Bruins to set tone, showcase abilities in last leg of season
By Daily Bruin Staff
Oct. 21, 1997 9:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 22, 1997
Bruins to set tone, showcase abilities in last leg of season
YUN Powerhouses form toughest obstacle yet to Rose Bowl
berth
It’s hard to tell just how good the Bruin football team really
is.
On one hand, they are a couple of inches away from beating a
pretty good Washington State team, and a fumble away from beating
the University of Tennessee.
But on the other hand, the University of Houston, Oregon State
and the University of Arizona aren’t exactly national powerhouses.
…
Contrary to popular belief, the biggest game of the season (not
counting the USC game) will be in two weeks, when the Bruins travel
to Palo Alto to take on the Cardinal.
In their toughest game since the University of Tennessee, the
Bruins will not only have a chance to showcase their talents in
front of a national audience, but it will also set the tone for the
last two games against the Huskies and the Trojans. …
So much for the West Coast not getting respect in the polls.
Barring any major upsets, Washington State, Washington and UCLA
should stake a claim in the top 10. I wonder if the Bruins regret
moving the Washington State game to earlier in the season instead
of the middle of November. …
I know that there is still a lot of football to be played, and
the team has the toughest part of its schedule left, but here is a
look at the Bruin’s chances for a bowl berth:
If the Bruins are to have any shot at the Rose Bowl, they will
need a little help from their friends.
To make a run for the Roses, the Bruins will need the Cougars to
lose twice, which can conceivably happen, as they visit Arizona
State this weekend and end their season in Husky Stadium for the
Apple Cup.
Not only do they have to pray for a Washington State loss, but
the Bruins also would have to win all of their remaining games,
which is a daunting task considering they still have to play
Stanford, Washington and USC.
Despite their loss to the University of Nebraska, I still think
that Washington is the deepest and most talented team in the nation
on both sides of the football. …
How ironic would it be if the Rose Bowl, which is slated to join
the bowl alliance next season, stole the national championship game
away from the Orange Bowl? …
On a team with big-name players such as Hicks, McNown and
Williams, it has been Chris Sailer who has quietly been the team’s
most dangerous asset.
Consistently booting the ball out of the end zone and pinning
opponents deep in their own territory, Sailer has propelled himself
into consideration for a spot on the All-America team. …
So much has been said about defense and how well they have been
playing, but the fact of the matter is, they are second to last in
the Pac-10 in yards allowed.
Opponents have been able to march down the field almost at will,
but have a tough time putting the points on the scoreboard. …
For once I would like to see the UCLA fans come out to the Rose
Bowl and show Michigan, Tennessee and Notre Dame that they are not
the only ones who can cram 700,000 people into the stadiums.
