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1985 UCLA Bruins football team

American college football season

American college football season

FieldValue
year1985
teamUCLA Bruins
sportfootball
conferencePacific-10 Conference
short_confPac-10
CoachRank7
APRank7
record9–2–1
conf_record6–2
head_coachTerry Donahue
hc_year10th
off_coachHomer Smith
oc_year8th
codef_coach1Bob Field
codc1_year4th
codef_coach2Tom Hayes
codc2_year4th
stadiumRose Bowl
championPac-10 champion
Rose Bowl champion
bowl[Rose Bowl](1986-rose-bowl)
bowl_resultW 45–28 vs. [Iowa](1985-iowa-hawkeyes-football-team)

Rose Bowl champion The 1985 UCLA Bruins football team was an American football team that represented the University of California, Los Angeles during the 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their tenth year under head coach Terry Donahue, the Bruins compiled a 9–2–1 record (6–2 Pac-10), finished in first place in the Pacific-10 Conference, and were ranked #7 in the final AP Poll.

UCLA defeated defending national champion BYU 27–24 in Provo to start the season, and tied eventual SEC and Sugar Bowl champion Tennessee. The Bruins opened the Pac-10 season by losing 21–14 at Washington. They later got two key wins, the first against Arizona State, the second at Arizona. For much of the season, the rushing defense was ranked second in the nation, behind Oklahoma. They won the rest of their games leading to the 1985 USC vs UCLA game.

Needing a win against 4–5 USC, UCLA struggled. Gaston Green and Mel Farr Jr. had fumbles in the game. UCLA was leading in the fourth quarter 13–10 when Eric Ball fumbled at the USC 1 as he was about to score what would have been the clinching touchdown. Freshman quarterback Rodney Peete led USC on a drive, converting a key fourth down along the way. In the last two minutes, USC again faced a fourth down, this time at UCLA's 2-yard line. USC scored to take a 17–13 lead, then intercepted UCLA quarterback David Norrie as he tried to lead a Bruin comeback. UCLA's loss opened the door for Washington to grab the Rose Bowl berth, but they were upset by Washington State the same day, 21–20. Washington lost the advantage due to their upset home loss to Oregon State. This put Arizona State in position to win the conference as they entered their rivalry game with Arizona with only one conference loss (40–17 to UCLA). But later that evening, Arizona defeated Arizona State 16–13 to cause a tie between UCLA, Arizona State, and Arizona. UCLA won the tiebreaker and the Rose Bowl berth by virtue of its wins over Arizona and Arizona State.

UCLA ended the regular season with a record of 8–2–1, and head coach Terry Donahue had been named Pac-10 Coach of the year. Five Bruin players were first team All-Pac-10: defensive tackle Mark Walen, offensive tackle Mike Hartmeier, kicker John Lee, nose guard Terry Tumey, and inside linebacker Tommy Taylor. Walen was named Pac-10 defensive player of the year. UCLA finished ranked #1 in the nation in rushing defense, at 70.3 yards per game. Oklahoma was second with 89.9 yards per game.

The Bruins went on to defeat #4 Iowa in the 1986 Rose Bowl. Running back Eric Ball was selected as the most valuable player in the 1986 Rose Bowl.

UCLA's offensive leaders in 1985 were quarterback David Norrie with 1,819 passing yards, running back Gaston Green with 712 rushing yards, and wide receiver Karl Dorrell with 565 receiving yards.

Schedule

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Game summaries

At No. 8 BYU

First quarter

  • UCLA – John Lee 25-yard field goal, 8:57. Bruins 3–0.
  • BYU – Gary Webster 24-yard field goal, 3:23. Tied 3–3.
  • UCLA – Craig Rutledge 65-yard interception return (Gary Webster kick), 1:26. Bruins 10–3. Second quarter
  • BYU – Mark Bellini 10-yard pass from Robbie Bosco (Gary Webster kick), 13:47. Tied 10–10.
  • UCLA – John Lee 35-yard field goal, 6:28. Bruins 13–10.
  • BYU – Glen Kozlowski 7-yard pass from Robbie Bosco (Gary Webster kick), 3:29. Cougars 17–13. Third quarter
  • UCLA – John Lee 20-yard field goal, 5:29. Cougars 17–16. Fourth quarter
  • UCLA – John Lee 25-yard field goal, 9:01. Bruins 19–17.
  • BYU – Robbie Bosco 1-yard run (Gary Webster kick), 2:57. Cougars 24–19.
  • UCLA – Gaston Green 2-yard run (Gaston Green run), 1:02. Bruins 27–24.
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
UCLA Bruins}}; text-align:center;"**UCLA**PassingMatt Stevens6/11, 113 yards
RushingMarcus Greenwood13 rushes, 71 yards
ReceivingMike Sherrard6 receptions, 98 yards
BYU Cougars}}; text-align:center;"**BYU**PassingRobbie Bosco29/41, 340 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
RushingVai Sikahema6 rushes, 54 yards
ReceivingVai Sikahema8 receptions, 129 yards

At Tennessee

San Diego State

At Washington

Arizona State

At Stanford

At Washington State

California

;California

  • Brown 7/15, 78 Yds
  • Barbero 5 Rush, 31 Yds
  • Vince Delgado 6 Rec, 47 Yds, TD ;UCLA
  • David Norrie 12/19, 191 Yds, TD, INT
  • Eric Ball 14 Rush, 101 Yds
  • Karl Dorrell 2 Rec, 56 Yds

UCLA moved into first place in the Pac-10 with the win.

