If you haven't seen this video of the 1997 UCLA-$C game, here is another shot:

All I have to say is AMAZING. An amazing and spirited Cade McNown who dominated the game, easily averting 4-5 sacks only to make BIG plays instead.  HUGE plays. This is the last time we beat the TrOJies in the Coliseum, a whole 12 years ago (embarrassingly enough).   In this clip you'll see a very pumped up Bruin team coming out of the tunnel, a team in the middle of a TWENTY (yes, you read correctly) game winning streak (1997-98) in addition to one of the better backs in our history who is often forgotten:  Skip Hicks!  This was win # 7 in the eight-game winning streak against $C.  That was a solid-solid team that got into SC's head as the years went by... We should have won 10-in-a-row against these clowns.  In case you don't remember, Cade never lost to U$C...

therefore WE SUMMON THE SPIRIT OF CADE onto Kevin Prince. May a NEW streak commence tonight!

Go Bruins!

Bumped. Here is Rahim and co. bringing Christmas home early tonight. GO BRUINS. -N

Photo Credit: Telemachus

Ok, the day has arrived.  The day some of us wait for all year long. For me, I almost feel like a 6-year old again on Xmas morning.  Why? Because the thought of having the chance to beat these guys is upon us... and if we do, man, those bragging rights, that bell, that Bruin pride feels so good, so very fulfilling.  That being said, as diehards, we should expect to win tonight and ultimately shouldn't be surprised if we pull it off. That's not just wishful thinking here, because this isn't the same TrOJan team of 2005 or 2006 which vied for the national championship both times.

Fact is, this is an OVERRATED $C team that's already lost three times (twice in abysmal fashion).  The fact that this will be played at the Coliseum should simply be MORE of a motivator for our team. So, how/why can we beat the TrOJies??

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Heard that?? Listen carefully.  That THUD (!) you just heard is the impact heard across the Pac-10 today.  U$C just hit the turf, and they hit it HARD.  That sound is called parity, as in near-parity between the Bruins and Trojans.  I'm trying not to get ahead of myself here, as we still have to play ASU next week before we face $C on the 28th, but it's hard not to look ahead at what will be a great showdown between a program that is coming back down to Earth after a long and successful run (thanks to a lot of help, thanks to Cheaty Petey's ways... but I digress) and another program that is on its way up (US).  Point is, momentum is now on our side to possibly win out.  SC now finds itself quite demoralized, probably playing for nothing but pride at this point, and/or for probably a meaningless bowl game.  We, on the other hand, could very well be playing towards a 7-5 and possibly 8-5 season...  After being 3-5 two weeks ago, could any of us have predicted the mere POSSIBILITY of such a finish? Raise your hands if you even fathomed the thought. Hard to believe we could have this kind of momentum after beating both Washington schools, but regardless of that fact, the Bruins are a team on the rise, a young team discovering itself, and more importantly, a team that has finally realized its QB is the real deal (!). 

Fellow Bruins, we have a lot to be excited about, not just for what remains this season, but possibly even the next three years!. The way Kevin Prince is playing right now, we have a shot at winning out this year. And that would make for a very successful 2009.

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Bumped. GO BRUINS. -N

Like everyone else on this site, I have been LIVID the last 36 hours.  My worst fears when we were 3-0 (WAY back when) have been realized.  Back then, when I looked at the schedule and saw that we had three tough games ahead, for a split second I thought '3-3'.  I was ashamed to think it then, but here we are, about a month later, staring at a four-game losing streak (an out-of-control 3-4 record) and a potential three or four more losses in 2009.  I hated being pessimistic in that one instant, but that is, I suppose, what a culture of mediocrity breeds (the last few years -- a handful of Donahue years too):  Doubt.

That being said, however, I believe we still should look at this season, and Neuheisel's focus on turning this thing around, with a bit of perspective.  We are very very young and extremely inexperienced and that has less to do with what Coach Neuheisel is doing than with the program he inherited, which as we know -- especially now -- was an absolute mess. This isn't to say we should excuse CRN entirely, there have been a few questionable decisions made by CRN thus far in addition to more than a few concerns that I believe start with the head coach (platooning three QB's? a seemingly less-than-passionate approach to a few games? an inconsistent and undisciplined Defense?) 

