On Wednesday, the UCLA players carried their coach off the field at the end of practice. It was a subdued rather than a jubilant tribute, and Neuheisel, often despised by many opposing fans for his glibness, was visibly moved and humbled by their show of affection and support.
It would be a college football story for the ages if the Bruins pulled off the unlikely upset. 32-point underdogs on the road have prevailed just a handful of times in the annals of football, and usually when the favorite is overrated or overconfident. The Ducks, who have reached double-digit wins in each of the last four years, finishing 8th, 11th and 3rd in the country, haven’t lost often under Chip Kelly. They’re 32-6, and each of the losses has been to a quality team: Boise State, Stanford and Ohio State in 2009, National Champion Auburn in 2010, by a field goal at the end, #1-ranked LSU and #9 USC this season, the last by another field goal at the end, this one wide left as time ran out.
The Ducks have rarely looked like an underprepared or overwhelmed football team, and they’ve never laid an egg against an inferior opponent. They’ve lost once at home in their last 23 tries, but the home field advantage will be muted somewhat in this game, with the stadium overhauled with a neutral look and new banners for television, 6,000 seats allocated to PAC-12 sponsors and UCLA, and many Duck fans unable to attend due to the Friday, 5 p.m. start. Autzen won’t be as loud or intimidating. The energy won’t reach the usual level of a jet plane preparing for takeoff.
The Bruins will start with a wave of emotion, and Neuheisel’s likely to bring his entire coaching history and experience to this game. Imagine the impassioned pregame speech. Whatever is within the UCLA players and staff, whatever they’re capable of, will be present at the start of this game.
Eventually, however, the facts prevail most of the time. Oregon is fifth in the country in rushing at 291 yards per game, and the Bruins are 10th in rush defense. Rick Neuheisel’s squad is also down to the last bullet in the Pistol: backup quarterback Richard Brehaut is out for the season, and no one on the UCLA bench has significant experience taking snaps in live games. Starter Kevin Prince was an all-world prospect coming out of high school, but he’s been a hard-luck guy as far as injuries, knocked out several times over his college career with shoulder and knee problems.
The Bruin defense has been porous, allowing 50 unaswered points to USC and 31 per game. They tackle badly. Emotion might lift their performance, especially early, but the businesslike, disciplined Ducks are likely to take over and win big.
Yet, with Autzen muted, bannerized and subdued, Oregon has to find and a keep a motivation of their own in the prospect of a Rose Bowl and a third straight conference championship. Rick Neuheisel’s players might try to win this one for their coach, but the Ducks will want to win this one for each other.
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