Monday, October 5, 1998
UCLA uses running game t beat WSU
Penalty flags flew too often Saturday as Bruins played on
emotion
By Rocky Salmon
Daily Bruin Staff
With one minute left to play, Washington State quarterback Steve
Birnbaum looked down the left yard line and heaved a pass which was
not traveling to his receiver. The cornerback immediately clapped
his hands as the ball harmlessly fell to the ground. But as the
yellow flag followed the ball to the ground like a snowflake, the
UCLA player screamed, "What?" a sentiment which echoed through out
the sideline.
It would be the eleventh and final penalty last Saturday as the
Bruins would be penalized for their win.
Eleven times for 118 yards to be exact.
Instead of the Bruins stalking their prey, it appeared to be the
other way around, as the officials rang up UCLA for a plethora of
penalties ranging from pass interference to false starts.
Continuing a path of destruction which started two weeks ago in
Houston, UCLA has consistently collected numerous penalties.
Luckily, against both teams the penalties were only costly in
that UCLA was not able to win by a larger margin.
The Bruins were aiming to cut back on the penalties, but in a
Pac-10 opener, where the opponent was the team that tied for
co-champion last year, UCLA appeared to be playing off pure
emotion.
Maybe too much emotion, as players started before the snap on
offense or celebrated excessively on defense – like Tod McBride
after his sack in the first quarter.
Such crucial mistakes can be afforded against the lower echelon
teams in the Pac-10, but against Arizona the Bruins will have to
erase the penalties caused by inexperience and emotion.
"We had two false starts today on offense, which was less than
Houston but more than what we should have," said offensive
coordinator Al Borges. "We didn’t have as many as ‘first down and
long situations,’ but we need more discipline. In the end it hurts
us. It hurts our offense, our play-calling and our team."
Discipline is what the Bruins seem to be lacking, as
youthfulness and aggression has led to unnecessary penalties.
One UCLA player who was flagged twice during the game for pass
interference, including the last penalty, was Jason Bell.
"We came out a little excited, it being the Washington State
game," the cornerback said. "We get excited to show that our
defense can play, and when we make a big play like the sack with
the penalty we just get a little too emotional. But that is what
football is about."
But this game was more than showing Washington St. that they
needed to respect the Bruins. It was about showing the nation that
UCLA could play physical and could play smash mouth ball.
"We heard some comments by the Houston coach and the Texas
running back but we just play hard," Bob Toledo said. "We played a
little disappointing with all the penalties but as long as my guys
are playing up to their potential and full ability I can’t get mad
at them."
But in the game versus Washington State, the players still
remembered that it was the Cougars who knocked them from the Rose
Bowl, so blood boiled.
Even on the field both teams continued to push and shove after
the whistle – but in the end UCLA cooled down.
"We realized that we shouldn’t let our emotions get too much of
us," Marques Anderson said. "Penalties create bad field position
which positions the opponent in a scoring opportunity. Sure we made
mistakes, but we are still learning."
Unfortunately for the Bruins, that learning curve will hit an
abrupt end when the Bruins square off against Arizona this
Saturday.
In a battle for Pac-10 supremacy, the Bruins will have to keep
the yellow flags off the ground if they are hoping for a victory
against an Arizona team that capitalizes on the opponent’s
mistakes.
As for last Saturday, the Rose Bowl turned a hazy yellow from
the hue of the penalty flags.
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© 1998 ASUCLA Communications Board