Tags
Big Ten Conference, Bruin Football, Bruin Nation, Bruins, college football, football, L.A. Bowl, Pac-12 Conference, Rose Bowl, SoFi Stadium, UCLA Bruins, UCLA Football, University of California Los Angeles, Westwood
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UCLA running back T. J. Harden (#25) after scoring a touchdown against USC. Photo courtesy of twitter.com
(Yes this is a bit early, being that UCLA will be playing in the L.A. Bowl vs Boise State at SoFi Stadium on December 16th. But so what?)
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES (UCLA) BRUINS FOOTBALL – 2023 SEASON
Record: 7-5, 4-5 and tied for seventh in the Pac-12 Conference
- Lost three of their last four games, scoring a total of 24 points in those three losses
- Beat USC, 38-20, on November 18th, their second straight win over the Trojans at the Coliseum
- Defensive end Laiatu Latu won the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, the Ted Hendricks Award, and the Lombardi Award for his outstanding play
Team Leaders:
- Dante Moore, QB (entered the transfer portal): 53.52% completions, 1,610 passing yards, 11 TD, 9 INT
- Ethan Garbers, QB: 66.42% completions, 984 passing yards, 9 TD, 3 INT
- Carson Steele, RB: 847 rush yards, 5.1 ypc, 6 TD
- T.J. Harden, RB: 722 rush yards, 5.2 ypc, 6 TD
- Logan Loya, WR: 58 receptions, 650 receiving yards, 5 TD
- J. Michael Sturdivant, WR: 32 receptions, 455 receiving yards, 3 TD
- Darius Muasau, LB: 64 tackles, 8.0 TFL, 4.0 sacks
- Kain Medrano, LB: 52 tackles, 6.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks
- Laiatu Latu, DL: 49 tackles, 21.5 TFL (tied for most in the nation), 13.0 sacks (led conference), 2 INT
- Carl Jones, Jr., DL: 37 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks
- Gabriel Murphy, DL: 37 tackles, 15.0 TFL, 7.0 sacks
- Grayson Murphy, DL: 24 tackles, 7.5 TFL. 4.0 sacks
- Alex Johnson, DB: 29 tackles, 4 INT
Most Valuable Player: Laiatu Latu
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The Bruins’ MVP for 2023. Photo courtesy of latimes.com
Analysis and Thoughts:
After what transpired the last four weeks of the season,
To say that the Bruin Nation’s level of frustration is pronounced would be an understatement, as illustrated by the many social media posts and the banners flying over Westwood and the UCLA campus saying,
“FIRE CHIP KELLY”
Even beating USC and getting the Victory Bell back to Westwood and painted blue lost its luster the next week, when those Bruins exuded a significant let down in losing to a Cal team that they were heavily favored to beat.
And in my book, that wasn’t even UCLA’s worst loss as Arizona State, a team that ended up tied for the worst record in the conference at 3-9, manhandled the Bruins’ offense in allowing only seven points (as did Cal two weeks later).
Despite all the heat that was thrown at him, I don’t completely blame Dante Moore for UCLA’s offensive troubles as his pick-sixes and other costly mistakes were the case of a true freshman quarterback playing exactly like he was,
A true freshman.
When I think about it, I really can’t blame him too much for entering the transfer portal as I could tell by watching him against Cal that he was not only a deer in the headlights and in over his head;
He also gave the impression of someone who didn’t really want to be there and who was just going through the motions.
It was and is clear to me that he needs a fresh start, and I do wish him well.
More than anything else, it was an offensive performance by the offensive line that was the root of the Bruins’ sub-par performance on offense,
Along with some very questionable play calling and other mistakes by coach Chip Kelly that cost UCLA games,
Which may be a factor in Moore and the growing number of teammates that have entered the transfer portal and are leaving Westwood.
The biggest blow, however, was losing defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn, the man responsible for the Bruin turnaround on that side of the ball to – of all teams – crosstown rival USC;
Two million dollars a season, as opposed to the one million dollars that Lynn was getting, will get someone to change crosstown loyalties rather quickly.
My Bottom Line…
It’s pretty crystal clear and obvious that Bruin Nation is pretty down on this football team,
To the point that I would be very much shocked if more than 20% of the fans at the L.A. Bowl at SoFi Stadium, located only 13 miles from UCLA, on December 16th are Bruin fans as it would not be surprising if Boise State fans overwhelm that state-of-the-art place.
It seems to me that all but the most die hard of die hard UCLA fans will stay away.
Which is honestly not surprising.
And also sad, considering they will be in a Big Ten Conference that, if things don’t change with all warp speed,
Will likely be a conference of horrors for the Bruins and Bruin Nation.
By the way – don’t be surprised if UCLA loses to Boise State in that L.A. Bowl;
I won’t be surprised if such comes to pass.
As for me,
I’m going to get hyped for women’s gymnastics, as once again I’ll be looking to them to restore my good feelings of being a Bruin after the football failures,
And a women’s basketball team that is ranked second in the nation, has beaten elite blue blood Connecticut, and is on a collision course for what – if both teams remain undefeated – will be an epic scale crosstown rivalry clash with sixth ranked USC on December 30th.
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Bruins celebrating victory in last month’s Crosstown Rivalry Clash. Photo courtesy of twitter.com