After this past Saturday's loss in the desert (yet again -- when was the last time we actually won in Tucson??), I have forced myself to take a step back, look at the big picture and not panic.  I took the time to read most of the posts here at Bruins Nation and the overall theme and mood is obviously utter frustration. Who can blame us?? We seem to be mired in a perpetual black hole of medocrity, with nothing on the horizon to provide us with any kind of hope. It's gotten so bad that we're even looking at NEXT year's schedule, and already making dire predictions (0-3? 1-6?). Let's acknowledge, however, without making any excuses, that our team is ridiculously young, green, in every sense of the word. I think that can only mean that we can only go up from here, as crazy as that sounds.  We need to remember a few things, however...

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This is a slight reiteration of UCLA 13_USC 9's post ('Past, Present, Future: A Quick Outline' )yesterday (5 Oct.)  Great points, all of them. But I'm going to add a few here, and in the process, raise the bar a bit and go out on a limb and say we should EXPECT our Bruins to win this week against Oregon at the Rose Bowl.  If that happens, we have every reason to believe we're now in the upper echelon of the Pac-10, and on our way to that status nationally.

Now, don't get me wrong, I am a realist most of the time and like many of you --deep down -- probably believe a 7-6 season (8-4?) along with a Bowl invite (and subsequent Bowl win) would be a success.  I think most of us are in agreement there.  Anything sub-.500  would be all-too-reminiscent of the Dorrell era and would leave us enormously frustrated, so naturally, at worst, 7-6 is somewhat acceptable given the parity that exists in the Pac-10 today. Most of us think that our return to greatness should occur incrementally -- that is, after all, what Coach Neuheisel has preached and what any sensible fan should expect, esp. after a 4-8 season, with a very young team. 

However, IF we win on Saturday, there is an awful lot of damage we can do the remainder of the year and it will send a strong message to the rest of the conference. If Kevin Prince returns this weekend -- and all indications are that he will -- this game becomes that much more vital to the team and to the season.

Why is this game so important?

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Bumped. GO BRUINS. - N

Yes, the immediate reaction this morning to the temporary loss of Prince is disheartening -- to say the least. The kid was doing very well; he may not have been lighting it up statistically but he was indeed leading and he wasn't committing major mistakes that were giving games away. This, after not having played since high school two entire years ago.  The kid earned the starting job and now he has to deal with this injury. Sad and definitely not what we needed, esp. after two solid wins. However, with this loss comes new opportunity for this young team.

We have no choice but to move on and focus on KSU this Saturday. And that means true Frosh Brehaut should be at the helm. The kid is our #2 guy and left h.s. early to get here, and he's extremely talented. We may very well discover that he's even better than Barkley over at $C (who looks like he's about 13, by the way).  

Brehaut and our team will be better off by getting some time to play together. Given how injury prone our QBs have been in recent years (due to bad luck and not necessarily poor recruiting, at least I would say), it is probably a good thing that our #2 guy get some experience, esp. against Kansas State and at home, no less. This will also allow us to at the very least TRY to re-establish a solid running game -- if anything it looks like we have some pretty good talent back there once again in Franklin, Knox and Coleman (if Moline can stay healthy, maybe we can add him to the list as well). 

Norm Chow is probably the perfect guy to have in our corner during times like these, because he's such a great teacher (as is Coach Rick).  There was one scene during the game on Sat. where Coach Neuheisel was animated on the sidelines talking to all THREE of his QBs on the sideline... he was involving all of them and he looked genuinely like a teacher, like a counselor, almost like a big brother (Dorrell never looked that interested whenever on the sidelines, as you all recall -- night and day comparison with Coach N.), exhibiting patience, emphasis, and just genuine passion. It was great!  These next few weeks, I am certain, Chow will take some time to cultivate a real learning environment and set up a gameplan where our next QB will be allowed to move cautiously, but smartly, as he attempts to guide the team.

