BRUINS REMAIN UNDETERRED.Byline: Jon Wilner Daily News Staff Writer They are disappointed but not desperate, frustrated frus·trate tr.v. frus·trat·ed, frus·trat·ing, frus·trates 1. a. To prevent from accomplishing a purpose or fulfilling a desire; thwart: but not frantic, and seeking inspiration from their history book. ``Our spirits are good,'' Bruins tackle Chad Overhauser said. ``We're excited. We want to play right away. It's not like we've gotten annihilated and have no confidence. We've been in this situation before.'' Their memories of the 1993 season, once happy and distant, are now crammed cram v. crammed, cram·ming, crams v.tr. 1. To force, press, or squeeze into an insufficient space; stuff. 2. To fill too tightly. 3. a. To gorge with food. in the cerebellum cerebellum (sĕr'əbĕl`əm), portion of the brain that coordinates movements of voluntary (skeletal) muscles. It contains about half of the brain's neurons, but these particular nerve cells are so small that the cerebellum accounts for alongside the game plan for No. 11 Texas, filling the collective psyche with hope that good times will return. The parallels between '93 and '97 are unmistakable and, the Bruins hope, unavoidable: Then, as now, they started 0-2. Then, as now, they opened with a tough conference loss - Cal in '93, Washington State in '97 - then wasted an upset opportunity against a top-10 team. That year, it was No. 8 Nebraska. This year, No. 3 Tennessee. The '93 team had an experienced junior quarterback (Wayne Cook), a superb offensive line, a standout safety (Marvin Goodwin) and a tailback tail·back n. Football The back on an offensive team who lines up farthest from the line of scrimmage. tailback Noun Brit a queue of traffic stretching back from an obstruction named Skip Hicks Brian "Skip" LaVell Hicks (born October 13, 1974 in Corsicana, Texas) is a former American football running back in the NFL. In his four seasons, Hicks played for the Washington Redskins and the Tennessee Titans. . Sound familiar? The losses to Cal and Nebraska in '93 were littered with turnovers, penalties and shanked shank n. 1. a. The part of the human leg between the knee and ankle. b. A corresponding part in other vertebrates. 2. a. The whole leg of a human. b. A leg or leglike part. opportunities. But the Bruins held their ground, turned the season around with a 28-25 victory at No. 17 Stanford, then won seven straight and steamed into the Rose Bowl. ``It's very similar,'' said Overhauser, one of nine current Bruins on the roster in '93. ``Back then, we knew we were good enough to beat Cal and Nebraska, but we just couldn't break through. We used that as motivation and never got depressed.'' And this season? The Bruins believe they're as good as Washington State and Tennessee, believe they should have won both games. A big play here, a break there . . . and they're 2-0. That thinking may be wishful wish·ful adj. Having or expressing a wish or longing. wish  ful·ly adv.wish , but it has served a purpose: Their confidence is unwavering. ``The Rose Bowl is absolutely realistic,'' quarterback Cade McNown Cade McNown (born January 12 1977 in Portland, Oregon) is a quarterback who played in the National Football League. He attended played college football at the University of California, Los Angeles. said. ``I've said it before and I'll say it again: I think we are a championship-type team. My friends tell me, `Cade, you're the best 0-2 team in the country.' It's tough, but I know we've got a good team. We're using what happened in '93 as a source of optimism.'' McNown's is not a lone voice. ``We've still got the whole season ahead,'' strong safety Larry Atkins said. ``We still have a chance at the Rose Bowl. It's not out of reach yet.'' Penalties, turnovers and bad decisions have pestered the Bruins like mosquito bites. Just when one stops itching itching or pruritus Stimulation of nerve endings in the skin, usually incited by histamine, that evokes a desire to scratch. It is often transient and easily relieved. Pathological itching with skin changes usually signals dermatologic disease. , another springs to life. But there's nothing wrong with their vision. Instead of being hypnotized by the possibility of 0-3, their gaze is fixed on the temporal: Texas, Texas, nothing but Texas. ``I haven't thought about 0-3,'' linebacker Brendan Ayanbadejo said. ``It's kind of scary, but we can't look at it like that. We just have to get out there and get after Texas.'' Coach Bob Toledo Bob Toledo (born March 4, 1946, in San Jose, California) is an American football coach, recently hired as head coach at Tulane University. He is best-known as the thirteenth head coach at UCLA. , disgusted by the effort and execution at Washington State, rarely spoke to his players last week. When he did, it was a scream or shout. But he has changed his approach this week. Instead of criticizing, he's cajoling. He's inspiring. Like a parent, he has switched from bad cop to good cop. ``Last week they knew I was upset with them,'' Toledo said. ``I was upset with the coaches, too. But this week will be a little different. I'll be the upbeat guy, show them I love them, because they gave a great effort against Tennessee. ``We haven't quit, we've played hard and eventually we'll win a game. It'd better be this week.'' The Mirror has a Rosey Face The last time UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX started a season 0-2 was 1993, and it responded with seven straight wins and a Rose Bowl appearance: 1993 Game 1: California - Loss, 27-25 - Wayne Cook's interception kills game-winning touchdown drive in final minute. Game 2: Nebraska - Loss, 14-13 - No. 8 Cornhuskers survive when Skip Hicks' long touchdown run is nullified nul·li·fy tr.v. nul·li·fied, nul·li·fy·ing, nul·li·fies 1. To make null; invalidate. 2. To counteract the force or effectiveness of. by a holding penalty; Bruins can't punch through in final minutes. 1997 Game 1: Washington State - Loss, 37-34 - UCLA's winning touchdown drive ends 1-yard short with seconds remaining. Game 2: Tennessee - Loss, 30-24 - Bruins dominate No. 3 Volunteers in second half but don't make the plays in final minutes. CAPTION(S): Box Box: The Mirror has a Rosey Face (see text) |
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