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UCLA Football: Chipping away the “gutty” persona

By Michael Chavez

PASADENA, CA - NOVEMBER 24: Patrick Laird
PASADENA, CA - NOVEMBER 24: Patrick Laird /
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BERKELEY, CA – OCTOBER 16: J.J. Arrington #30 of the California Golden Bears crosses the goal line for a touchdown on a 1-yard run against the defense of the UCLA Bruins during the 1st half of their Pac-10 game at Memorial Stadium on October 16, 2004 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)
BERKELEY, CA – OCTOBER 16: J.J. Arrington #30 of the California Golden Bears crosses the goal line for a touchdown on a 1-yard run against the defense of the UCLA Bruins during the 1st half of their Pac-10 game at Memorial Stadium on October 16, 2004 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images) /

Chipping away the “gutty” persona (cont.)

UCLA continued to mirror UC Berkeley throughout it’s infancy by adopting it’s school colors, fight song and of course, it’s mascot. If your big brother is a bear, and you’re the little brother, then it only follows that you’ll be a smaller bear. Small bear, little bear, southern bear. Obviously those aren’t usable names so it only makes sense that the university settled on the “cubs”. Not exactly striking fear into anyone are we?

Of course that name morphed again and thus the UCLA Bruins were born a few years later. However, in roughly 50 years, the Bruins hadn’t created enough of a impact in the college football world to shake the underdog perception. So when UCLA knocked off the Michigan State Spartans in the 1966 Rose Bowl game the “gutty little Bruins” moniker made it’s first appearance. The name stuck.

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I’m not looking to erase the great contributions of William H. Spaulding, Henry Sanders or Tommy Prothro. Quite the opposite actually. Even in spite of all that they were able to accomplish, the idea persisted that the Spartans, in addition to being much larger physically, were of a superior brand of football. That idea still persists today only now the entire conference is thought to be less than by many fans.

Of course I’d be remiss if I led you to believe that the Bruins have been among the worst performers in college football. Yes there have been high peaks throughout the UCLA Football history but there have also been many valleys and in the last 15 years it would be easy to say the peaks have been few and far between.