No Men’s Land
Whatever Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas
December 24, 2004
Li Tai Fang
As the saying goes, whatever happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, the Bruins only wished the saying were true. In reality, the embarrassment of giving mediocre Wyoming their first Bowl victory in 38 years in the Las Vegas Bowl tainted not only UCLA football, but the entire Pac-10 conference. However, the only thing more embarrassing than the loss itself is the way UCLA lost the game. The Bruins displayed an utter lack of focus, discipline, and pride, a showing typical of themselves under Karl Dorrell’s two-year tenure.
Located right next to Beverly Hills of sunny Southern California and the gorgeous LA beach, and right in the middle of the biggest talent hotbed of the country, UCLA easily draw some of the top athletes into the program, yet all Dorrell has produced is mediocrity, a 6-7 season followed by a 6-6 season. The symptoms of 2004 season are the exact mirror images of the 2003 season. The offense lacks imagination and creativity, and defense lacks tenacity when it is needed the most. It is able to beat inferior opponents based on superior talent and lots of luck, but folds under pressure against even matched teams. Years and years of top recruiting classes yields years and years of 0.500 records. The worst thought of them all, is that there is no light at the end of the tunnel.
Dwelling in mediocrity is a no man’s land for an athletic department that lacks vision. It is the worst thing that can happen to a program like UCLA. Everyone will try to keep a very successful coach. Everyone will fire a coach with horrible record. The question is what you do with a coach who is in between, one like Dorrell. Athletic Director Dan Guerrero is afraid to make the wrong decision. Therefore he will not make this decision. Mediocrity will Guerrero delay the inevitable, and bring the UCLA football program down to its lowest level ever witnessed by living Bruins.
Patience, Bruins fans! Your program is stuck in the metastability of mediocrity. Until Dorrell finally crashes and burns, when he is finally out of the program, the Bruins will experience days like this for years to come.
Fiat Lux. Let there be light!