STANFORD “”mdash; UCLA football coach Rick Neuheisel stood at the entrance to his team’s tunnel after the Bruins dropped a 45-19 decision to Stanford on Saturday at Stanford Stadium.
Most players that walked by him were somber, heads hanging low after suffering their second double-digit loss in three weeks, but Neuheisel’s mood was anything but down. He was putting a finger in the chest of many of his players, clapping his hands and telling them to keep believing that they’re going to get better.
“We played one of the better teams in our conference tonight, and I thought we gave them a heck of a fight,” Neuheisel said. “I’m not satisfied by any stretch of the imagination, but I’m going to keep pounding on these guys that we’re not far away.”
Neuheisel’s Bruins are now 2-3 after staying in the game for longer than many anticipated against Stanford’s Heisman Trophy hopeful, quarterback Andrew Luck. The Bruins were within two scores until early in the fourth quarter, but it was first quarter that set the tone for the rest of the game.
UCLA took the opening kick and marched the ball down the field in 13 plays to set up a first-and-goal from the Stanford 4-yard line. Four running plays later ““ the last of which saw junior quarterback Richard Brehaut try to dive over the pile and into the end zone ““ the Bruins had turned the ball over to Luck and the Cardinal.
“I’ve just got to find a way to get in there,” Brehaut said. “It would have been a whole different ball game. If we can do that, we’re up 7-0, and we’re in control.”
Instead, Luck was in control. He led Stanford on a 99-yard touchdown drive to end the first quarter and establish the No. 6 Cardinal’s (4-0) dominance.
“There were multiple times on that drive where we know we could have got off the field, but we just blew an assignment or did something wrong. It’s going to happen, especially with Andrew Luck,” senior linebacker Sean Westgate said.
UCLA was left to play catchup the rest of the evening. The Bruin defense finally forced its first punt midway through the third quarter, but the offense wasn’t able to take advantage. Another three-and-out for the Cardinal looked to be setting UCLA up with another chance.
The usually sure-handed punt returner, senior Taylor Embree, fumbled the punt. Stanford’s Ty Montgomery hopped on it, giving Luck another short field, which he turned into six points to make it 31-13.
“When I first looked downfield, it looked open, and by the time I realized it, it was too late to make a fair catch,” said Embree, who has made a reputation for calling for a fair catch.
“It was crucial because we are in the game and we’ve scored two times in a row as an offense,” Neuheisel added. “It was an absolute terrible place for that to happen.”
UCLA would add another touchdown on a 7-yard run from redshirt senior Josh Smith, but Luck countered with one of his own to keep the game out of reach.
The Bruins are now 1-1 in Pac-12 play, but if Neuheisel gets his wish, the Bruins will respond. After all, they’ve done it already by beating Oregon State after getting blown out by Texas.
“To try to quit or even have that thought go in your head this early in the season is ridiculous,” redshirt junior defensive end Damien Holmes said. “I know the guys on this team. I know the mindset they have, and I know that’s not what they’re thinking.”