Huge Victory Obscures Team Record

So impressive was the start to the season, the 49-31 victory over Texas on Saturday, that it was possible for some to overlook a school-record 11th consecutive victory.

To others, though, the historical significance was obvious.

“UCLA has been around a long time,” Coach Bob Toledo said. “We have a great tradition of football. For us to break that kind of record makes me proud. I’m proud of this football team. I’m proud of the coaching staff.”

Added inside linebacker Cheyane Caldwell: “We appreciate it. We just haven’t stopped to think about it.

“It’s a big deal, because we know that it’s our team that did it. It should be a motivating factor for us next week and the weeks after that. Shoot, we should want to keep winning to put the record out to where no one else can get to it.”

Poll voters were impressed too, as the Bruins moved up from sixth to fourth in The Associated Press’ Top 25 poll. The Bruins received one first-place vote.

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The Bruins played four freshmen, but the two on defense, lineman Ken Kocher and linebacker Robert Thomas, were limited by injury. Kocher had the benefit of only a few practices after returning from a sprained and bruised ankle that was so bad it put him on crutches and then in a walking boot, and Thomas played with the end of his right arm in a cast because of a fractured hand.

“It was pretty tough,” said Thomas, scheduled to get the cast off in time for the third game, Sept. 26 at Miami. “Definitely a disadvantage. You can’t really grab anybody. You’ve got to make sure you wrap up good.”

Tailback DeShaun Foster and receiver Jon Dubravac were the freshman who played on offense.

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Texas Coach Mack Brown, in the aftermath: “UCLA’s very good. I thought they were good coming out here. I think they have a chance to win all their games.” . . . The 113 yards by Jermaine Lewis marked the sixth consecutive game a Bruin has broken triple digits on the ground. . . . The second of Lewis’ two touchdowns? It was the same critical play he failed to score on from one yard out in the the closing minutes of the first game last season at Washington State. The only difference was that it went to the weak side this time. . . . Not only was the 73,070 the largest crowd for a UCLA opener at the Rose Bowl, but it was the third-biggest for a first home game at any venue.