Paul Guidry

Monday, 6/9/97 Paul Guidry Football

There is no hesitation in the voice of Paul Guidry. "Roller
coaster." Thinking about his recently completed four-year stint on
the Bruin football squad, he could only muster up one phrase.
"Roller coaster." Ups and downs, twists and turns, heartache and
exhilaration. All are phrases that contradict one another, and yet
they all perfectly describe the collegiate career of the 5-foot,
10-inch cornerback and punt returner. A Rose Bowl appearance as a
freshman was followed by a six-game losing streak the following
season. His junior year he broke a school record and helped UCLA to
a trip to the Aloha Bowl. Then, with visions of a bowl berth and
the impending NFL draft in his head, Guidry was forced to spend
most of his senior season sidelined with injuries. "Roller
coaster." "For the team and me personally, we’ve had good and bad
years," Guidry said. "I was hoping to be a lot more consistent."
Consistent? On the field, Guidry was as consistent as anybody. In
addition to being a three-year starter in the Bruin secondary, he
was one of the best punt returners in the country. In 1995, his
15.1 yard average on punt return was fifth in the nation, and he
will leave UCLA with 911 yards on 90 returns, both school records.
Guidry actually broke the yardage record with a year of eligibility
still remaining. "I remember coming in here looking at the Bruin
record book and wanting to be a part of it, and now I am," he said.
"It was a great experience. I did it in three years just like all
the others before me, and I wanted to extend it as much as
necessary (my senior season)." Oh yeah, his senior season. That’s
something Paul Guidry doesn’t like to talk about. He bruised his
right quadricep in the second game,missing the last two games as a
result. Then he suffered a concussion in his second game back, an
injury he would never fully recover from by season’s end. "Last
year, the fact that I was injured the majority of the season took a
lot out of me mentally," Guidry remembers. "It was the last time
you play a lot of those teams and it was tough just sitting there,
unable to do anything." He did make it back, however, for the
biggest game of the year — the annual season-ending battle with
USC. In that 48-41 Bruin-comeback victory, he had one punt return
for seven yards and an assisted tackle. In fact, it was in those
USC games that Guidry was most consistent. You see, Guidry is 4-0
against the Trojans. "I can actually say that I’ve never lost to
‘SC," he said. "That’s a comfortable feeling. I will always
remember every single one of those (games)." And although this
year’s USC game may have marked his last as a Bruin, he hopes that
it won’t be his last in football. Guidry was not taken in the NFL
draft, but he signed a free-agent contract with the Baltimore
Ravens and began mini-camp last week. "I was expecting to be taken
anywhere from the sixth round to (being signed as a) free agent,"
he said. "I was kind of disappointed at not being selected, but I
feel that this is the best situation I am in right now. "They only
drafted one other safety. I will try to work myself onto the roster
— that is the goal you have to have, to make the team. You have to
crawl before you can walk." But one thing remains for sure —
Guidry won’t be crawling when he receives his degree later this
week. He is scheduled to fly back from Baltimore just for the
graduation ceremony. "I came to UCLA to get my degree and I want to
make sure I am back to walk across that stage," he said happily. A
Rose Bowl appearance, a school record, an undefeated record against
USC, and a degree — somehow you get the feeling that this roller
coaster was an e-ticket ride. By Brent Boyd, Daily Bruin Senior
Staff. Paul Guidry