Las Vegas Bowl shocker

by Defender90 on Dec 22, 2007 8:49 PM PST Comment 20 comments

No, not that the Pac-10 rep lost. The only promise they've consistently delivered on is being inconsistent. One of the most damning indictments of the Dorrell era is that this rep for yo-yo gameday showings became such a given that NO loss could ever truly shock (unless you're drinking some seriously powder-blue koolaid). The shock was that I actually kinda felt bad for them when Forbath's kick was blocked. They fought hard and stayed in the game all night, Davis was his usual lockdown self, and Bethel-Thompson(!) had flashes of greatness. If this team lands a decent coach, they might actually be a legit conference threat again.

On a happier note, the loss didn't hurt my bowl game pick'em sheet.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Conquest Chronicles' writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Conquest Chronicles' writers or editors.

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Mixed feelings

I don't have a lot of patience with their defense - too much flag-begging for my taste, given their overall level of talent - but I really thought they were about to win. Their offense had put together a decent drive at the final opportunity, they were in position, and then... nothing.

Mind you, that's the risk of trying to win the game on a last second field goal. Even with someone as talented as Forbath, a short range shot is vulnerable to being blocked.

Can't say that I felt bad for them, but I wasn't jumping around either.

by DC Trojan on Dec 22, 2007 8:57 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

"kinda felt bad for them"

That's as much as I can ever offer them, and it rarely happens.

by Defender90 on Dec 22, 2007 9:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Not me...

and some clown over there actually thought Walker should have gone for 2 after that TD at the end of the first half...Right.

Clueless.

by Paragon SC on Dec 22, 2007 9:20 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

it wasn't even Forbath

It was the usual suspects just like during the regular season...the offensive line.

Special teams were atrocious and whats up with Bruce Davis? ucla's Adam Morrison??

he talked a lot of trash and was showboating both on the field and on the sidelines, he has a long way to go thats if he even gets to the next level.

by Paragon SC on Dec 22, 2007 9:04 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

well...

Davis is a talker, but I didn't see any showboating, though I didn't watch the whole game and may well have missed something. However, although he does have a mouth, the press reports did talk about BYU talking s*** and even their fans were razzing BD. So maybe he just gave as good as he got. As for his ability, kid had 7 tackles (four for losses), two sacks and one forced fumble, a pretty good line. Davis has been very good this year even though UCLA hasn't had much of a pass rush and considering that opposing OL really focused on stopping him. Still had 11 sacks this year.

He will certainly be playing Sundays, although I don't see him as a first rounder. It's a testament to Walker that he got these kids to play so well (30th in total D in 2007) when there is probably not a single first round NFL player starting for him and it wouldn't surprise me if only 3-4 Bruins get drafted at all from the defensive side of the ball.

Oh, and the Vegas line had BYU favored, so I don't know of this qualifies as a "shocker."

by ucladj89 on Dec 23, 2007 12:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Davis is a hell of a player.

You can't argue with the kid's ability. I think he gets a lot of fire thrown his way from us because he is the public face of the ucla program. He has been the player who is interviewed the most, and is mentioned in almost every article. He is a lights out DE, and I would be surprised if he isn't drafted in the 1st 2 rounds. As far as the shocker is concerned, I think most of us were shocked that a blocked field goal by probably the best kicker in the conference, ended up deciding the game.

As far as the trash talking is concerned, it looked like it was going on both sides. It was a very chippy game.

by frak on Dec 24, 2007 1:11 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Next-level for Davis

Yeah, he'll make it to the next level. The next level for whatever major he possibly graduates with as he departs ucla. Communications? He'll be a DJ. Business? He'll talk A LOT on the phone for inside sales. Poli-Sci? He'll intern or do paraglegal work at some law firm. That's his next level.

Too small to be a NFL defensive end. If he's got linebacker speed (prolly does) he MIGHT wanna work on learning to read/master offensive/defensive alignments. His brain has been hijacked by his pie-hole. He'll need it in the NFL or he'll forget to order a bowl of shut-up and the veterans will feed him a can o' whup-ass and he'll choke.

