Victory Was Picture Perfect : UCLA’s Comeback in 1965 Has Special Meaning for Donahue

A framed Sports Illustrated photo taken during UCLA’s 20-16 victory over USC in 1965 hangs in Bruin Coach Terry Donahue’s home office.

It shows Donahue, then a Bruin defensive tackle, and several teammates gang-tackling Trojan tailback Mike Garrett.

“Any time you play in the UCLA-SC game it’s a thrill that’s etched in your memory,” Donahue said. “For me, ’65 was a tremendous thrill because I’d been a (redshirt) the year before, and then to go into the game and be a starter in a game that determined the Rose Bowl was the thrill of a lifetime.”

Although Garrett, the 1965 Heisman Trophy winner, ran for a school-record 210 yards as the Trojans took a 16-6 lead, the Bruins scored twice in the final four minutes and earned their first Rose Bowl bid since 1961.

Quarterback Gary Beban, who had thrown two interceptions and fumbled twice as UCLA fell behind, pulled out the victory with two fourth-quarter touchdown passes.

After Erwin Dutcher had recovered a fumble by USC quarterback Troy Winslow, Beban made the score 16-14 with four minutes to play when he connected with wide receiver Dick Witcher on a 34-yard touchdown pass, then connected with Byron Nelson for the two-point conversion.

Then Dallas Grider, who had forced Winslow’s fumble, recovered Kurt Zimmerman’s onside kickoff at the Trojan 48 to set up Beban’s 52-yard touchdown pass to Kurt Altenberg with 2:39 to play.

Although the play was designed to go to halfback Mel Farr, Beban improvised, going to Altenberg at the 10-yard line. Altenberg outran defenders Mike Hunter and Nate Shaw into the end zone.

“That was my toughest loss by 700 miles,” USC Coach John McKay said. “But they beat us . . . outsmarted us, I guess.”

Donahue recalled the Bruins’ postgame celebration.

“When it was over, all the (UCLA) students spilled out onto the field, and they were chanting, ‘We’re going to the Rose Bowl!’ ” Donahue said. “That was the ultimate feeling.”