At Arizona

Oregon State

At USC

First quarter

  • UCLA – Eric Ball 1-yard run (John Lee kick). ''UCLA 7–0. '''Drive:'''''
  • USC – Joe Cormier 34-yard pass from Rodney Peete (Don Shafer kick). ''Tie 7–7. '''Drive:''''' Second quarter
  • UCLA – John Lee 22-yard field goal. ''UCLA 10–7. '''Drive:'''''
  • UCLA – John Lee 34-yard field goal. ''UCLA 13–7. '''Drive:''''' Third quarter
  • USC – Don Shafer 38-yard field goal. ''UCLA 13–10. '''Drive:''''' Fourth quarter
  • USC – Rodney Peete 1-yard run (Don Shafer kick). ''USC 17–13. '''Drive:''''' ;Top passers
  • UCLA – David Norrie – 14/21, 178 yards, 2 INT
  • USC – Rodney Peete – 8/15, 101 yards, TD, INT ;Top rushers
  • UCLA – Gaston Green – 28 rushes, 145 yards
  • USC – Ryan Knight – 32 rushes, 147 yards ;Top receivers
  • UCLA – Karl Dorrell – 5 receptions, 61 yards
  • USC – Joe Cormier – 8 receptions, 101 yards

Vs. No. 4 Iowa (Rose Bowl)

2:12 p.m.

Main article: 1986 Rose Bowl

Personnel

  • Terry Donahue
  • Greg Robinson (DL)

1986 NFL draft

The following players were drafted into professional football following the season.

References

References

  1. Dodds, Tracy – [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-11-06-sp-4753-story.html True Grit on Ground : Walen Anchors UCLA's Ranked Rushing Defense]. ''Los Angeles Times'', November 6, 1985
  2. Dodds, Tracy – [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-11-13-sp-5322-story.html UCLA Bruins, Alias Smith and Jackson : Sophomore Outside Linebackers Have Earned the Respect of Their Coaches] ''Los Angeles Times'', November 13, 1986
  3. Dodds, Tracy – [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-11-24-sp-1765-story.html Wildcats Find the Way to Lift Bruins' Spirits]. ''Los Angeles Times'', November 24, 1985
  4. Oates, Bob – [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-11-25-sp-1674-story.html Strange Plays Beat Sun Devils : To UCLA's Benefit, Arizona State Was Own Worst Enemy]. ''Los Angeles Times'', November 25, 1985
  5. Dodds, Tracy – [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-11-25-sp-1676-story.html Donahue Says UCLA Didn't Back In : Coach Points Out Bruins Finished With the Best Record]. ''Los Angeles Times'', November 25, 1985
  6. UCLA had a record of 6–2, both ASU and Arizona were 5-2 having played one fewer conference games. The University of Arizona football Media Guide in the 2013 season lists the Wildcats as finishing tied for second place. The Arizona State University Media Guide in the 2013 season listed the Sun Devils as having finished in third place. The Pac-12 Media guide lists ASU and Arizona having tied for second with UCLA in sole possession of first place.
  7. [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-11-27-sp-4777-story.html Donahue and Walen Win Honors in Pacific-10 Conference]. ''Los Angeles Times'', November 27, 1985
  8. University of Oklahoma Football Media Guide. University of Oklahoma Athletic Department. Norman, Oklahoma: University Printing Services 1986
  9. "1985 UCLA Bruins Schedule and Results". Sports Reference LLC.
  10. "1985 UCLA Bruins Stats". Sports Reference LLC.
  11. (September 8, 1985). "UCLA beats BYU, ending Cougars' win streak at 25". Lexington Herald-Leader.
  12. (September 15, 1985). "UCLA's comeback kids are at it again, 26–26". The Los Angeles Times.
  13. Steve Dolan. (September 22, 1985). "Aztecs watch as ball bounces in UCLA's favor, 34–16". The Los Angeles Times.
  14. (September 29, 1985). "Huskies bite UCLA 21–14". The Macon Telegraph & News.
  15. (October 6, 1985). "UCLA handles ASU". The Daily Breeze.
  16. (October 13, 1985). "UCLA rips Stanford 34–9; Muster gone?". The Sacramento Bee.
  17. (October 20, 1985). "Luck eludes Cougars, UCLA wins 31–30". The Sunday Oregonian.
  18. (October 27, 1985). "UCLA leads Pacific-10". Statesman-Journal.
  19. (November 10, 1985). "UCLA escapes Tucson with 24–19 victory". The Los Angeles Times.
  20. (November 17, 1985). "UCLA, Lee not perfect, just winners". The San Bernardino County Sun.
  21. (November 24, 1985). "Trojans shock Bruins 17–13". The Sacramento Bee.
  22. (January 2, 1986). "UCLA has too much for Iowa". Spokane Chronicle.
  23. (September 29, 1985). "Huskies jolt Bruins, 21-17". Eugene Register-Guard.
  24. "UCLA spins Cal to hold the top." Eugene Register-Guard. 1985 Oct 27. Retrieved 2019-Jan-08.
  25. UCLA-Southern Cal Box Score. Gainesville Sun. 1985 Nov 24. Pg. 4F. Retrieved 2020-Dec-12.
  26. (January 2, 1986). "ROSE BOWL; U.C.L.A. WALLOPS IOWA". New York Times.
  27. "1986 NFL Draft". [[Sports Reference.
Info: Wikipedia Source

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