November 20, 2014

By Kenneth D. Miller

Assistant Managing Editor 

 

The years of the USC/UCLA football rivalry being for meager bragging rights went out the window when Brett Hundley stepped onto the Westwood campus.

 

 

 

Although few people, if anyone, knew it at the time it would mark a startling turn in one of the most storied college football meetings in the history of the sport.

 

 

 

Hundley came to a UCLA program that was searching for local identity, but aimed high figuring they were playing with house money.

 

 

 

In a town where USC football is not just a sport, but a cultural dominance, if Hundley could possibly turn the tables on UCLA’s hated neighbors then that would be just fine.

 

 

 

Not long after Hundley arrived so did head coach Jim Mora, another Bruins crap shoot with an NFL pedigree but minimal success wherever he was.

 

Mora, the coach that essentially begged for the job that nobody else wanted and Hundley, the quarterback who desired to be that foundational building block merged just beautifully.

 

 

 

Collectively, not only did they run Lane Kiffin out of town and put the Trojans football program, marred in NCAA infractions from the Pete Carroll days into further peril, but also launched the Bruins football program into national prominence.

 

 

 

This Saturday Nov. 22 the Bruins (8-2) will hope to put more distance between the two when their rivalry is renewed for the 84th time.

 

 

 

Kiffin has since been replaced by Steve Sarkisian as head coach and while the Trojans are an improved 7-3; a loss to the Bruins would ease Sarkisian’s head closer to that chopping block.

 

 

 

One of the primary reasons why Kiffin is calling plays now for No. 1 rated Alabama is because he failed to beat UCLA. The fact his team couldn’t beat many others just sealed his fate.

 

 

 

With all of the drama going on with Heisman trophy and National champion quarterback Jameis Winston, Hundley is the darling of the collegiate football landscape.

 

 

 

He’s so darn good that few even mention that he’s the Black anymore. They just point to his gaudy statistics in three years at UCLA, 786 completions on 1,154 attempts, 9,358 yards and 70 touchdowns.

 

 

 

Oh, that I dare mention he rushed for 455 yards on 116 carries and scored another 28 touchdowns.

 

 

 

He stuck around for one more year to solidify his NFL draft status, which is high first round, and to keep his undefeated streak in tact against USC.

 

 

 

 “People have a tendency at times to see an African-American quarterback and say, 'Oh, he’s a runner.' I hate that stereotype and I always have,” said Mora. “I coached Michael Vick and my belief (is) that we stereotype those guys who started with him. I don’t want that to happen with Brett, and I’m going to make sure that it doesn’t, because it shouldn’t."

 

 

 

 “I can tell you unequivocally that Brett Hundley is a first-round draft pick. The guy’s a future star in the NFL.”

 

 

 

Hundley is not the only Bruin who will be playing on Sundays; linebacker Myles Jack is another one.

 

 

 

The sophomore is already lighting up opponents this season, totaling 68 tackles and 45 solos.

 

 

 

"L.A. loves winners. As long as we keep winning, L.A. is going to hop on and give us full support," Jack said of the rivalry. "The sky's the limit and we can take over this city."

 

 

 

Jack and the Bruins’ defensive unit will have their hands full with junior running back Javorius Allen who has been responsible for 1184 rushing yards on 217 hauls and 8 touchdowns this season.

 

 

 

Like Hundley he could be playing his final game in the rivalry if he decides to opt for the greener pastures of the NFL. Last season he was equally impressive on a worse team, collecting 785 yards on 135 carries and scoring 14 touchdowns.

 

 

 

Speaking of playing their final game in the series, USC defensive end Leonard Williams has struggled to stay healthy, but when he is he can command double and triple teams and is sure to be long gone in April.

 

 

 

During his Trojan career, Williams’ 62 solo tackles and two interceptions is more than enough to convince NFL scouts that he’s capable of being a dominant force on the next level.

 

 

 

The Trojans need for him to be dominant against Hundley and UCLA for his team to have any chance of ending UCLA’s modest two game win streak in the series.

 

 

 

Look for former Serra High star Adoree Jackson who is playing on special teams and offense as a true freshman to make some noise for USC as well.

 

 

 

USC will welcome the return of Josh Shaw who was back on the practice field this week.

 

 

 

“Just to kick it off, we obviously got Josh back on the field today, in good spirits. Just a quick evaluation of him: I thought he moved pretty fluidly. You can tell he’s been active; he’s been doing things. Obviously from a game-plan standpoint, we really don’t know. It’s one day in. But all in all, Josh brings us a veteran player with a lot of experience. We’ll see how far we can take it with him here in a short amount of time.

 

As I mentioned yesterday, I want to make sure we’re clear: Josh was elected captain at the start of the year. Part of him coming back, we’ve removed the captain title from him. There won’t be the ‘C’ on his jersey. Also what we’ve done is, not allow him to have access with media here, at least until the bowl game, so everyone’s on the same page and we know what we’re doing on that front,” said Sarkisian.

 

Sarkisian said Shaw will be available for action against UCLA.

 

 

 

“I really don’t know yet, though. Again, we’re going to get back in here, we’re going to look at the film; I’ll get with (defensive coordinator) Justin (Wilcox) and (DB coach) Keith (Heyward), and see where we’re at. I’ll get with (special teams) coach (Johnny) Nansen (to see) where he could potentially fit special teams-wise as well after having a day of work with him on the field.

 

Shaw missed most of the season after he lied about injuring himself while jumping from his apartment complex. He is considered an NFL prospect as a safety.

 

Category: Cover Stories