It's gotten to this guys. The bruins have my pity, and my leash of respect for them is becoming untethered.

How's that coaching search coming along guys? It's been what? 20-some odd days now? What a joke.

by tapoutstylist on Dec 28, 2007 2:12 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Hes sure got the crying thing down

Can he make money off that?

by frak on Dec 28, 2007 4:20 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Down pat, no?

Is his mom super tall? Or is BruiseD really just George Costanza small? I'm either missing it completely or I'm missing nothing at all. He may very well be the "Matt Cassell of linebackers" and actually get drafted next year. Who knows? Need a Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson acting-double anyone? Comes with tears????? Yeah yeah! Maybe next time then.

by tapoutstylist on Dec 28, 2007 4:37 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Shazbot! I did it again.

Maybe it was all that Isreali hash? Jet lag? Whatever. . . I meant to write "the Matt Cassell of defensive ends".

by tapoutstylist on Dec 28, 2007 4:40 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Sure he can...

he took lessons from Dwayne Jarrett.

Ask Kevin Greene if a pass-rushing specialist LB with limited coverage skills can make a living on Sundays. I think Bruce will be just fine in the NFL, although not likely to have the kind of career Greene did.

by ucladj89 on Dec 28, 2007 9:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Jarrett left too early

by frak on Dec 28, 2007 11:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey now?

You had to invoke Jarrett didn't you? (his tears were close to silly. terrible acting job on Dwayne's part. i think i might have been giggling by the time DJ finished his "follow-the-money-'cause-this-homey's-getting-paid" moment)

OLB for BruiseD? Perhaps.

I agree ucladj, Bruisey-baby WON'T have a HoF career like Kevin Greene. (remember when Greene popped Favre so hard back in the dizzay, that he made his nose bleed? out of both nostrils. OUCH! that hit alone vaulted Brett straight to the top-stop on the "All-Madden Team")

by tapoutstylist on Dec 29, 2007 7:18 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Perhaps

A Dwayne Jarrett - Bruce Davis buddy picture should be in the works. Cry & Cryer?

by frak on Dec 29, 2007 10:51 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

wow

Price, Bethel-Thompson, and Forbath at least showed up. I can't believe all the dropped passes the starting receivers had. Here you have your 4th string QB in, he hits you in the hands, and you drop the ball. I felt sorry for Bethel-Thompson, and Forbath. Davis can go take a flying leap. That guy is the Terrell Owens of the Pac-10 when it comes to talking trash.

If BYU had taken a knee at the end of the 1st half, the bruins wouldn't have had a chance at all. I blame the coaching for that error. The right team won the game in the end. So hats off to the Cougars, and their 10 game win streak. We will be looking forward to the new bruins, and their new coach next season.

by frak on Dec 22, 2007 9:34 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Boo F***ing Hooo

Cry me a river!

ucla's own Adam Morrisson - From the LAT

by Paragon SC on Dec 23, 2007 5:45 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Absolutely is Not a shocker!

Went to school with Bronco Mendenhall and he is a quality person who has built an excellent program. BYU and Utah should become members of the PAC-10 Conference. This would prevent west coast teams from being aligned in shitty bowl games.

If the PAC-10 went to a 12 team format, similar to the SEC, ACC and Big-12 who wouldn't agree that BYU would win the PAC-12 North hands down.

BYU
OSU
Oregon
Utah
WSU
Washington

This is not a shocker, both Utah and BYU have played straight up with not only the PAC-10 but the other members of the so called elite BCS Conferences as well.

What we need to become as forward thinking football fans is to start putting some pressure on the old administrative guard to move forward and quit putting the PAC-10 behind the 8-ball when it comes to poll positioning, bowl game ventures, improved television contracts and BCS opportunities.

The quickest way is to add both BYU and Utah and play a conference championship game so we can play 4 non-conference games and pad our records like every other elite member of the Big-12, Big-10, ACC, SEC and Big-East. You have to fight fire with fire.

BCSBusters - A Regular Season Bracketed Playoff Truly Making Everygame a Playoff In College Football.

by bcsbusters on Dec 23, 2007 9:50 PM PST reply actions 0 recs