THE RIVALRY / UCLA vs. USC

Rookie UCLA Coach Karl Dorrell, who has participated in this series as a player, makes his debut on the sideline. This is another in a five-day look at past UCLA and USC coaches in their rivalry debuts:

USC

JOHN ROBINSON, 1976

Nov. 20: USC 24, UCLA 14

In the only game of the rivalry featuring new coaches on both sides, Robinson’s Trojans rode tailback Ricky Bell’s 167 yards rushing to victory over UCLA under Coach Terry Donahue. With a Rose Bowl berth on the line for both teams, USC clinched the victory on a 36-yard touchdown run by quarterback Vince Evans. The victory sent the Trojans (11-1, 7-0 Pac-8) to Pasadena and the Bruins to the Liberty Bowl.

COACH’S IMPACT

Robinson had two tours in the rivalry. From 1976 to ‘82, Robinson’s teams went 5-2 against UCLA, 5-1 in games with the Rose Bowl at stake for at least one of the teams. In Robinson’s second stint, 1993 to ‘97, the Bruins swept the Trojans and their 27-21 victory in 1993 sent UCLA to the Rose Bowl.

ROBINSON’S RESULTS (5-7)

1976: USC 24, at UCLA 14

1977: at USC 29, UCLA 27

1978: USC 17, at UCLA 10

1979: at USC 49, UCLA 14

1980: at UCLA 20, USC 17

1981: at USC 22, UCLA 21

1982: at UCLA 20, USC 19

1993: UCLA 27, at USC 21

1994: at UCLA 31, USC 19

1995: UCLA 24, at USC 20

1996: at UCLA 48, USC 41

1997: UCLA 31, at USC 24

UCLA

TOMMY PROTHRO, 1965

Nov. 20: UCLA 20, USC 16

With 2:39 remaining in the fourth quarter, sophomore quarterback Gary Beban sent UCLA to the Rose Bowl with a 48-yard touchdown pass to Kurt Altenberg in front of 94,085 at the Coliseum. Despite being outgained by the Trojans, 424 yards to 289, UCLA won the conference title after spotting USC a 16-6 lead. The victory ended a three-year losing streak to USC for the Bruins.

COACH’S IMPACT

After defeating USC in his rivalry debut, Prothro led the Bruins to their first Rose Bowl victory, a 14-12 upset of No. 1 ranked Michigan State.... Prothro is credited for the development of Beban, who went on to win the Heisman Trophy in 1967.

PROTHRO’S RESULTS (3-3)

1965: UCLA 20, at USC 16

1966: at UCLA 14, USC 7

1967: at USC 21, UCLA 20

1968: USC 28, at UCLA 16

1969: at USC 14, UCLA 12

1970: at UCLA 45, USC 20

DID YOU KNOW?

In 1966, USC was heavily favored to defeat UCLA, which started Norman Dow in place of injured All-American quarterback Gary Beban. Dow broke a scoreless tie, running five yards to a touchdown in the third quarter, then, with less than 10 minutes remaining, Dow’s running highlighted a long UCLA drive that was capped by a touchdown on a reverse run by Cornell Champion. The next week, USC was voted into the Rose Bowl despite the 14-7 loss.

-- Lonnie White