I went to the UCLA game not really knowing what to expect from my beloved Bruins this season. Would the Bruins get blown out by the visiting Vols? I thought they would but boy was I wrong.
I was at the game with Freddy Robledo. Just before the winning drive by the Bruins, Freddy convinced me to leave our perfect view from the 40-yard line, 20 rows up to watch from the “4” tunnel so that when the Bruins score we could leave right away and head for the shuttle buses.
UCLA took a 24-21 lead (a score Freddy predicted) with 27 seconds remaining so Freddy thought it was over and we left.
Wrong!
When we got to the shuttles, Tennessee went on to tie it after a few plays with a field goal. There were some UCLA fans who thought we were kidding when we told them.
Fred Robledo Sr. gave Freddy the play-by-play on the bus ride to the parking lot. When UCLA won, the bus erupted.
When Freddy predicted the Bruins beating the Vols the bloggers over on his side gave him a lot of heat, and as it turned out they had to later apologize after UCLA upset No. 18 Tennessee, 27-24, in overtime. The victory helped the Bruins earn a No. 23 ranking in the AP Top 25 poll which was released earlier today.
It was a tale of two halves for Mt. SAC-transfer Kevin Craft.
He throws four interceptions in the first half and already people near our seats, including me, were calling for a new quarterback.
But what poise by Kraft to come back in the second half and play like a four-year starter, throwing for nearly 200 yards and generating the winning drive.
It’s funny how quickly people change their minds, the same guys calling for Kraft’s head suddenly saying “I love Kevin Kraft” and “Kraft for President” (that’s what I yelled).
UCLA can thank its defense for keeping it in the game. And how fitting for the Bruins’ first score to come from their heralded defense.
Rick Neuheisel did an outstanding job in sticking with Kraft and keeping him calm. Kudos to Norm Chow who did the same. Some bloggers over on Freddy’s blog are calling Chow a god. I wouldn’t go that far but what a difference when you finally have a real coach and offensive coordinator. I would go as far as saying Kraft did more than Patrick Cowan or Ben Olson have done combined since they’ve been at UCLA, though Cowan did help beat USC a couple years ago.
In Kraft the Bruins might finally have a passing game and a mobile quarterback.
What I thought was going to be a long Bruins season suddenly turned into a season to look forward to. Why am I talking about UCLA? First of all, I’m a Bruins fanatic (especially in basketball) and secondly you gotta remember this: when you’re in Pasadena you’re in Bruins territory.
So bring on BYU! Bring on Fresno State! Bring on the Pac-10 and bring on those other guys on the other side of town!!!
