Beban Remembers the Last Time UCLA Was Green at Quarterback

UCLA will open the season Saturday night with a starting quarterback who has yet to take a snap in a college game.

“Sounds familiar,” said Gary Beban, who was the man on the spot the last time UCLA faced that situation.

In his Bruin debut as a sophomore on Sept. 18, 1965, Beban completed eight of 15 passes for 69 yards and carried 26 times for 53 yards, producing more than half of UCLA’s 206 total yards in a 13-3 loss to Michigan State at East Lansing, Mich.

“I don’t think I tried to take charge,” said Beban, who was told before the game that he would split time with sophomore Norman Dow, who never got into the game. “I just tried to execute. And I think that’s all Tommy (Prothro, the Bruins’ coach) wanted me to do. I don’t think I did anything spectacular that day to help us win, nor do I think I did anything specific to help us lose.”

The Bruins, including a 196-pound defensive tackle named Terry Donahue, believed after the game that they might have a successful season, Beban said, “because we felt Michigan State was pretty good. Lord knows, they were big enough.”

In a rematch less than four months later, on Jan. 1, 1966, the Bruins upset the No. 1-ranked Spartans in the Rose Bowl, 14-12.