Amid the sullied towels, empty bottles and tattered bandages
strewn across the locker room floor, the atmosphere in UCLA’s
locker room was eerily familiar. Not a word was spoken, not an
eyebrow was lifted. It was a numbing sensation they’ve only
experienced twice.
Maurice Drew, who was still fully padded with his helmet on well
after the game was over, sat isolated in the corner. UCLA coach
Karl Dorrell came over to put his head on his star running
back’s helmet after the 66-19 lashing by the hands of
crosstown rival USC on Saturday.
As the game wore on, Trojans fans began heckling Bruin players
on the sideline. A stoic Marcus Cassel could only gaze backwards.
His face pained; it was the look of defeat.
Sapped was the Bruins’ heart after each crowd-booming
rendition of “UCLA sucks” and “Overrated.”
Depleted were the Bruins as they walked off through the Coliseum
tunnel with their heads down as the remaining sold-out crowd of
92,000 cheered in jubilation.
“I didn’t play good, no one played good. It was a
group effort,” said senior quarterback Drew Olson, who led
the nation in passing efficiency going into the game but completed
just 14 of 32 passes. “The way we played today, it’s
tough because you never want to end your season like
this.”
“It hurts like hell,” added sophomore running back
Chris Markey.
Especially for the seniors, falling to the Trojans was even more
disheartening. USC (12-0, 8-0 Pac-10) has now extended its
head-to-head winning streak against UCLA (9-2, 6-2) to seven.
Adding salt to the Bruins’ exposed wound is the fact that
the margin of defeat was the third largest since 1930 when the
Bruins faced the Trojans for the second time in the rivalry, losing
52-0.
It wasn’t supposed to happen that way. Not in that
fashion. Not with this 17th-ranked Bruin team that had more than
just the city of Westwood behind them. There was hope. There was
the possibility of bringing down a winning streak that now stands
at 34 and sharing the Pac-10 Championship. But that was all dashed
as the Trojans will be smelling roses and have the possibility of
becoming three-peat national champions on Dec. 4 against Texas.
“Any loss hurts especially when you lose by this
much,” Cassel said. “It hurts a little more because
it’s a rival game. And senior year, you don’t want to
lose like that.
“I think it makes it harder because we’ve had a lot
of expectations this year and when you don’t get them,
especially when you started off so well and things are going to
plan and in Arizona (where UCLA lost 52-14), it’s hard. It
puts a damper on things because you expected so much this
season.”
Shades of the debacle against the Wildcats were more than
apparent in the Bruins’ final regular-season game. They were
out-played and out-coached, UCLA coach Karl Dorrell admitted.
“They got us out of rhythm, and we were never able to
execute our game plan,” he said. “I fully take the
blame.”
The game got ugly really quick.
Already down 17-0 at the start of the second quarter, UCLA
freshman Kahlil Bell fumbled on a punt return. It was recovered by
Trojan’s linebacker Rey Maualuga, who caused two fumbles on
the day and eventually led to a touchdown.
Olson was not his usual self because of the Trojan defense. USC
sophomore defensive end Lawrence Jackson sacked Olson three times,
one of which forced a fumble and was recovered by freshman
linebacker Brian Cushing with 13:59 in the third quarter. More
ill-fortune struck the Bruins when Drew coughed up the ball on
kick-off return and senior cornerback Justin Wyatt scooped it up
for USC and returned it 38 yards for the touchdown.
After the touchdown, the Bruins were down 45-6. At that point,
it wasn’t about winning. It was about saving face.
Dorrell gathered his players on the sideline in a huddle and
began pounding his chest. Players said it was about heart. It was
about not giving up. More than anything, Dorrell was trying to send
the message that he wanted his team to play for respect.
“He said to keep fighting and play with pride and keep
playing,” senior linebacker Justin London said.
“Never in my time here have I had issues with players
quitting,” senior safety Jarrad Page said. “But
sometimes coaches just feel the need to (rally the players), and
they do it.”
The 21,000 UCLA fans began emptying out as quickly as
USC’s lead grew. By the fourth quarter the Trojans’
lead ballooned to 46.
On a day where USC quarterback Matt Leinart struggled mightily
in the first half, the Trojan running back corps of Reggie Bush and
LenDale White ran over a dilapidated Bruin defense. Bush racked up
228 rushing yards by halftime. He finished with 260 total yards and
two touchdowns. Junior White had 154 yards, most of which came in
the second half, and 3 touchdowns.
To say the least, UCLA could not stop the run.
“We had their receivers locked up and they weren’t
catching any passes and the little bit of stuff they did catch,
they were fortunate to get,” Cassel said. “Yeah, we
knew they would come back to their bread and butter which was the
run. We kept telling ourselves we just have to stop the run, but we
never got around to it.”
To entertain themselves during the lopsided game, Bruin fans
began picking apart pieces of their pompoms. The fans didn’t
have anything to cheer about until the final four minutes of play
when the Bruins, who came in as the fifth-best scoring offense in
the nation at 40 points per game, scored their first touchdown on a
15-yard run by Drew.
After UCLA’s touchdown, USC fans stood up and gave the
Bruins a standing ovation.
It was disheartening for Drew, but he still kept his faith.
“We never felt it was over,” said Drew, who rushed
for 89 yards. “I played and stayed until the end. I’m
not going to quit. The competitor in you doesn’t allow you
to.”
The Bruins are in no rosy mood with how their regular season has
ended. Asked if this diminishes the year UCLA has accomplished thus
far, senior tight end Marcedes Lewis was quick to squash that.
“Hell no. We’re going to finish strong and get our
10th win and finish with a great season.”