the cardiac kids are giving me a stomachache
(Drew Olson, comeback engineer, celebrates the win) (AP)
This is just too much.
My parents drove up from LA yesterday and we went to the Stanford v. UCLA game together at Stanford Stadium. I figured it would be a nice, leisurely blowout win at The Farm.
Instead, for three and a half quarters of play the Bruins' offense looked unbelievably crappy. They managed one field goal; they missed another one. They fumbled the ball away twice deep in their own territory, leading directly to two Stanford touchdowns. The fact that the defense did not give up any big plays was no consolation when the Bruins were down 24-3 with just over 8 minutes left in the game.
And then somehow, they won. An offense that looked a nightmare return of the year-before-last's mediocrity suddenly came to life faster than a zombie on Halloween. The defense transformed from just okay to absolutely dominant. Inexplicably, everything from the 8 minute mark forward was flawless UCLA football, and they scored touchdown after touchdown after touchdown. After touchdown. I have never seen anything like it, and am not sure I will again.
(Breazil catches the winning TD)(AP)
Nor do I want to go through that ever again. My stomach was twisted in knots and I had a stomachache after the game for an hour. As much as I am loving this season and this team (it vindicates for me five years of being a UCLA fan during forgettable and frustrating times), I'm not sure I can take this anymore. It's too hard on my gut.
I took this shot right before leaving the stadium. The UCLA crowd (loud as it's ever been at the Rose Bowl, and certainly louder than the Stanford fans throughout the game) gave the team a well-deserved ovation. The fan with his hands on the back of his head in disbelief, however, pretty much captures how I felt at the time.
If you missed the game, here's a great Halloween-themed recap: Cardinal frozen in horror. Also, here's another article comparing UCLA to the wrecking ball that will demolish the existing Stanford stadium at the end of this season.