After One Loss, They’re Chewin’ on the Bruins

UCLA’s record since Bill Plaschke proclaimed the Bruins took over the neighborhood: 0-1.

USC’s record: 1-0.

Thanks, Bill.

Mary Schaefer

Los Angeles

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Stanford’s Chris Lewis made UCLA’s secondary a non-factor, Stanford’s offensive line made UCLA’s defensive line a non-factor, and UCLA’s Bob Toledo made UCLA’s DeShaun Foster a non-factor.

Jon Banks

Westwood

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I’m astounded by the media coverage of UCLA’s loss to Stanford. You would think that UCLA was 0-7 instead of 6-1 and ranked No. 9 in the country. I keep hearing how UCLA was exposed, how they have underachieved and how their season is over.

While losing a chance at the national championship is a big disappointment, UCLA can still finish 10-1, go to a BCS bowl and finish the season in the top five. UCLA lost a tough road game to a very strong, well-coached, senior-dominated Stanford team.

It’s not like UCLA was the preseason favorite to win the national title; most preseason polls had them rated somewhere between 15-20. I’m tired of all the postmortems I’ve heard all week; the Bruins have had a great year and still have a lot to accomplish.

Steve Ramsey

Arcadia

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We get somewhat shocked in Southern California when the world-class scholars from Stanford defeat the world-class athletes from UCLA in football.

But there is no need to fret.

Maybe next year the Bruins can outscore the Cardinal on their SATs.

Mike Glueck

Newport Beach

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After the collective finger-pointing interpretation of the UCLA-Stanford game, provided the morning after by The Times, I am reminded of what Confederate General George Pickett had to say about the Battle of Gettysburg.

Pickett was repeatedly asked why the South had lost the epic Civil War battle--did Longstreet undermine Lee? Was Stuart too late? Did A.P. Hill shrink from duty? Or the unthinkable--did Lee make a terrible mistake?

Pickett said, “I thought the Yankees had something to do with it.” And to that I add, so did Stanford.

Rhys Thomas

Van Nuys

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The stress of success helped cause the implosion of UCLA against Stanford. Until UCLA takes another football championship (it happened in 1954, you know), future players will feel this stress as well.

Tradition is a difficult thing to overcome. Until a Bruin team breaks the tradition of implosion, this tradition will continue.

I have faith that this tradition will change some day. I am hoping that it is within my lifetime; however, time is running out. I graduated from UCLA in 1969.

Go Bruins! I know you can do it. I just want to be alive when you go all the way.

Doug Bedell

Torrance

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Sorry, Plaschke, everyone knows what UCLA stands for.

U

Clowns

Lose

Again.

Quit crying, and go back to what you do best, bashing USC.

Willis Barton

Los Angeles