EUGENE, Ore. ““ The UCLA football team is back in Los Angeles by now, but some of us California folks are still lingering up here in the northwest like its trademark eternal fog. Here are some notes to remember from the Bruins’ trip-to-forget, which ended in a 60-13 loss to the Ducks of Oregon:
Dan talks division
Before the game, UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero spoke to the L.A. media crew in a press box hallway to discuss the Pac-12 division announcement.
“You have two conferences out there in the SEC and the Big Ten that sort of raised the bar for everyone,” Guerrero said. “We have one shot at it and it’s time for us to make our play and this is the best way to do that.”
Guerrero seemed pleased with all the results of the conference’s most recent negotiations, as he should be, considering it appears the Southern California schools got their choice version of each of the various scenarios. One stipulation guarantees the Bruins and Trojans a bonus if the conference does not live up to its financial billing.
“We’re very grateful that the conference recognized the value of the Los Angeles schools and the Southern California market,” he said. “It was important that we conveyed that throughout the entire process. The feeling was always that at some point when the conference hits the mother lode, if you will, or was able to obtain blockbuster status in our new negotiation in our new TV deal, that we would move towards equal revenue sharing, and in fact, that’s where it will eventually end up.”
Interestingly, all of UCLA’s games so far this year have come against the new Pac-12 North and the result is a 1-3 record and an average of 39.5 points given up per game. Sounds like the Bruins will enjoy staying in the sunny south.
No getting over the numbers
It’s almost Halloween, so here are some gory stats about the loss:
-This was UCLA’s worst loss to Oregon in the long history of the series between the schools.
-The last time the Bruins got tagged for 60 points was also the last time they tried to topple a top-ranked team. Back in 2005, the hated Trojans laid out a 66-19 final score.
-Not a stat exactly, but a nearly prophetic quote from UCLA junior safety Rahim Moore after his team’s 35-7 loss at California on Oct. 9: “This is probably the best I’ve seen Oregon play since I’ve been watching them. If we don’t get our stuff together, they’ll put 70 points on us. So it’s a tough manhood test for us in two weeks.”
Ducks shine in all dimensions
Someone from ESPN set up a television in the Autzen Stadium press box that projected its new 3D channel, on which the UCLA-Oregon game was televised. You might think it a bit ridiculous to grab your 3D glasses before settling in to watch a game, but it definitely has a “wow” factor, to use the scientific terminology.
Bruin Sights does not officially endorse any ESPN products, but if anyone wants to buy one of those sets to watch some sports, we will supply the chips and guacamole. Maybe pick a better game though.
Even in two dimensions, the Duck crowd’s “yellow out” was an impressive display of fandom, the spirit of which we don’t see that much in Pasadena, these days at least. Next door to Autzen is the school’s brand new baseball field, PK Park. An overflow of fans had gathered there in the outfield grass with blankets and sleeping bags to watch the game on the big screen in centerfield. The school and the city of Eugene are certainly enraptured with their football team, but with an offense as exciting to watch as Oregon’s, it’s easy to see why.
The No. 1 ranking helps with the appreciation as well.