UCLA Football: Why Keep Watching?

After losing to Utah, the UCLA Football team has dropped to a 3-5 record. As the Bruins’ season continues to falter, many wonder what’s left to watch. I’ll give you reasons to keep going.

There’s no denying the past three weeks UCLA Football has left many thinking this season is a complete loss. The Bruins are sitting 5th in the Pac-12 South, just ahead of Arizona, with a meager 3-5 record.

This is the worst start of a season for the Bruins under Head Coach Jim Mora. Since his tenure started in 2012, the Bruins had gone 9-5 (2012), 10-3 (2013-14), and 8-5 (2015).

This season, UCLA football might be staring at a 4-8 record and a bowl-less year.

Related Story: UCLA Loses in Frustrating Fashion, Again

Currently, the Bruins’ situation is dire. With starting quarterback Josh Rosen sidelined by an injury in his throwing shoulder, an offense that can’t run or catch very well, and a defense that breaks in key moments, UCLA Football has a tough road ahead. So why should you keep caring at this point?

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Here’s why:

The season isn’t over yet. We wait months for UCLA Football and now when the team still has four games to go, we’re ready to stop watching? It seems a bit silly to wait so long for something and then let it go so easily just because times are hard.

The team could arguably give us some pleasure this season still. UCLA will play USC in just a little less than a month. By then, it is possible UCLA will have Rosen back and maybe would have figured out some other things along the way. If these things hold true, UCLA could pull the upset and give us a least one thing to brag about this year.

But the most important reason to keep watching and supporting is that the rest of the season will greatly impact the UCLA team next year. Although it is easy to forget, recruiting never stops. And UCLA is desperate to improve its roster.

One of the most interesting tweets I read Saturday after the game came from UCLA recruit Greg Rogers. Rogers is a defensive tackle from Arbor View High School (Las Vegas, NV), and he was commenting on his visit to UCLA. His comments were incredibly positive, a stark difference to the comments from the UCLA fanbase.

Rogers was a reminder that, in college football, things never slow down. As recruits continue to consider UCLA as the football program they’ll choose, they’ll continue to visit the Rose Bowl. And when they’re there—the atmosphere, the cheers, the crowd, will all be important to them in making a decision.

So before you completely throw the towel on this season, remember the program is always in building mode. How you support the Bruins today reflects on the program, and this is ultimately something recruits take away with them after their visits.

Next: Get Out to the Rose Bowl for the Players

There you have it, my friends. Although a Natty run is completely out of discussion at this point (or several weeks ago), there are many other things we can and should celebrate about UCLA Football right now. Rub some dirt in it, take a bye week, and then come back ready for Colorado. Go Bruins!