Stanley Follows Leader

One pair of eyes will stay locked on fullback Matt Stanley throughout UCLA’s game Saturday.

Every block, carry and catch. Every gulp of Gatorade.

It ranks among a father’s most treasured experiences to see his son play the same sport for the same school he did.

Same position? That’s hitting the trifecta.

Steve Stanley was the Bruin fullback from 1965-67. He roomed with Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Gary Beban, was a pal of an overachieving defensive tackle named Terry Donahue and played in the ’66 Rose Bowl when UCLA upset No. 1 Michigan State.

The Stanleys are blue and gold through and through. Steve met his future wife, Lisa, in front of Royce Hall. He and his brother Jim, a Bruin standout in the early ‘60s, belonged to the Kelp, a rowdy campus spirit group.

Matt grew up in a house where his father’s UCLA jersey hung on the wall. Never mind the house was in Columbus, Ohio. He was born and bred a Bruin.

All Matt’s friends rooted for Ohio State, of course. But when it came time for him to choose a college, there was no choice really, even if it meant walking on. Steve was only too happy to pay the out-of-state tuition.

Ohio State visits UCLA on Saturday, making the Stanleys a natural story. But it will be difficult for Matt to top his performance of two years ago, when UCLA visited Ohio State and several dozen of his friends attended.

He started because fullback Durell Price was one of 11 players suspended for the game in the handicapped parking scandal, and his impact was immediate.

A pass from Drew Bennett to Freddie Mitchell in the first quarter was tipped and landed on Mitchell, who had fallen. Matt scooped up the ball and dashed to the end zone, a 67-yard touchdown play.

“I don’t remember half of it,” he said. “I saw the ball being tipped and landing on Freddie, then all of a sudden I was running down the field.”

His father’s recollection is better. Maybe because he pops in the video every time company comes over. Maybe because the play prompted Coach Bob Toledo to inform Matt in the locker room that he was on scholarship, saving the old man a tidy sum.

“It’s all on tape,” Matt said. “It shows Toledo shaking my hand and saying congratulations, then it shows me going outside with all my family and friends waiting for me.

“I tell my mom I got a scholarship and she turns to everybody and yells it to them. It’s great how it all happened and how it was all documented.”

The Stanleys moved to Santa Barbara in February and will gather for home games with many of Steve’s former teammates. Regulars include former All-American linebacker Don Manning, John Richardson, Steve Butler, Jerry Klein and former captain Vic Lepisto, whose son, Garrett, is a sophomore walk-on safety and the holder on kicks.

Matt, Garrett and freshman quarterback John Sciarra--whose father John was an All-American UCLA quarterback in the early ‘70s--commiserate over their similar childhoods.

Vic, a high school teacher and coach, has had UCLA season tickets for more than 30 years. After games, the group repairs to a restaurant to reminisce.

“They tell the same stories over and over,” Matt said, “I don’t get sick of them at all.”

Steve shows off the UCLA hall-of-fame ring he wears. He and Vic draw up plays on napkins.

“We have special plays we fax to the coaches,” Vic joked.

Critiquing their sons’ performance is off limits. Steve recognizes football has changed considerably.

“When I watch Matt, basically I feel jealous because these kids are so much bigger, stronger and faster than we were,” he said. “The game isn’t the same. I don’t want to tell him different things than the coaches are telling him.

“I praise him and I would never point out a mistake. There’s never been a perfect play in the history of football.”

Well, there was the one ...

“[In] 1965 against Washington, a sweep, Beban ran untouched 65 yards for a touchdown,” Steve said. “[Coach] Tommy Prothro ran the film back over and over. ‘Gentlemen,’ he said, ‘I’ve never seen this, everyone did their job.”’

Matt has heard the tale many times. He’ll hear it again.

“I hope someday we’ll have a perfect play I can tell my son about,” he said.

A son, no doubt, who will play a certain position for a certain school.