1975 UCLA Bruins football season
Encyclopedia
The 1975 UCLA Bruins football
team represented UCLA in the 1975 NCAA Division I football season. Coached by Dick Vermeil, he led the Bruins to their first conference championship in 10 years, and a win in the Rose Bowl
over an undefeated and number 1 ranked Ohio State team.
. After the game, Woody Hayes
prophetically told his team that they would be facing UCLA again in the Rose Bowl. UCLA was the only opponent to score more than 14 points in a game all season against Ohio State, and they did it twice.
In addition to the 41–20 Ohio State loss, UCLA had also lost at home to Washington 17–13 and was tied by Air Force 20–20, but managed to win all their other Pac-8 games, including a fumble-plagued 25–22 win over cross town rival USC in the UCLA-USC rivalry
to clinch the Rose Bowl berth. In that Friday night after Thanksgiving game, UCLA fumbled 11 times and lost 8 of them, but their maligned defense bailed them out time and time again. UCLA ended up tied with California for the Pac-8 championship, but advanced to the Rose Bowl on the strength of their 28–14 win in an October matchup with the Golden Bears. The 1975 USC-UCLA game was legendary coach John McKay's final game at the Coliseum.
It was the only Rose Bowl appearance for Dick Vermeil
in only his second season coaching at UCLA. He would leave to coach the Philadelphia Eagles
after the season.
.
The following players were claimed in the 1976 NFL Draft
.
UCLA Bruins Football
The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll...
team represented UCLA in the 1975 NCAA Division I football season. Coached by Dick Vermeil, he led the Bruins to their first conference championship in 10 years, and a win in the Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
over an undefeated and number 1 ranked Ohio State team.
Regular season
Ohio State handed UCLA its first loss of the season, 41–20, on October 4, 1975 at the Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum
The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a large outdoor sports stadium in the University Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, at Exposition Park, that is home to the Pacific-12 Conference's University of Southern California Trojans football team...
. After the game, Woody Hayes
Woody Hayes
Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Denison University , Miami University , and Ohio State University , compiling a career college football record of 238–72–10.During his 28 seasons as the head coach of the Ohio...
prophetically told his team that they would be facing UCLA again in the Rose Bowl. UCLA was the only opponent to score more than 14 points in a game all season against Ohio State, and they did it twice.
In addition to the 41–20 Ohio State loss, UCLA had also lost at home to Washington 17–13 and was tied by Air Force 20–20, but managed to win all their other Pac-8 games, including a fumble-plagued 25–22 win over cross town rival USC in the UCLA-USC rivalry
UCLA-USC rivalry
The UCLA–USC rivalry is the American college rivalry between the UCLA Bruins sports teams of the University of California, Los Angeles and the USC Trojans sports teams of the University of Southern California ....
to clinch the Rose Bowl berth. In that Friday night after Thanksgiving game, UCLA fumbled 11 times and lost 8 of them, but their maligned defense bailed them out time and time again. UCLA ended up tied with California for the Pac-8 championship, but advanced to the Rose Bowl on the strength of their 28–14 win in an October matchup with the Golden Bears. The 1975 USC-UCLA game was legendary coach John McKay's final game at the Coliseum.
It was the only Rose Bowl appearance for Dick Vermeil
Dick Vermeil
Richard Albert "Dick" Vermeil is a former American head coach for the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles , St. Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs...
in only his second season coaching at UCLA. He would leave to coach the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
after the season.
Schedule
| Game | Date | Opponent | Result | Bruins points | Opponents | Record |
| 1 | Sept. 13 | Iowa State | Win | 37 | 21 | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | Sept. 20 | Tennessee | Win | 34 | 28 | 2–0–0 |
| 3 | Sept. 27 | @ Air Force | Tie | 20 | 20 | 2–0–1 |
| 4 | Oct. 4 | Ohio State | Loss | 41 | 20 | 2–1–1 |
| 5 | Oct. 11 | @ Stanford | Win | 31 | 21 | 3–1–1 |
| 6 | Oct. 18 | @ Washington State | Win | 37 | 23 | 4–1–1 |
| 7 | Oct. 25 | California | Win | 28 | 14 | 5–1–1 |
| 8 | Nov. 1 | Washington | Loss | 13 | 17 | 5–2–1 |
| 9 | Nov. 8 | @ Oregon | Win | 50 | 17 | 6–2–1 |
| 10 | Nov. 15 | Oregon State | Win | 31 | 9 | 7–2–1 |
| 11 | Nov. 28 | @ USC | Win | 25 | 22 | 8–2–1 |
Players and coaches
34 returning lettermen from Coach Dick Vermeil's first team that was 6–3–2 in 1974.Offense
- Norm Andersen, SE
- Gus Coppens LT
- Phil McKinnely, LG
- Mitch Kahn, C
- Randy CrossRandy CrossRandall "Randy" Laureat Cross , is a football analyst and former NFL offensive lineman. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in July 2011.-High school years:...
