Gutty Bruins Looking More Like Putty

Haven’t we seen this scenario before? UCLA enters the USC game as a decided underdog after a disappointing season. Key Bruins are injured. The quarterback position is unsteady. But the “gutty little Bruins” play their best game of the season, upset the Trojans, save Terry Donahue’s job and end their year on a successful note. It could happen again.

FRANK J. PETERS

North Hollywood

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To the UCLA lost and found:

As a UCLA season-ticket holder, I have been alarmed to find a few items missing from the current team. Any help you can give in finding these all-important qualities would be greatly appreciated: Motivation, intensity, team spirit and pride all seem to be gone. Tackling and pass defense are also missing. If found, please return to the team, preferably before the USC game.

BOB POWLEY

Cathedral City

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As a longtime UCLA season-ticket holder, I was appalled enough by last Saturday’s debacle against Washington that I left midway through the third quarter. I couldn’t wait for your Sunday edition for Sir Terry’s excuse, and sure enough, Cade McNown wasn’t supported strongly enough. And why was McNown even playing? Because they haven’t recruited a decent quarterback since Tommy Maddox.

I quit. I’d rather watch my assistant coach son’s high school team Friday nights--they’re 10-0 and play smarter football than the gutty little Bruins.

JIM SINGISER

Manhattan Beach

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Attention: Charles Young and Peter Dalis:

Considering UCLA football has begun 16 of its last 20 seasons with a national ranking:

Are seven losses every two years acceptable? Are three home losses every two years acceptable?

From national power to regional power to Pac-10 also-ran. Do you detect a pattern here? Are you learning to live with it?

Do you agree Rick Neuheisel was not the right man for the job?

Is there such a thing as the Donahue style of winning football? If so, please define it.

Are you tired of defending your football coach?

Would you feel more comfortable in the Ivy League?

CHARLES CHICCOA

Reseda

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Both Lynn Davis [Viewpoint, Nov. 11] and John Robinson have forgotten what Coach McKay taught us: “The game is tied to start with, what you are trying to do in this 60 minutes is get a differential.”

DAVID STODDARD

Fullerton

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The Times asks in Sunday’s top 25 chart, “Where would USC be if they hadn’t gone for the tie against Washington?” Considering that USC makes only one out of three two-point conversions, the answer is: the Cotton Bowl.

GARY A. ROBB

Los Angeles