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Bumped. GO BRUINS. -N

Now that we're 2-0 and have momentum on our side -- esp. as we face a team like Kansas St. -- it is VITAL that we take one game at a time. Yes, that means taking KSU seriously next week, even if we are at home and even if
KSU lost today to the likes of Louisiana-Lafayette.  Next week is important because it allows us to do the following:   1) win a game and pad our stats; 2)  win a game in SERIOUS fashion, and that means taking them to the cleaners, by pretending this is SC or Cal or some other tough team we'll be facing; 3)  creates a setting  where Prince and our bevy of sophomores and freshmen can gain some added confidence.

If we take KSU lightly, we may lose our momentum, and God forbid, we may even lose. These types of upsets happen all the time. 

After beating TN, we may even crack the top 25 this week... that's important for our program... if we build this type of momentum, this not only helps recruiting, but it begins to build this one-game-at-a-time momentum we need... our schedule won't get any easier as we enter conference play where anyone can unseat anyone on any given Saturday.

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Why so obvious?  

1- Not just head coaching experience, but SUCCESSFUL head coaching experience -- both at the college and pro levels.

2- He's young and EXPERIENCED, (as opposed to what Dorrell was or what Dwayne Walker is).

3- He's an alum who brings fire (possibly MORE fire) than that idiot at U$C. He wasn't just a receiver, but a leading, successful QB who reached the pinnacle as a Bruin player (barring a national championship).

4- He has an offensive mindset that's been missing from Westwood for YEARS. He could have lit this program up had Donahue not ignored him years back.

5- He's made mistakes and can reasonably argue he's learned from them. We all commit errors and most of us learn lessons from these very errors every day of our lives. Here, we have a SEASONED Rick Neuheisel who knows not to repeat the transgressions from his past. That's a commodity, NOT a LIABILITY! Plus, it's already been noted and proven (in court, no less) that his past errors weren't all that bad to begin with. Arguably less controversial than Harrick's indiscretions. If anything, a coach with Neuheisel's past almost ensures we have a clean program in the future. Also, RN isn't dumb. He'd be stupid to try anything fishy, esp. since he'd be living out his dream job.

6- He WANTS TO COACH FOR US (remind you of Howland somewhat?)!

7- As Bruin Blue, Nestor and others on this blog have noted, his record speaks for itself:

'His teams have finished in the Top Ten three times in his eight years.  He has played in three BCS games, winning them all. He has a Pac-10 winning record of 23-9,.  He won all four Apple Cup games against rival Washington State.'  

If that's not convincing, I don't know what is.

8- A little bit of flair, of independence, is important and it goes a long, long way. Do we want some lackey who kisses the chancellor's and the AD's ass? I don't see Neuheisel doing this ever...  This type of independence, this type of verve will attract top-notch recruits.

9- He's a player's coach. Troy Aikman, who was successful at UCLA and enormously successful in the NFL knows what he's saying. Aikman rarely speaks out on such matters, if he's recommending RN, the administration should listen.

10-  Leach? June Jones? C'mon, who are we kidding! Texas Tech and Hawaii?  Al Golden at TEMPLE?  Mike Riley? John Harbaugh? Norm Chow? Neuheisel is a steal compared to all of these... Last I checked Hawaii is still not a football powerhouse... Bellotti might have been the only reasonable alternative... Other than that, we're hanging on to the only negative on RN's resume... focus on what is important here. We're about to let a gem slip away because our priorities are misplaced. Hire Rick Neuheisel!

Plaschke's article in today's LA Times emphasizes this lack of a priority given ucla football. Terry Donahue's quote says it best, and exemplifies what is wrong with our program, our history and the thinking that has been engrained in our collective psyche for decades.

Says Donahue:  "'USC is the football school, UCLA is the basketball school, we all know that," Donahue said before pausing. 'But UCLA is still a great institution that can get great players from across the country.'"  

