Bob Toledo may become next ‘Wizard of Westwood’

Tuesday, October 13, 1998

Bob Toledo may become next ‘Wizard of Westwood’

COLUMN:Charismatic leader changes Bruin football program into a
burgeoning powerhouse

By Evan LovettJohn Wooden, meet Bob Toledo.

What the "Wizard of Westwood" did for the Bruin basketball
program will never be matched in any way, shape, or form. Or will
it?

Look at the transformation of UCLA’s football program since
Toledo was handed the reins in 1996. From the "gutty little Bruins"
to national championship contenders.

Always considered a decent football program, UCLA never could
jump the last hurdle to become an upper-echelon school. Seemingly
content with a smattering of Pac-10 Championships, a few Rose
Bowls, and a national championship (1954), the Bruin program was
nothing to scoff at, but definitely was not a powerhouse.

Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame: these are the
schools that are synonymous with college football. UCLA never had
that aura. The Bruins never instilled fear in the hearts of
opponents; opposing teams wouldn’t look at the schedule and circle
the showdown with UCLA as ‘the big game.’

Well, Bob’s Bruins are proving that they deserve to be in the
same class as these perennial powerhouses. UCLA is now a football
school.

Never mind Cade McNown, forget Skip Hicks, eliminate Shaun
Williams from your mind. Bob Toledo is the reason that UCLA is and
will be a football school until at least 2003, when his contract
expires. (Note to Athletic Director Pete Dallis: Extend Toledo’s
contract for about fifty more years, just so the Bruin faithful
know that you are serious about the football team becoming a force
to be reckoned with.)

In 1996, UCLA needed a new coach. Head Coach Terry Donahue
decided he just wanted to do commentary on games instead of
coaching. Rick Neuheisel and Gary Barnett spurned offers to be the
UCLA coach for better offers from their respective schools. Bruin
football fans were disappointed at the lack of ‘qualified’
candidates, thus forcing the Bruins to throw their support behind
some offensive coordinator from Texas A&M: Bob Toledo.

What a find Toledo has been. Focused, determined, motivated,
driven, and tenacious. These are qualities that can describe both
Toledo and the football team since Donahue’s departure.

Coincidence? I think not. What Bob Toledo has done for this
program is immeasurable. He took what was given to him, added a
little confidence, changed a couple of coaches, recruited some new
talent, and the Bruins came out with a whole different persona.

In the wake of Saturday’s thrashing of the Arizona Wildcats,
Toledo has proven his worth as a coach. The battle in Tucson was
arguably the most important game of Toledo’s brief career. The
Pac-10 title was at stake, a shot at the national championship was
on the line, but more importantly, this was the first real
adversity UCLA has had to play through during Toledo’s tenure.

First, starting fullback Craig Walendy was stricken with a
mysterious malady. Second, wide receiver/kick returner Freddie
Mitchell was lost for the season.

Next, Kenyon Coleman and Oscar Cabrera go down with injuries.
Then, leading scorer and rusher Jermaine Lewis is indefinitely
suspended for slowing somebody’s roll.

So let’s take a tally; a starting fullback, a starting guard, a
superstar in the making, a stud linebacker, and the number one
tailback on the UCLA depth charts were each sidelined for a game or
more and Bob Toledo has to make due with what he has. Not only did
Toledo guide the Bruins to victories over the course of this first
half of the season roller-coaster, they have completely and utterly
dominated each game.

This may be a testament to the personnel in the blue and gold
jerseys, but the mastermind is Toledo.

Toledo is as genuine as Miller beer. No flash, all substance.
When you see Toledo on the news or at a press conference, he is
cordial, affable, and gracious. But unlike some other coaches,
Toledo is like that in person as well. He’s that favorite uncle
that you only get to see around the holidays. He’s a walking teddy
bear.

I will admit that I was initially disappointed when UCLA named
Toledo as head coach. But after seeing what he can do, after seeing
what he brings to the team, what he means to the players, what he
has accomplished for the school, I can only say one thing. I am
sorry for doubting you, Coach Toledo.

Maybe it’s a little to early to compare a third-year coach to a
legend who single-handedly defined sports at UCLA, but I can only
imagine the buzz around school when the "Wizard of Westwood" was in
the early stages of his illustrious career. For the first time in
my four years at UCLA, this is the first time that I have seen the
whole school rally around a program and live vicariously through
one team. The electricity in the air is real, and we have one
person to thank: Bob Toledo.

Evan Lovett is an Assistant Sports Editor and seems to be in the
early stages

of starting the Bob Toledo fan club. Those interested can email
him at

[email protected].

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