Kase Sings Bruin Praises After Conquest of USC

UCLA’s football season was marked by disappointment and unfulfilled expectations.

But after the Bruins’ 24-20 upset of USC, which clinched a berth in the Aloha Bowl, senior defensive tackle George Kase is viewing the world through Rose Bowl-colored glasses.

In other words, Kase is gloating.

It doesn’t matter that the Trojans are going to the New Year’s Day game with a record of 8-2-1, losing only to the Bruins in Pacific 10 Conference play. The Bruins’ consolation for finishing 7-4 (4-4 in Pac-10 play) is a Christmas Day game.

“I think they [thought they were better than UCLA],” said Kase, a third-year starter from Hart High. “We beat them in every phase of the game. And nothing makes me feel better.”

Kase, who had six tackles in the game, including a sack of Brad Otton for a seven-yard loss, is still pounding the Trojans.

“They lost to Notre Dame and to us and they’re going to lose in the Rose Bowl,” he said. “They can have the Rose Bowl. It’s a success for us and a big failure to them.

“But when we watched them on film, they should have lost to Stanford (a 31-30 victory) and Washington (a 21-21 tie). We knew we could beat them.”

Kase said the Bruins were inspired by one of the best speeches he had heard from Coach Terry Donahue.

Kase said Donahue told his troops, “We’re going to take the hill and plant the flag.”

Conversely, USC seemed oddly flat in front of a sold-out crowd of 91,363 at the Coliseum.

“SC was kind of calm and aloof, and we were jumping around and yelling in the tunnel,” Kase said. “USC wasn’t excited at all. That surprised me. I thought Coach [John] Robinson would get them up a little bit. But they didn’t come ready to play.

“It was a bowl game for us. I love the fact Coach Donahue put in an aggressive game plan. That reverse where [Jim McElroy threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Jordan to make it 21-0], I loved that.”

Because of a storied past that includes eight national championships from 1928-78, Kase suggested the Trojans have a misplaced superiority complex.

“That whole arrogance is there now,” he said. “But the tradition in the past just doesn’t cut it.”

If Kase (6 feet 3, 250 pounds) is merely popping off, at least his gloating seems justified. Roughly 2,900 men have lettered in football at USC and UCLA, but only Kase and 18 other Bruins have gone five years without losing to their rival.

“You think of all the players from UCLA--Troy Aikman, Kenny Easley, Jerry Robinson--and to say you’re one of the few guys to beat SC all five times, that’s great. That game capped my whole career here. It’s just been great.”

Out of high school, Kase’s college decision came down to UCLA or USC. The Bruins are happy he came to Westwood.

In his career, he has recorded 137 tackles, including 90 solo, 11 sacks and 29 tackles for a loss. He leads UCLA this season in sacks (five) and tackles for a loss (15). He has been nominated for first-team all-conference honors.

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Will Donahue retire as coach of the Bruins, as rumored?

Kase hopes not.

“We asked him about that at our senior meeting and he said he’ll take four weeks off after the [Aloha Bowl] to think it over,” Kase said. “All the players like him and all the administration likes him at UCLA. I’m sure everybody would welcome him with open arms. I definitely want him back. He’s been great to me.

“I hope he stays, but only he knows what’s best for him.”

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Kase said he hopes to see his alma mater, Hart, capture its first section championship since 1986. The Indians have reached the second round of the Division II playoffs and face Dominguez on Friday night.

He’ll be rooting for, but not betting on, the Indians after a season-opening loss (38-33) to Honolulu St. Louis cost him some cash in a wager with Bruin teammate Vae Tata, a St. Louis alumnus.

Kase is a big fan of Hart offensive coordinator Dean Herrington, who hopes to someday become a Division I coach.

“There’s no way he couldn’t be an offensive coordinator at a big-time school,” Kase said. “No questions asked. I’ve seen Homer Smith, Rick Neuheisel and Bob Toledo, all great offensive [coaches], and I’d put Dean in that class. He busts his butt and he knows offense. It’s a matter of someone giving him a chance.”