Patrick Kinahan's BYU - UCLA Postgame Blog
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LAS VEGAS – Another 11-2 season or needing a miracle to barely beat a team that finished 6-7 and fired its coach.
It all depends on your point of view.
BYU did both Saturday night, blocking a field goal on the final play to beat UCLA 17-16 in the Las Vegas Bowl. For the second consecutive season, the Cougars end at 11-2 with a national ranking.
Praise be to BYU, all the way around.
In a business almost exclusively judged by wins and losses, the Cougars won the game. Bag the style points.
It doesn’t matter that UCLA’s program is in complete disarray, failing to entice its top choices to replace the disposed Karl Dorrell. It doesn’t matter that interim coach DeWayne Walker – who, incidentally, absolutely deserves to be the next coach – was forced to play a fourth-string quarterback.
Why think Ben Olson would have done any better? What’s he done in college?
Don’t blame BYU for UCLA’s problems.
If Michigan had upset Ohio State last month, it would be in the Rose Bowl next week. Yes, the same team that lost to Division I-AA team this season would have played in the greatest of all bowl games.
With that in mind, we’re supposed to criticize BYU for not beating UCLA like it did last season against Oregon in the same bowl game? No way.
When it came down to it, the Cougars made enough plays to win. End of story.
The offense, while far from great, managed to maintain field position to allow its defense to perform marvelously again. Little things, such as Manase Tonga’s 17-yard run from deep in BYU’s territory and Austin Collie’s 37-yard reception late in the game, made the difference.
Most of it wasn’t pretty. So what?
Now, if BYU would have lost, go ahead and play the choke card. There’s no way to spin losing to this version of UCLA football.
Seconds before the last play, when Eathyn Manumleuna blocked Kai Forbath’s 28-yard field goal attempt, I was ready to blast BYU.
Foremost, I would have dumped the blame on offensive coordinator Robert Anae. Three years into a marvelous career as BYU’s play-caller, Anae lost his mind in the final seconds of the second quarter. Instead of having Max Hall take a knee, Anae called for a hand-off to Harvey Unga.
Befitting of the horrible decision, Unga fumbled and UCLA recovered at BYU’s 4-yard line. For an offense that couldn’t move the ball, this was the greatest of all early Christmas gifts.
“I made a mistake,” Anae said almost an hour after the game ended.
Winners always own up to their errors. Flat out, as his ability to win 11 games with a sophomore quarterback proves, Anae is a winner.
As a sidenote, Anae showed as much class as anybody I’ve seen in more than 20 years in this business. On the field after the game, he refused to comment on the play call but said he might talk about it later.
True to his word, he sought me out during my interviews with the players to explain himself. And he handled it like a champion.
Pretty much just the Cougars.
Comments
Re: Patrick Kinahan's BYU - UCLA Postgame Blog
the first reaction is that byu didn't beat ucla by enough to 'make a statement,' as ben bagley said on the air late tonight. but what 'statement' did they make by beating the hell out of oregon last year? that got them nothing. i didn't think oregon was disinterested, i just thought they got worked. but this year, the national observers talk about how incredibly apathetic oregon was. i submit that maybe it works out better for byu to win a close game, as people are less likely to assume that ucla just showed up and mailed it in.
Posted by bloodspitter on December 23, 2007 at 12:44 AM
Re: Patrick Kinahan's BYU - UCLA Postgame Blog
I was at the game and it was a great ending! All I can say is that if you live your life right on and off the field, sometimes the Lord steps in and magic happens!
Posted by cknavel on December 23, 2007 at 5:28 PM
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