UCLA Beats Texas, but Bruin’s Psyche is the Big Winner
No one is blaming UCLA for this one… After an amazing gut check victory for UCLA in which everyone’s favorite blonde surfer/QB brought the team back from the brink, a tough 20-17 win over the Texas Longhorns may have been exactly what the Bruins needed going forward in 2014.
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Now don’t get me wrong, I flew to Texas fully expecting a Bruin blowout of 1997 proportions. After two less than spectacular wins and two weeks of dropping in the polls, I wanted to see these Bruins dominate a down and out Texas team. However, as soon as Brett Hundley hyper extended his elbow in the 1st quarter, I (along with the every other Bruin fan at Jerry World) crossed my eyes, fingers and toes in hopes of escaping Arlington with a victory of any score. The team and the fans in the stands were in shock for the rest of the first half, and it was clear that UCLA desperately needed to regroup and just make it to halftime.
“…If they want to meet the lofty expectations they have set for themselves, it will have to be more than the Brett Hundley show … “
The Longhorns smelled the blood in the water, and when Texas converted a 4th and 8 en route to taking a 10-3 lead midway through the 2nd quarter, the Bruins looked like Bevo had just been dropped on their shoulders. Luckily, that single touchdown drive was the only damage before the half, and the Bruins were able escape into the bowels of AT&T Stadium to discuss Plan J(erry).
More lucky still, the Longhorns pulled a Bruin (see 2012 ASU Game) and botched the coin flip procedure to give UCLA the ball to start both halves. Jerry Neuheisel reinvigorated the Bruin team and fanbase by immediately driving down the field 75 yards for a touchdown, tying the score and putting the pressure back on Tyrone Swoopes and Texas. The second half them turned into a grind ’em out – all hands on deck game of possession.
UCLA controlled the tempo of the game in the 2nd half, and for once it was decidedly slower. The running backs ran the ball, and the wide receivers made big catches. The offensive line protected their quarterback, opened holes and pushed the line of scrimmage forward. It almost wasn’t enough, as Texas marched down the field for their only score of the half after UCLA settled for a field goal late in the 4th quarter, but the equity bought by the efficient churning of the UCLA offense (and a couple explosive plays to boot) made Jerry’s heroic 33 yard bomb to Jordan Payton possible.
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This was a total team victory for a team that had started the year wound too tight and focused too much on the rankings and the “Hundley for Heisman” campaign. After the game, Fox’ Bruce Feldmen reported that Hundley’s injury was a slight elbow hyperextension and that he would likely be able to play against Arizona State on September 25.
If that is true, and Hundley is not seriously hurt, this was the best possible scenario for these Bruins. This game proved that the Bruins CAN run the ball if they actually decide they want to. Ka’imi Fairbairn proved to himself and the team that he CAN kick the ball through the uprights. The Bruins won’t win consistently with Jerry as the starting QB, but the Bruins CAN count on Jerry to come in and not lose the game for them. They have a backup QB (which is more than what Bruin fans would have believed 24 hours ago).
It may be the stuff bad sports movies are made of, but these Bruin players just went through a catharsis and hopefully a lesson was learned. If they want to meet the lofty expectations they have set for themselves, it will have to be more than the Brett Hundley show.
Now they know it doesn’t have to be.