UCLA Football: Why The “Gutty Little Bruins” Need to Stay
By Rick Timmons
Sep 13, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns wide receiver
Marcus Johnson(7) flips over UCLA Bruins linebacker
Cameron Judge(4) during the first quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
You’ve heard it before if you follow UCLA Football; their nickname, that is. “The Gutty Little Bruins”, a name which UCLA took on following the 1965-66 season, has been all too negative in recent times. With a team lead by out-sized players at nearly every position, UCLA managed to knock off USC in 1965, and win the Rose Bowl that same season — on the first day of 1966. Their passion and success in beating USC and #1 Michigan State earned them respect that their physical appearance didn’t.
Some fans say “no more”, others say its “a thing of the past”, but those who know what it really means, know it needs to stay. As the Bruins played Texas this Saturday, September 13th, they exemplified what it means to be the Gutty Little Bruins. After Brett Hundley went down in the first quarter, and Jerry Neuheisel stepped in, each and every player who was suited up was reminded of one thing: they could get the job done. As the game progressed and lesser known players made more apparent plays, they had a swagger about them that kept them moving along. No longer was this team snapping the ball and simply looking back at Brett Hundley to make a play. Rather, they were taking matters into their own hands, ignoring the odds and beating Texas, in Texas, without their starting quarterback. That is what it means to be a Gutty Little Bruin.
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Even without starting saftey Randall Goforth, who separated his shoulder against Memphis a week prior to the Texas game, UCLA defenders stepped up. Jaleel Wadood was everywhere on every play, always coming away pumped up. Cameron Judge seemingly used the “Hit Stick”, and leveled a Longhorn on the punt return by Ismael Adams that set up the game winning touchdown pass from Jerry Neuheisel to Jordan Payton. Even Jalen Ortiz got in and made some plays.
All in all, the lesson learned from this game is that while UCLA moves to the top of the college football world, they need to put aside their uniform name of the Gutty Little Bruins, but to find that same success, they are gonna need some Gutty Little Bruins to come along for the ride. Some Gutty Little Bruins who play their hearts out on the field, like a young man named Nick Pasquale once embodied. Some Gutty Little Bruins, to play alongside some Gutty Big Bruins like Eric Kendricks and Myles Jack, and some Gutty Little Bruins who are willing to put it all on the line for the love of this beautiful sport.