In Reply to: THE DEFINITIVE LIST (Super Long . . . But You'll Enjoy . . .) posted by Larmz on October 04, 2025 at 19:18:24
Four games for you.
1975 USC-UCLA, 11/28/75. Dick Vermeil was our coach in his last regular season game for UCLA. John Sciarra was QB, Wally Henry our WR. John McKay was coach of SUC, also in his last regular season game. UCLA got by with a 25-22 win, which got us to the...
1976 Rose Bowl, where we faced the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes (11-0), with Heisman winner Archie Griffin at running back. OSU had beaten us 41-20 the preceding October, so expectations were not high. OSU was favored by two TDs.
OSU dominated the first half, but only led 3-0 at halftime. UCLA roared to 17 unanswered points in the third quarter to take command of the game. The teams traded TDs in the 4th quarter. UCLA 23-OSU 10. Bruins rose to No. 5 in the nation.
1980 USC-UCLA. A young and relatively unknown coach, Terry Donahue, took the reins in Westwood after the Eagles Hired Vermeil away from the Bruins before the 1976 season. Donahue then lost four straight to SUC in 1976-1979, raising dark mutters among the Bruin faithful. It might be a stretch to say that Donahue's job was on the line, but only a stretch. The teams met on 11/22/80 at the Mausoleum. How could it be other than great with Freeman McNeil facing Ronnie Lott (among many other battles)? The trojans led going into the fourth quarter 17-13, but McNeil's grab of a Tom Ramsey pass for a 50 yard touchdown with 2 minutes remaining sealed Donahue's first win over SUC, and cooled his seat considerably. The Bruins ended the season ranked 13th.
I attended each of these games. I didn't attend the last listed here.
1966 Rose Bowl. Just as they would a decade later, the No. 5 ranked Bruins were facing the unbeaten No. 1 team in the land, the Michigan State Spartans. Just as in 1975, the Bruins had lost to Michigan State in an October regular season game, 13-3. It is this team that hung the moniker "Gutty Little Bruins" on UCLA football, because no one on the DL topped 225 pounds. Terry Donahue was a member of the DL, weighing in at 195 pounds. Just like 10 years later, MSU was a two TD favorite over the Bruins. UCLA led 14-0 at the half, with QB Gary Beban leading the way. MSU came back in the second half. MSU scored two TDs in the second half, but the points after failed on each attempt. It was the second MSU TD points after try that has entered Bruin lore. The score was 14-12 with 31 seconds remaining in the game. There would be no overtime in this Rose Bowl; a tie score would simply be left a tie score. The ball on the two point play was lobbed to MSU fullback Bob Apisa who ran left, and turned the corner to the end zone. But UCLA defensive end Jim Colletto forced Apisa to run parallel to the goal line, and UCLA linebacker Dallas Grider slowed Apisa down. It was at that moment that UCLA defensive back Bob Stiles ran at top speed into Apisa. Stiles stopped Apisa short of the goal line preserving the Bruins' 14-12 victory, but was knocked unconscious in the effort. Stiles was named Rose Bowl MVP for that effort, among several in this game.