Daily Cal: Cal Will Show True Colors at Rose Bowl

By STEVEN DUNST

I remember the first and only time I cried because of a sporting event like it was yesterday. The memory still pains me to this very day.  The year was 1996 and No. 3 UCLA was undefeated with a chance of making it to the elusive national title game, a euphoric possibility for me and my beloved Bruins.  UCLA was taking on Miami, and the Bruins' Cade McNown-one of the best quarterbacks in school history-was in the midst of a career game. But along came a relatively unknown Edgerrin James to spoil the party and dash my dreams. James ran for 299 yards to defeat UCLA and eliminate its national title hopes.  A banner signed by many Bruins still hangs above my bed at home, but I have witnessed enough gut-wrenching UCLA losses-like the defeat at the hands of the Hurricanes-in big games to know that my childhood sweetheart will be soundly defeated tomorrow. Blown out. Silenced.

Saturday marks another of those big games. It is a must-win for Cal, a team anxious to prove it belongs in the company of other national powerhouses.  It is a three-headed race for second in the conference. Assuming USC wins out, the Rose Bowl bout is arguably the biggest game of the season for the Bears.  The contest is also huge for the Bruins. UCLA has yet to face an opponent nearly as skilled as Cal-the dazed and confused Oklahoma squad does not count.  The Bruins will likely put up some points, averaging 42.2 per game.  But where UCLA will get ambushed is defensively on the ground, where it ranks eighth in the Pac-10.  The Bears' dominant rushing attack will make the San Diego State backs-which compiled 190 yards-seem like junior varsity players.  Cal needs to make a statement tomorrow because of the ramifications the game will have on the recruiting front. The majority of prominent southern California football recruits are slated to attend the game at the Rose Bowl.  UCLA, with its tradition and prolific offense, is the only team which can challenge Cal for the premier California recruits who do not want to become Trojans and risk sitting on the bench for four seasons (see Matt Cassel). The Bruins have shown the potential to attract NorCal talent. Two of their offensive studs-running back Maurice Drew and quarterback Drew Olson-were plundered from Bear territory.  Imagine the reaction of the top prep senior linebackers in the country if and when Desmond Bishop steps up to thwart Maurice Drew in the backfield with a vicious hit. Tell me one reason why a recruit wouldn't want to attend Cal if the Bears show they can decimate the opposition at one of the most storied stadiums in the nation.  But this game is about more than just rankings and recruits.  It's about pride.

Every prognosticator is waiting for the chance to plummet the Bears in the rankings, claiming its inexperience will be exposed by any decent opponent.  Waiting to prove quarterback Joe Ayoob will crumble under a big-time opponent.  Waiting to point out that the Bears are the highest-ranked team yet to play a top-25 opponent.  Waiting to scream out that the Texas Tech beatdown was no fluke.  Waiting to proclaim Cal as a one-hit wonder.  This time, I won't shed a tear if UCLA loses.