That, fellow alums is what's wrong with UCLA football.

This supposed inferiority complex that LA Times beat writers and everyone else ascribe to us. USC may have more championships in football, but some of us don't EXPECT it EVER to be that way. I for one don't have an inferiority complex.

If we hire Neuheisel now, it'll be the first step in forever vanquishing that supposed $C shadow looming over us. We may be tired of alums right now thanks to Dorrell, but here's one alum that could take us to the promised land. To me, it's simply crystal clear, I don't understand why DG doesn't see it that way.

For this reason, I say again... the Obvious pick:  Rick Neuheisel.  

That's right, START OSAAR RASSHAN at QB this Saturday...!

Already, Dorrell is proving our point, that he simply is not a good coach and that he should be gone come Monday, 3 December.

He's about to play Ben Olson or Pat Cowan... two hobbled players at the moment if there ever were any. Ben isn't mobile because his knee is tender. He's supposed to stand in the pocket and deliver against a heavy $C pass rush how? By throwing to our healthy receiving corps ???(oh, that's right, they're also hurt... and/or underperforming) He didn't fare too well against `mighty' Notre Dame, arguably one of the worst teams in the COUNTRY and he's supposed to give us a better chance to win against one of the better (or hottest at the moment) defenses in the country on THEIR home turf? Again, HOW is this supposed to happen??

Don't get me wrong, I like Ben (SPJ), but he's clearly not healthy and Dorrell is risking his long-term health by possibly throwing him out there against a hungry SC defense at home. Sure, Ben did `ok' against Oregon at the Rose Bowl Saturday - against a demoralized Oregon D no less - his ability to generate something was clear, but even that was limited.

But completing 40% of your passes, for a mere 60 yards in one HALF with no TDs and one pick isn't gonna cut it against $Cum... Yes, kudos to Ben for showing up, for being ready to take the reins, but in reality, let's not kid ourselves, he probably shouldn't have played and definitely shouldn't this Saturday.

Next? Pat Cowan!  Nope. We can't let him play. Yes, he's one of the few catalysts we have, for that alone he should be allowed to play, but in reality SHOULD he play? No. He's also NOT HEALTHY. This kid has heart, he's beaten SC already, somehow he manages to bring life to this vaunted `West Coast' offense (utter the phrase `west coast offense' with as much seriousness as you can muster), but is it likely he'll be able to do so against the Spoiled Children Trojans? No. He's had not one, not two, but THREE injuries this season. All serious for a QB who is as mobile as he is. Cowan's first two injuries were serious, but he was able to come back because he was needed. He wasn't healthy either time he returned, but he did. His third injury? A collapsed lung.  This isn't a strained calf or tight back, this affects his breathing. This kid was in the ER three weeks ago! And Dorrell is considering throwing him in there against SC's defense?  Is he nuts? That alone should be grounds for firing KD.

Cowan, God bless him, is one hit away from being back in the ER. One vicious hit, a blindsided hit by an $C LB and he's done. Why jeopardize him for next year or even his own health?  Don't get me wrong, if Cowan is cleared by UCLA doctors, then I guess it's reasonable... but this kid doesn't deserve the beating he COULD get if he plays. For what? To save Dorrell's season?

My point? Yes, play Rasshan!

I've read a couple accounts already that Rasshan was held back on Saturday against the Ducks. Sure, he was 0 for seven with one pick. He was allowed to run once, I believe, gaining one of the two first downs the Bruins got in the first half... Why did KD and that 'lethal' Off. Coordinator of his unleash this kid and let him run?  He's a weapon now, primarily because he's a virtual unknown. Look at what he almost did against AZ? Look at what he did against ASU? Those were the first two games he's ever PLAYED at this level... he had never touched the ball prior to Nov. 2007 in two years in the program! Now he's being hung out to dry because he didn't complete a pass in one half on Saturday?  Not because he couldn't but because they likely didn't design plays for him... The kid is talented on SOME level AND, he's HEALTHY.  He's also a mystery to the opponent, SC in this case.

