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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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PASADENA, CA – NOVEMBER 23: Kenech Udeze #94 of USC sacks quarterback Drew Olson of UCLA while Mike Sidman #18 tries to block on November 23, 2002 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. USC won 52-21. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA – NOVEMBER 23: Kenech Udeze #94 of USC sacks quarterback Drew Olson of UCLA while Mike Sidman #18 tries to block on November 23, 2002 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. USC won 52-21. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /

Chipping away the “gutty” persona (cont.)

It has been15 years ago this season since Karl Dorrell was hired and let’s just say the years have not been kind. Again, those peaks have been few and far between. From highly scrutinized coaching hires, recruiting woes, and inconsistent products on the field, the last few head coaches have struggled to instill confidence in fans who might otherwise buy tickets to games.

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The other major contributor to the “gutty little Bruins” mindset is that fact that there’s another football program in the city of Los Angeles. And they’re not half bad.

Getting the crap kicked out of you, 76-0 in 1929, and having it be the very first time you played your greatest rival also doesn’t help public perception. The USC Trojans have been the greatest rival the UCLA Football Bruins have known for almost 90 years. They lead the rivalry 47 wins to the Bruins’ 31 and have won eight of the last 11 contests.

Yes, UCLA won eight in a row during the 90’s but that was a generation ago. A generation of now young adults who have grown accustomed to the Trojans owning Los Angeles and the occasional Bruin upset.

That’s where we find ourselves now. The oldest generations remembering the “gutty little Bruins” shocking the Spartans. The youngest ones shown that UCLA Football wins over USC are the exception rather than the rule. And the generations in the middle left longing for what once was. As a result, recruits see the Bruins as the second option in Los Angeles. Fans, or would-be fans, don’t buy tickets to watch a team they’ve all but figured out. Take it from me, a half empty Rose Bowl isn’t exciting as a fan and probably not enticing as a recruit.