Friday, December 3, 2010

DREI'S FAVORITE SC-UCLA GAMES

Ahh, it feels good to come back here to this blog. OK, we all know that tomorrow's showdown at the Rose Bowl between these to longtime rivals will be for nothing but pride, with USC being ineligable for bowl play and UCLA having it's bowl hopes dashed with a 4-7 record heading into this game. For only the 3rd time in the last 30 years both school enter this game with no post-season implications on the line. That's not to say that there is no meaning to this game, as emotions shall continue to run high both on the sidelines and into the stands tomorrow evening . And as we all know, some of the best moments in this series have come when nothing but pride mattered. As a Bruin fan, watching UCLA football has been anything but rewarding this past decade. And before many of todays Trojan fans discovered how to hold two fingers up in the air ( Yes, this is a " somewhat biased " opinion here...), UCLA won 8 in a row in this series from '91-98, known to many as both, The JJ Stokes Years, and The McNown Years. Unfortunately for us Bruin fans, not much has happened since that incredible run , with of course, the improbable win of 2006, which looking back on it now, seems like a blip on SC's radar screen, for SC has won 10 of the last 11.

Of course when the week of SC/UCLA comes upon us, we all like to talk about our favorite games from the past, bringing back many happy, or heartbreaking, or perhaps both, moments in our lives surrounding this great rivalry. OK, here are my top 5 , all UCLA wins of course. Oh yeah, when I say my favorite games, I mean games I actually attended. OK, here goes....

5. 11/18/1995 UCLA 24 USC 20 USC came into this game with the Pac-10 title wrapped up and it's lone loss of the season coming into this game was to it's other rival Notre Dame. This would be Keyshawn Johnson's final home game at the Coliseum for USC and this would be the real coming out party for some UCLA frosh QB named Cade McNown. UCLA would jump out to a quick 21-0 lead , highlighted by a 35 yard TD pass from Jim McElroy to Kevin Jordan. SC would close the gap to 24-20, their final TD in the 4th quarter taking up over 9 minutes off the clock. The final outcome would be sealed when Cade McNown would scamper 21 yards on a 3rd and 13 with less than 2 minutes to go, giving The Sons of Westwood their 5th win in a row over the Men of Troy.



4. 11/20/1993 UCLA 27 USC 21 In the previous 10 games in which a Rose Bowl berth was on the line for both teams, the post game sounds we're filled with the SC Band blaring Conquest. ( Ugh...) This time, it would be the Bruins who would be smelling roses after this classic battle. UCLA would score the games first points, jumping out to a 17-0 halftime lead. The Trojans would cut the deficit to 17-14 in the 3rd quarter before UCLA QB and current radio sideline reporter Wayne Cook would hook up with SC nemesis JJ Stokes to widen their lead to 24-14. With less than 2 minutes left and the Bruins clinging to a 27-21 lead, the Trojans would drive to the UCLA 2 and on 3rd on goal, UCLA safety Marvin Goodwin would intercept Rob Johnson's pass in the end zone ( Oh yeah, I was on that end of the stadium ) to send the Bruins to their home turf on New Years Day. Oh yeah, speaking of J.J. Stokes....

3. 11/12/1992 UCLA 38 USC 37 SC came into this game ranked 15th in the nation and a heavy favorite over The Gutty Little Bruins. With the Bruins starting a 3rd string walk-on named John Barnes, not many gave UCLA a chance. But every now and then that little guy gets to wear the glass slipper. And on this night, that Gutty Little Bruin named Barnes would find JJ Stokes 6 times for 263 yards, 3 of those catches resulting in TD's, as UCLA would rally from a 2 TD deficit in the 4th quarter to stun USC 38-37. SC would actually have an opportunity to win though, after UCLA had taken a 38-31 lead on the memorable Barnes to Stokes 90 yard hookup, SC drove for a late TD capped by a Rob Johnson sneak. SC opted to go for 2 and the win ( Before 1995, there was no OT in college football ) but UCLA lineback Nkosi Littleton would knock down Johnson's pass, and the '92 showdown would forever be remembered for Barnes to Stokes. As a SF 49ERS fan too, yeah, it would've been great if JJ had given me some more memroable NFL moments too, but hey, watching Jason Sehorn and other SC defenders helplessly chasing after you was just as gratifying. Oh yeah, JJ would be on the first graduating UCLA class never to lose to USC.



2. 12/2/2006 UCLA 13 USC 9

After winning 8 consecutive in this series, UCLA was in danger of losing 8 in a row and adding insult to injury many of those 8 we'rent even close, including the previous years 66-19 shalacking at the Coliseum. And of course, no one gave UCLA a chance. But UCLA's defense would play an inspired game, and with less than 5 minutes to go and USC driving, on 3rd down inside the UCLA 30, Eric McNeal would etch his name into the hearts of many a Bruin fan with his game saving interception, helping to seal an improbable 13-9 victory over USC, snapping a 7 game losing streak in this series and denying SC a chance at a national title.



AND FINALLY, MY ALL TIME FAVORITE....