At this point, we don't have healthy or stellar receivers ready to catch passes anywhere and everywhere on the field.  Our two starters are hurt and IMMOBILE.  Our defense is a good one, but we can't count on them to shut down SC for a second year in a row, not the way this D has played (inconsistently) all year. They may show up, they may not. Or, they may simply be unmanned or outplayed. We have to come up with some type of `weapon' some type of `look' on offense. Our running game (also hobbled, surprise surprise) can probably hold its own for a bit, but it won't be able to dominate the game in any way.  The leadership, the victory can only come from the QB position, and the only ONE who MIGHT be able to do something is Osaar Rasshan.  Think a young Donovan McNabb, Kordell Stewart in his prime, or even a seasoned Dennis Dixon up at Oregon. Rasshan hasn't been given the real opportunity to let it fly... why not give it to him now? Who in their right mind thinks SPJ can deliver a win this Saturday? Not me. Cowan? Maybe, but why risk his health?

A couple years ago (2003), I remember seeing not Ben, but DREW Olson play against SC... he was getting CREAMED on every play, and he was about as mobile (even when healthy) as that Tommy Trojan statue on the SUC campus. It was sad to watch. Go on U-tube and re-live that horrible 2003 loss at the Coliseum, where the score was 40-2 by the third quarter, when young Drew couldn't get a damn thing done against a defense having fun with him, literally toying with him. That will be the current Ben Olson this Saturday.  Pat Cowan will be able to limp his way out of the pocket, but what happens when he gets drilled? Or can't go downfield because the coverage is tight?

Play Osaar this Saturday. We may be in for some type of surprise... if anything platoon him and bring him in for lots of gimmick plays just to keep Petey and his thugs somewhat confused.

At this point, KD has nothing to lose, he may as well let his most healthy but unproven (meaning there's LOTS to still prove) QB play. If he sucks that badly, yank him after the half and try something else. To NOT play OR just because Olson and Cowan are barely `healthy' is simply wrong... no, it's dumb and it's selfish of a coach, who is arguably on his way out to do so.

BEAT $C!!! Go Bruins!.

We have to Beat SC next week, not to prove we can beat them because of Dorrell, but IN SPITE of Dorrell.

Clearly, this season has been wasted (even if we do make it to the Rose Bowl, because our expectations were much higher this season, that cannot be denied by any of us)... the lackluster BYU victory, the Utah embarrassment, the Notre Dame debacle, and of course the losses to Wazzu, AZ, and a vastly overrated ASU team. Yes, we managed to beat Cal and Oregon, but they too have proven to be mediocre, Cal certainly, Oregon probably less so because they got hit hard by the injury bug to some of their best players on their roster... and, wins against Stanford, OSU, and Washington were nothing really special.

It's hard to give credit to Pac-10 teams for being so 'competitive' (or is it a case that our conference is ripe with chokers, sure, parity too, but more like INCONSISTENCY, more so than any other division in football??)... we've proven to be the quintessential Pac-10 program in 2007:  chokers!

The status of the Pac-10 is more of a reason for Dorrell to have blossomed this year, esp. with 20+ returning seniors... Given the weaknesses of SUC, Oregon, ASU (as always) and Cal (somewhat surprising choke, but then again, it IS Cal), this really should have been THE YEAR we cleaned house and shined the spotlight on ourselves, on our program, across the country. Instead we're an oh-so-mediocre 6-5 heading into SC week. That alone is reason enough to hire a new coach, and move the program in a new direction -- injuries or not.  

That being said, we have to beat SC next week. We spoiled their national championship hopes last year (yes, we can now admit it was a game for the ages, again, not because of Dorrell, but in spite of him), we should do so head-on this year by spoiling their potential Rose Bowl appearance. Whatever the seniors decided on today against the Ducks, they have to do again NEXT week against $C.

they need to play the highlights of last year's game and do something to motivate one another.
They can beat SC if they really want to, it's certainly not out of the question.

But let's not let the 'Dorrell factor' affect the fact that we want SC to lose BADLY.