with the most national titles in the nation.
“It is pretty awesome and sweet to be a part of a university with 100 national championships,” fifth-year baseball player Will Penniall said. “No other university can say that. It just shows you the high-caliber athletes that attend UCLA and it is awesome to be around those athletes. This record changes the atmosphere around UCLA.”
These teams prove that greatness is not always achieved through championships.