It will not matter that UCLA will be huge underdogs on Saturday.
It will not matter that nobody expects them to defeat a No. 5-ranked Trojan squad.
It will not matter that most people see UCLA as USC’s stepping stone to yet another Rose Bowl appearance.
In the back of the Bruins’ minds, they all know one thing.
It can be done.
Because, after all, two years ago it was.
When nobody thought it was possible, the Bruins knocked off then-No. 2 USC, 13-9, and denied them a shot at the championship game. It is an experience that is sure to be in many of the Bruins minds as they take the field one more time.
“We were underdogs two years ago,” junior wide receiver Terrance Austin said. “We proved them wrong.”
Once again, a January bowl game will be on the line for USC (10-1, 7-1 Pac-10) while the Bruins (4-7, 3-5) have no postseason to play for this season. But this time, it’s different. The precedent has been set.
The Bruins have “13-9″ in their back pocket.
“We have the confidence now,” Austin said. “We know that it’s been done before and we can do it again.”
They will be faced with another tough task against the Trojans this time around, with USC’s high-powered defense looking to be the strongest unit the Bruins have faced all year.
UCLA has no intention of attempting to pull the wool over their own eyes in regards to that challenge.
“On that defense, there’s probably four or five first-round draft picks,” Austin said. “It’s a given. They make them well over there at ‘SC.”
The Trojans have given up an unheard-of 7.8 points per game, which would rank them as the best scoring defense in at least a decade. They’ve allowed 10 touchdowns on the season and only 86 points.
But all the stats in the world do not matter. Most of the Bruins on this team experienced the 2006 upset, some of them were recruits, but all of them know that however unlikely, there’s still a chance.
“History isn’t devoid of games where somebody who’s a deep underdog has found a way to get one more point,” coach Rick Neuheisel said. “It isn’t as though we have to reshape the world. This is football and things happen.
“We understand the odds are long but we also like to get the chance to play.”
Although Neuheisel is most concerned with not turning the ball over, which the Bruins have done 15 times in their past four games, he also hinted at opening up the playbook.
“There’s no reason to leave anything on the shelf,” Neuheisel said.
Maybe that means the Bruins have some tricks up their sleeves for Saturday’s contest or maybe it’s just coach-speak. But for the defense, which has been behind the eight-ball most of the season due to the offense’s struggles, it doesn’t change anything when preparing for an offense that tacks up over 450 yards per game.
“They have some weapons,” said defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker, before listing every offensive position except the line. “We’re going to have our hands full, no doubt about it.”
Like two years ago, the defense is the strength of this Bruin team. They’ve given up only 13 points in the past two games and confidence seems to be at a season high.
“We’re rolling right now on defense,” redshirt senior defensive tackle Brigham Harwell said. “We’re finally executing. We’ve clicked.”
The Bruins will need that to continue on Saturday if they are to stand a chance, but UCLA’s biggest weapon may very well be mental. With 13-9 in their minds, there’s a different attitude and a different approach heading into Saturday’s bout that few expect to be close.
“You don’t always have to be the best team,” Austin said. “You just got to be the best team on that day.”
And on Saturday, the Bruins will have one more opportunity to prove just that.
“This is what you dream about when you come to UCLA,” Neuheisel said.