Sunday Morning Quarterback: An Enjoyable Day at the Rose Bowl
With the outcome of the game never really in doubt, it was more about old friends, and new ones at UCLA's game against Alabama State yesterday.
The themes that ran through yesterday’s postgame interviews was the discussion of the guys who don’t usually see a lot of playing time and guys who played well despite overcoming adversity.
UCLA head coach Chip Kelly spoke about guys like QB-turned-receiver-turned-running back Colson Yankoff and defensive lineman Laiatu Latu, who was medically retired at Washington before transferring to UCLA this season.
In the player interviews, Jon Gaines spoke about these guys while Ethan Garbers spoke about his preparation during the week which allowed him to come in at quarterback for most of the game. Tight End Hudson Habermehl spoke about the pass play which led to his game-winning touchdown and was his first one as a Bruin.
On the defensive side, Grayson Murphy spoke about the his brother’s fumble recovery which had the illegal forward pass call on it. Bo Calvert spoke about how the defense was able to hold the Hornets to just seven points despite giving up a lot of yardage.
From a fan’s perspective, yesterday was one of the better days at the Rose Bowl in recent memory. But it almost wasn’t.
The day started when we rolled in about 9 am only to find that the golf course parking lots were shut. Never in more than 30 years of going to UCLA football games have the golf course parking lots been shut after the parking lots have opened.
That follows last week when Lot 1 wasn’t opened early either.
UCLA needs to address this. When the Athletic Department says that the parking lots open six hours before game time, all of the parking lots should be open six hours before game time and people who arrive early shouldn’t be forced to lots that are further away or a lot on the other side of the stadium because a closer lot isn’t open.
Despite this issue, we managed to get a decent location in Lot H right near the alumni band.
We had a few guests tailgating with us yesterday. I’ve previously mentioned how I played high school football at Montvale, New Jersey high school powerhouse St. Joseph Regional. Earlier this year, the daughter of a guy I played with was accepted to UCLA. Yesterday, we got to introduce his family to the UCLA football experience.
But it didn’t stop there.
It turns out the Greg Burcham (aka gbruin) was in town this weekend too. It’s hard to believe that it’s been eight years since Greg and I took over the administration of BruinsNation.com. What’s even crazier is that this was the first time Greg and I have actually met in person! But it was like we’ve known each other forever because of this community.
But it didn’t stop there either!
It turns out that Greg’s daughter will be a freshman this year, too, and both she and our friend’s daughter will be living in Rieber Hall. So, they got to meet each other yesterday.
They are moving in today along with a lot of other incoming freshmen. So, I want to take a moment today to welcome them and all our newest Bruins to the Bruin Family and the greatest university in the world!
So, yesterday included seeing of old friends, some for the first time in person, and new Bruins as well. It really doesn’t get much better than that.
As I sat in the parking lot writing the postgame article after the game, a few Bama State fans walked by our group. Trying to be a hospitable host, I commented about how great their band was. The gentleman commented that he didn’t want to hear about how good their band was at a football game. He wants to hear about how good their band is at a band competition. To be sure, I respected that, mostly because I know I’d feel the same way if the shoe was on the other foot.
It doesn’t, however, change the fact that another highlight of the day was the halftime show that the Alabama State Mighty Marching Hornets put on for the mesmorized crowd. After I got home, I checked to see how much of the show Pac-12 Networks offered and, honestly, it wasn’t much. I understand that they have their usual halftime coverage that they need to air.
In anticipation of the fact that they would only show a portion of the performance, I shot video of the entire halftime show.
After the Mighty Marching Hornets put on a postgame show from their seats that even had UCLA band members watching in amazement, they exited the Rose Bowl after the game and it was another site to see.
Both videos can be found on our new The Mighty Bruin YouTube channel.
Go Bruins!!!
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..an interesting and unusual (but very entertaining) post-game column, Joeseph, and up to your usual excellent standards. But, after next week's last "pre-season" tune-up, one wonders how bright the mood of Bruin fans will be when and if things turn decidedly South?
I read the fine prognostications of Dimitrius (very sound appraisal), but cannot bring myself to proclaim our having arrived at the Elysium Fields of Mr Kelly's "Golden Era". Color me "guardedly ambivalent" -- especially with the Big 10 Debutante Ball a few years out and the attendant bloodbaths waiting in the wings.
On the horizon, I see a revenge-crazed Trojan mob sharpening their razor claws, waiting..waiting..waiting.
Thank you Joe and Gregg for providing we Bruins a place to hang with other fans and chat while we watch the game. You finally got to meet Joe! The internet is like that. I chat with folks I've known for more than ten years and have never met them, still I call them friends.
Go Bruins!