HICKS DOESN'T WANT DAY TO END.Byline: Eric Noland Daily News Staff Writer Long after the game had ended, as his 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 teammates were celebrating wildly in their locker room at the Rose Bowl, 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. stood on a podium in front of the student section, rocking with the band, basking in the cheers. A UCLA official had to drag him away. Much later, most of his teammates had stripped off their gear, showered and dressed. As they headed out the door, they waved across the room to Hicks, who still had part of his uniform on as he stood at his locker. There was adhesive tape on his ankles, eye black smeared on both cheekbones and a chevron of chalk on one calf - picked up from the goal line, no doubt. Ever have one of those days you just didn't want to see end? That was Hicks' situation late Saturday afternoon, following his thunderous performance against Washington in a 52-28 Bruins romp. ``This,'' Hicks eventually admitted, ``is one of the best days I've ever had in my life.'' So he savored it. Breathed it in. Held it. And for good reason. ``Anytime Skip comes to play, the Bruins are in good shape,'' said safety Shaun Williams Shaun LeJon Williams (born October 10, 1976 in Oakland, California) is a former American football safety, most recently for the Carolina Panthers, of the NFL. Williams attended Crespi Carmelite High School in Encino, California and played both tailback and safety. . ``He's come to play all this year and that's why we're doing well.'' Hmm. Almost all year. Hicks raised eyebrows and hackles hackles the hairs over the neck and back that are elevated by arrector pili muscles in response to fright or anger. A mechanism to threaten opponents, perhaps by appearing larger. in the first two games of the season, when he was too bushed to take the field in the critical, closing moments against Washington State and then fumbled late against Tennessee. After UCLA got off to a consequent 0-2 start, it was as if Hicks approached the remainder of the season as his personal mission to make amends. Against Washington, a team that had beaten the Bruins three straight, the UCLA tailback rushed for 147 yards, scored four touchdowns and made a broken-field run into the Pacific-10 record book. His season total of TDs climbed to 24, breaking the conference mark held jointly by Corey Dillon Corey Dillon (born October 24, 1974 in Seattle, Washington) is a former American football running back. He is retired from his football career, having played for the Cincinnati Bengals and the New England Patriots. Dillon attended the University of Washington and wore the number 28. of Washington and Marcus Allen of USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. . His career total reached 53, tying the Pac-10 mark set by USC's Charles White Charles or Charlie White may refer to:
And to think this dominant performance was foretold fore·told v. Past tense and past participle of foretell. . By Hicks himself. ``People on this team look up to me,'' he said afterward. ``But I'm a very lackadaisical lack·a·dai·si·cal adj. Lacking spirit, liveliness, or interest; languid: "There'll be no time to correct lackadaisical driving techniques after trouble develops" William J. Hampton. guy. A lot of guys were worried about it last week. They were saying, `Get excited! Get excited!' I was telling them, `Don't worry, I'll be ready. You know I'll be there.' '' Maybe Hicks sensed that he wasn't being convincing enough. So he endeavored to make his point more emphatically. The guy has been at UCLA for five years, but he says he had never gotten up and addressed his teammates. He finally did so at a team meeting Friday night. ``I assured them,'' said Hicks, ``that I would do whatever I had to do to win this game.'' Making good on the pledge, he produced his third straight 100-yard game and fifth of the year. Hicks had so much fun that they had to drag him off anyway. SELECT COMPANY UCLA tailback Skip Hicks continued his assault on the record books in Saturday's 52-28 rout of Washington. With four touchdowns, Hicks increased his 1997 total to 24, which broke the Pacific-10 single-season mark, held jointly by Corey Dillon of Washington (1996) and Marcus Allen of USC (1981). His career total of TDs reached 53, tying the Pac-10 record of Charles White of USC. Hicks can break the deadlock Saturday at the Coliseum - with White, a USC assistant coach, watching. This was the fourth four-TD game of his career, a feat no other player in UCLA history has accomplished. CAPTION(S): Photo, Box PHOTO Skip Hicks scores a touchdown in the third quarter against Washington. He had four for the afternoon, then stayed around afterward to rock with the band. Tom Mendoza Tom Mendoza joined Network Appliance, Inc. in 1994 and has served as its President since 2000. Mr. Mendoza has more than 31 years as a high technology executive and has served in an advisory capacity on the board of directors of Netscreen (acquired by Juniper), Rhapsody (acquired by / Daily News BOX: SELECT COMPANY (see text) |
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