Bruin Pride Also Takes Major Hit

With victory out of reach but pride on the line, the Bruins were turned back on a late drive Saturday against California that would have at least helped them avoid their first shutout in a little more than five years.

Some players afterward would not concede the stance of consolation, saying a touchdown then could have been the start to a miracle comeback with the help of onside kicks, but it would have taken two such recoveries and subsequent scores in the final minute to overcome the 17-0 deficit. So they were left to play for the satisfaction of simply scoring once.

“Pride,” tailback Keith Brown said. “That’s all it was. Pride. Getting on the scoreboard once.”

UCLA’s final chance for that came when it got the ball on its own 38 with 2:42 remaining. The drive started well, with Cory Paus throwing to Danny Farmer for a 12-yard gain, a roughing-the-passer penalty adding another 15 yards, and then Paus scrambling for 31 yards.

The Bruins were on the Cal four. But a false-start penalty cost them five yards, tight end Mike Seidman dropped a pass in the end zone, Paus was sacked for a four-yard loss, a Cal holding penalty moved the ball back to the six, and Farmer couldn’t corral Paus’ throw.

It was fourth and goal at the six. UCLA opted against a field goal to at least break the shutout, but Paus was forced out of the pocket and stopped at the three. Cal took over with 58 seconds remaining and drained the clock as quarterback Kyle Boller took a knee twice in a row.

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Cal punter Nick Harris harassed the Bruins again. A year after his kicks continually gave them bad field position and contributed to what was probably their worst offensive game of 1998, Harris on Saturday averaged 53.1 on seven punts. He had one punt of 68 yards--without the benefit of a roll--another of 60, one that was downed at the one and one downed at the three. The other bad news for the Bruins on that front is that they will see him again next season.