UCLA Bruins Football 10-year Review

College Sports Fans reviews the UCLA Bruins, one of the NCAA’s top athletic programs
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UCLA Football

Despite being known for its basketball program historically, UCLA has put together some very good football teams during its long history. The Bruins spent much of the 1970’s and 1980’s ranked in the AP top 25 polls and were ranked in the top 10 in 1997 and 1998. The Bruins have struggled since that 1998 season however, posting only 2 winning seasons in conference play. In addition, since going 10-2 in 1997 and 1998, UCLA has reached 10 wins only once, in 2005.

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UCLA Football Records

• 1996: 5-6 overall; 4-4 Pac-10 (4th)

• 1997: 10-2 overall; 7-0 Pac-10 (T-1st)

• 1998: 10-2 overall; 8-0 Pac-10 (1st)

• 1999: 4-7 overall; 2-6 Pac-10 ( th)

• 2000: 6-6 overall; 3-5 Pac-10 (T-5th)

• 2001: 7-4 overall; 4-4 Pac-10 (6th)

• 2002: 8-5 overall; 4-4 Pac-10 (T-4th)

• 2003: 6-7 overall; 4-4 Pac-10 (T-5th)

• 2004: 6-6 overall; 4-4 Pac-10 (T-5th)

• 2005: 10-2 overall; 6-2 Pac-10 (3rd)

• 2006: 7-6 overall; 5-4 Pac-10 (4th)

UCLA Football Bowl Appearances

• 1997 - Cotton Bowl: UCLA 29 – Texas A&M 23

• 1998 – Rose Bowl: Wisconsin 38 – UCLA 31

• 2000 – Sun Bowl: Wisconsin 21 – UCLA 20

• 2002 – Las Vegas Bowl: UCLA 27 – New Mexico 13

• 2003 - Silicon Valley Classic: Fresno State 17 - UCLA 9

• 2004 - Las Vegas Bowl: Wyoming 24 - UCLA 21

• 2005 - Sun Bowl: UCLA 50 - Northwestern 38

• 2006 – Emerald Bowl: Florida State 44 – UCLA 27

UCLA Football National Championship Game Appearances

• None

UCLA Football National Championships

• None

UCLA Football Coaching Records

• Bob Toledo: 1996-2002 (49-32)

• Ed Kezirian: 2002 (1-0)

• Karl Dorrell: 2003-Present (29-21)

UCLA Football First Team All-Americans

• 1997: Skip Hicks (TB), Chad Overhauser (OT), Chris Sailer (K/P), Shaun Williams (FS)

• 1998: Kris Farris (OT), Cade McNown (QB)

• 2003: Dave Bell (DE)

• 2005: Maurice Drew (All-Purpose)

• 2006: Justin Medlock (K)

UCLA Football Players Who Went Pro

• 1996: Jonathan Odgen (OT), Karim Abdul-Jabbar (TB), Mike Flanagan (C), Donnie Edwards (LB)

• 1998: Shaun Williams (FS), Skip Hicks (TB), Chad Overhauser (OT),

• 1999: Cade McNown (QB), Kris Farris (OT), Larry Atkins (S)

• 2000: Danny Farmer (WR)

• 2001: Freddie Mitchell (WR)

• 2002: Robert Thomas (LB), DeShaun Foster (TB), Marques Anderson (S), Kenyon Coleman (DE), Bryan Fletcher (TE), Jeff Grau (LS)

• 2003: Mike Seidman (TE), Ricky Manning Jr. (CB)

• 2004: Matt Ware (DB), Brandon Chillar (LB), Dave Ball (DE), Rodney Leisle (DL)

• 2005: Manuel White (RB), Ben Emanuel (S), Tab Perry (WR), Craig Bragg (WR)

• 2006: Marcedes Lewis (TE), Maurice Drew (RB), Jarrad Page (S)

UCLA Football Future Outlook

Things are looking very good for UCLA to return to the ranks of the elite teams in the country. The Bruins despite not posting big win numbers have appeared in four straight bowl games. This year’s team returns 10 players on each side of the ball that started the majority of games at their positions last season. In all, 24 scholarship players are returning for a Bruins team that averaged 330 yards of total offense per game last season. Senior tailback Chris Markey will be a key for UCLA, after leading the team in rushing and receptions this year. Quarterbacks Ben Olson and Pat Cowan, who split time last year after Olson was injured, are both back as well after performing equally well on the field.

Defensively UCLA will look to build on last year’s performance, one in which they were 9 th nationally in run defense. All-American defensive end Bruce Davis, who was fourth in the nation with 12.5 sacks, will anchor the defensive squad.

Things look even brighter for the future with UCLA’s incoming recruiting class. The Bruins signed seven players who were ranked in the top 20 at their position nationally according to Scout.com.

Don't miss the UCLA Bruins basketball 10-year review exclusively on College Sports Fans, and be sure to check out all of the college football 10-year reviews.

By Joey Whelan, CollegeSports-fans.com Staff Writer
Published April 2007