The Bruins resuscitated their season with a 30-21 win over the previously 10th-ranked Cal Bears at the Rose Bowl last week. It was impressive.
But now they better not blow it by losing either of their next two games.
It would be nice if there was a little more sophistication or subtlety to that opinion; however, there really is no other way to put it. If the Bruins (5-2, 4-0 Pac-10) don’t beat up on the conference’s two bottom feeders ““ Washington State (2-5, 0-4) this Saturday, and Arizona (2-6, 1-4) the following week ““ then the upset over the Bears was meaningless.
One can’t help but get the feeling that the UCLA coaches have beaten that message into the psyche of their players this week. The theme of the week is strong yet simple: Don’t take all that you’ve earned with the Cal win and throw it away with a hangover loss to Washington State.
It wouldn’t be much of an issue, except that this program has a recent history of losing dreadfully winnable games.
“We know that, traditionally, after we win a big game, we lose the next one that’s not so big,” senior defensive end Bruce Davis said. “We’re going to break that habit.”
Junior running back Kahlil Bell put it best ““ and most graphically: “We are right where we want to be, undefeated in the Pac-10, but we know we have to focus on these next two games so we don’t piss it down our legs.”
If you think about all the upsets that have thrown college football into a chaotic free fall this year, you might have a physical reaction if you consider that UCLA would certainly be ranked No. 2 in the country had it not laid an egg against Utah or Notre Dame. That should be more than enough motivation to avoid a third letdown this year.
“It’s the job of the seniors to keep the energy level up so we don’t have any kind of a letdown,” Davis said. “I’m going to take on the responsibility to keep us focused so we don’t slip up.
“We know what people think and we relish in the opportunity to prove them wrong. We see “College GameDay” with Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit and hear those guys say that we always lose a game we shouldn’t after a big win. We know what is said about us, and it’s up to us to show them they’re wrong.”
It’s difficult to get an accurate reading on the Bruins this year. On one hand, they are one of only nine BCS conference schools to remain unbeaten in conference play. On the other hand, it is the only team that has been beaten up by Notre Dame, and that was at home. Despite all of the embarrassment of the Notre Dame and Utah losses, the Bruins still sit in a very opportune position.
If they can take care of business against Washington State and Arizona, they’ll be unbeaten in Pac-10 play heading into a dangerous trifecta against Arizona State, Oregon and USC to finish off the year. However, those last three games are not as treacherous as they look. ASU might have a sparkling No. 7 ranking in the polls, but it has not played a single team of consequence yet. The Sun Devils could have two losses by the time they play the Bruins. Does anybody really think that the Sun Devils should be favored against the Bruins in the Rose Bowl?
Oregon is probably the best team in the Pac-10 at the moment, but UCLA gets them in the Rose Bowl, which is something of a safe haven for Karl Dorrell teams.
And USC? Who knows what to expect in that rivalry game? If UCLA could pull off the upset last year against a much more explosive Trojans offense, there’s no reason to think this year’s game won’t at least be competitive.
If the Bruins win the next two games, this year would be the first time in Dorrell’s tenure in Westwood that his club would be the prohibitive favorite to win the Pac-10 title. In the life of a football coach, what a difference one week makes.
But it will all depend upon these next two road games ““ the type of games that conference champions win easily, even if they are on the road.
“It’s in our hands,” senior cornerback Trey Brown said. “One (way) or another, we control our season from here on out. That’s what you want.”
E-mail de Jong at adejong@media.ucla.edu.