When the Bruins marched onto the field for the fourth quarter
this past Saturday, I was pleased that they decided to bring their
national championship look with them.
That look, of course, was the UCLA women’s water polo
team, standing on the opposite goal line while being recognized for
its NCAA title last May. It wasn’t much of a surprise, then,
that Drew Olson threw a touchdown pass to Michael Pitre while the
lady Bruins were still on the field, smiling and waving to the
crowd.
Success seems to follow the team wherever it goes, so on Sunday
afternoon I asked water polo coach Adam Krikorian whether the
athletic department had invited his team back to the Rose Bowl for
another appearance.
“Maybe they should if that is the case, but I don’t
think there was any correlation,” Krikorian said.
I told Krikorian I thought the football team could learn a few
things watching his Bruins, namely how to avoid letdowns against
weaker opponents. During its undefeated season a year ago, the
women’s water polo team faced its fair share of patsies and
doormats. But only three teams managed to get within two goals, and
none of them were purple or winless in conference play since
2003.
I tried picking Krikorian’s brain on whether there were
specific keys to staying sharp against less heralded schools, but
unfortunately the 31-year-old coach didn’t have a
super-secret solution.
“I wish I had an answer for that,” said Krikorian,
who has already won seven national titles, leading both the
men’s and women’s programs. “As a coach, you just
try different things, put pressure on athletes in practice, and
demand things, so hopefully when it comes game time the players are
ready.”
I’d like to think football coach Karl Dorrell does those
sorts of things, and that this past Saturday was just an
aberration. If it’s a matter of the players themselves not
responding, however, I suggested the women’s water polo team
step to the line of scrimmage next time things go sour.
“I wouldn’t mind, but I think they’ll be able
to take care of business,” goalkeeper Emily Feher
replied.
Though Dorrell can’t quite borrow Krikorian’s
players or provide any cure-all to prevent letdowns, I think he
could at least take something from his attitude after
victories.
Last week, the men’s water polo team scored a 10-5 win
against an overmatched Loyola Marymount squad in a game where
Krikorian acknowledged that his team seemed distracted. Rather than
applaud his team’s win despite struggling, he was first and
foremost frustrated.
“I was more disappointed than pleased at being able to win
while playing poorly,” Krikorian said.
Dorrell, on the other hand, was primarily encouraged by his
Bruins’ comeback over a slumping Washington program. His
players were happy to give the old “as long as we got the
win” mantra.
To a certain extent, they make good points. I can’t
remember the Bruins engineering a crucial late-game drive so well
since the Cade McNown days, and come December, it won’t
matter how poorly the Bruins played in this particular game.
But standing in the Bruin locker room after the victory on
Saturday night, I would have liked to observe a little more anger
from a team that was just one play away from seeing a promising
season fall by the wayside.
Championship-caliber teams aren’t supposed to take comfort
in squeaking out wins over lesser opponents. Maybe the Bruins
aren’t that type of team. Or maybe they just needed to taste
success in a nail-biter first.
In any case, it’s nice to know they don’t have to
look far to see a proven champion. On Saturday night, they just had
to stare into their backfield about 100 yards.
E-mail Finley at afinley@media.ucla.edu if you think both
water polo teams and men’s tennis should be recognized this
Saturday against Cal.