1. 11/23/1996 UCLA 48 USC 41 (2OT)

Did I forget to mention earlier that everyone has their favorite moment in this series ? Well, as for me, this game would really, to this day, have a special meaning for me and to this day, I never tire of talking 'bout this epic classic. Befor I go on, let me tell you where I sat, Section 9, Row E, Seat 12, the northeast corner of the endzone. That section too would have special meaning for me in many ways. OK as for the game, I had mentioned earlier that over the last 30 years only 3 of these games we're played only for pride. Well, this was one of those 3, but this one went beyond pride. SC came into the '96 campaign as defending Pac-10 and Rose Bowl champs but struggled in '96. SC had also lost it's previous 5 games against UCLA and there was talk that SC coach John Robinson, in his second go 'round at SC, would be fired had they lost. UCLA's expectations we'rent quite as high coming into the season and they would come into this game with a 4-6 record.

SC would jump out to an early 17-0 lead, highlighted by a 79 yard pick 6 by SC DB Sammy Knight. Oh yeah, as he crossed the goal line, I just happened to have a " great " view of him just stepps in front of me. Not helping my frame of mind was the SC section right next to us dancing in all it's glory. UCLA would close the deficit to 17-7 on a Cade McNown 1 yard TD but 3 plays later, RJ Soward would return the favor on an 80 yard TD reception, and again, I would have a " great " view, AGAIN, just stepps in front of me. ( This would be a recurring theme for me throughout the day folks.... ) So SC would go into the locker with a 24-7 halftime lead. And it seemed the 5 year winning streak would end.

UCLA would get the ball to start the 2nd half and on the 4th play Cade McNown would find Danny Farmer over the middle on a 51 yard TD to bring the Bruins back within 10. SC would answer back with a TD of it's own, bringing the deficit back to 17 and bringing them that much closer to claiming The Victory Bell for the first time in 5 years . ( To this day I still remember the UCLA cheerleaeders huddling around the Victory Bell ) But UCLA and McNown would answer back and bring the deficit back to 10 heading into the 4th quarter.

AGAIN, it seemed that SC had put the game away when RJ Soward hooked up with Brad Otten on ANOTHER long TD pass. And AGAIN, I would have a " great " view of RJ Soward who was, again, just stepps in front of me. And AGAIN, my frame of mind wasn't exactly helped by hearing the SC section next to us. And moments later, RJ was caught on camera declaring the 5 year streak was over...... But something about this particular UCLA team that wouldn't say die. With a little over 6 minutes left, Bjorn Merten would kick a 47 yard field goal to bring UCLA within 2 TD's. But before the rally would begin, I remember the USC band playing Tusk and of course the SC followers would yell during the final 4 notes U-C-L-A SUCKS !!! OK. Well, with just over 3 minutes to play, UCLA running back Keith Brown would close the deficit to a TD with a one yard TD run. SC would recover the ensuing onside kick, but 4 plays later while trying to run out the clock, SC running back Lavalle Woods would fumble the ball and UCLA's Kusanti Abdul-Salam would recover and there was hope for the Blue and Gold. On a crucial 3rd down play, McNown would find little used receiver Rodney Lee at the USC 11 with less than a minute to play. 2 plays later, Skip Hicks would bust up the middle to even the score at 38.

However, SC still had a chance to win in regulation, driving down to the UCLA 23 yard line, setting up a field goal try by Adam Abrahms. The kick wouldn't even go above his own offensive line, and OT here we come !!!!

On the first OT, both teams would exchange field goals and then, double OT, and the legend of Skip Hicks would be born. On the first play of OT number 2, Hicks would take the handoff from McNown, and after eluding several defenders, raced towards the corner of the endzone for the go-ahead TD, giving UCLA it's first lead of the game, 48-41. You may be asking how my view was from my seat. Yeah, Skip Hicks was stepps in front of me. OK, more than just stepps.....He would finish his run right there in my corner, and I would be the first to greet Skip amongst the many Bruin faithful and the players as well. Never mind that I would be crushed amongst the Blue and Gold faithful against that metal railing because I was so caught up in the moment that the noise of the crowd and everything else I was just numb to because, well, you'd have to have been there to really know how I felt. Words just dont describe it.

SC still had a chance to tie the game and on 3rd and 3 from the 18, RJ Soward, who had ran all over us that day, was all alone on the right sideline with nothing but grass ahead of him. As soon as Otten threw the ball to him and I saw him wide open, for a split moment, I yelled " FERTILIZER " ( OK, so I yelled something else ), but as if someone of a higher power was looking down on us, RJ dropped it !!! Oh yeah, where did the play happen, that's right, stepps in front of me !!! And then on 4th down, Anthony Cobbs picks off Otten's pass, and it was bedlam at Arroy Seco. UCLA 48 USC 41, the only game in the rivalry that was decided in OT !!!

By now, I'm sure you realize why the 1996 game was the my personal favorite in this rivalry. And to me, this is more real than any other reality show. Words just dont describe it. On the YouTube clip, at 9:02, look for a crazed Bruin fan in a white shirt and Blue hat greeting Hicks after his TD in double OT. Yup, that's your's truly.....GO BRUINS !!!

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