UCLA, Oregon: First Offense to Score 10 Wins
Man, this could be ugly. Two teams with no discernible offenses.
Both Oregon and UCLA are trying to play with quarterbacks who don't fit their schemes. Which makes for semi-laughable, semi-pathetic situations.
UCLA has Osaar Rasshan, nice kid from Pomona but best-suited to a spread offense or maybe the veer or wishbone. He runs well, that is, but he can't always throw a ball from here to there.
Meanwhile, with Dennis Dixon done, Oregon is playing Brady Leaf, a classic pocket passer. But Oregon runs a spread offense, and that's not going well, either.
UCLA leads 3-0, but it's no thanks to the O.
The Bruins got a fumble at the Oregon 34, lost 3 yards, and then Kai Forbath came out and kicked a 54-yard field goal. Nice drive.
Actually, it was before that exchange that I announced, here in the Rose Bowl press box, that the first OFFENSE to score 10 points would be your game-winner.
Now, we're debating what constitutes points by your offense. If Matthew Slater returns a kick 98 yards to the 1-yard line, and three plays later the Bruins bang it in ... are those points by the offense? I think not.
I'm going to create a definition of "points by the offense": At least two first downs are necessary, or a play of 50 yards or more. Those are points by your offense.
Update: Yikes! Oregon has strung together three first downs! A couple more, they might be in field-goal range!
Funny thing about this ... funny as in kinda sick and twisted ... is that Oregon is ranked No. 9 in the nation. And we're wondering if they can score.
Oops! Another Ducks first down. They're definitely in field goal range, now. Oh, never mind. Brady Leaf just took a brain-dead sack on third down to take them out of field-goal range.
Meantime, Osaar has looked particularly helpless so far ... but UCLA's coaches also haven't put in any more offense for him. Osaar taking snaps under center, with a couple of backs lined up behind him ... is not gonna work today.
I can just imagine Pete Carroll sitting in his office, sort of watching this game, and when he's not being disgusted at UCLA's offense ... thinking "How come WE didn't get to play Oregon without Dennis Dixon?"