, RG - Jack DeMartinis, RT
- Rick Walker, TE
- John SciarraJohn SciarraJohn Michael Sciarra is a former professional American football safety in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1978 to 1983. He also played quarterback for the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League...
QB - Wendell TylerWendell TylerWendell Avery Tyler , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 3rd round of the 1977 NFL Draft. A 5'10", 198 lbs...
, LHB - Eddie Ayers, RHB
- Wally HenryWally HenryWallace Henry is a former professional American football wide receiver.-NFL career:Henry played in the National Football League for six seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles...
, FL
Defense
- Tim Tennigkeit, LT
- Terry Tautolo, ILB
- Cliff Frazier, NG
- Kelly Stroich, ILB
- Bob Crawford, RT
- Dale Curry, OLB
- Raymond Burks, OLB
- Levi Armstrong, LCB
- Oscar Edwards, RCB
- Matt Fahl, S
- Pat Schmidt, S
Coaches
- Dick VermeilDick VermeilRichard Albert "Dick" Vermeil is a former American head coach for the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles , St. Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs...
, Head Coach - Lynn Stiles, Asst. Head Coach
- Jim Criner, Asst. Varsity Coach
- Terry DonahueTerry DonahueTerry Donahue is a former American football, player, coach, and executive and, currently, a football analyst. He served as the head football coach at the University of California, Los Angeles from 1976 to 1995, compiling a record of 151–74–8. From 2001 to 2005, Donahue served as...
, Asst. Varsity Coach - Rod Dowhower, Asst. Varsity Coach
- Jerry Long, Asst. Varsity Coach
- Billie Matthews, Asst. Varsity Coach
- Bill McPherson, Asst. Varsity Coach
- Carl PetersonCarl PetersonCarl D. Peterson grew up in Long Beach, California, and is an alumnus of UCLA. He is best known as the former president, general manager, and chief executive officer of the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League...
, Asst. Varsity Coach - Dick TomeyDick Tomey-External links:* *...
, Asst. Varsity Coach - Mike Flores, Graduate Asst. Coach
Awards and honors
- John Sciarra, QB, All-Conference, NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship, ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All America, National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame Scholarship, NCAA Top Eight Award,
- Randy Cross, G, All-Conference
- Fulton Kuykendall, LB, All-Conference
1975 team players in the NFL
The following players were claimed in the 1975 NFL Draft1975 NFL Draft
The 1975 National Football League Draft was held on January 28–29, 1975.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
.
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL club |
| Fulton Kuykendall Fulton Kuykendall Fulton Kuykendall was a former NFL football player. He is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles who played pro football from 1975–1985 for the Atlanta Falcons. The lanky 6-5 225 lb Kuykendall started primarily at inside linebacker for the Falcons from 1976–1983, making the... |
Linebacker | 6 | 132 | Atlanta Falcons 1975 Atlanta Falcons season The 1975 Atlanta Falcons season was the Falcons' 10th season. The Falcons drafted Steve Bartkowski with their first round pick in the NFL Draft.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Standings:-References:**... |
| Eugene Clark | Offensive Guard | 9 | 222 | Pittsburgh Steelers 1975 Pittsburgh Steelers season The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the 1975 season defending their AFC Central and Super Bowl IX titles from the 1974 season. Throughout the 1975 season they not only improved on their 10–3–1 record from the previous year, but once again won the AFC Central Division Title and their second franchise... |
| Art Kuehn Art Kuehn Arthur Bert Kuehn is a former American football Center in the National Football League for the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots.... |
Center | 15 | 384 | Washington Redskins 1975 Washington Redskins season The 1975 Washington Redskins began with the team trying to improve on their 10-4 record from 1974.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Standings:-References:... |
| Myke Horton | Offensive Tackle | 17 | 428 | New England Patriots 1975 New England Patriots season The New England Patriots finished the National Football League's 1975 season with a record of three wins and eleven losses, and finished tied for fourth in the AFC East division.-Staff:-Schedule:- Standings :-Roster:... |
The following players were claimed in the 1976 NFL Draft
1976 NFL Draft
The 1976 National Football League Draft was an annual player selection meeting held on April 8–April 9, 1976. It lasted 17 rounds, with the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks making the first two selections. The expansion teams were also given a pair of extra picks at the end of...
.
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL club |
| Cliff Frazier | Defensive Tackle | 2 | 41 | Kansas City Chiefs 1976 Kansas City Chiefs season The 1976 Kansas City Chiefs season ended with a third consecutive 5–9 record and no playoff berth.Buck Buchanan announced his retirement in February, while Len Dawson announced his own departure on May 1. Off the field, Jack Steadman was promoted to team president and Jim Schaaf was named general... |
| Randy Cross Randy Cross Randall "Randy" Laureat Cross , is a football analyst and former NFL offensive lineman. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in July 2011.-High school years:... |
Center | 2 | 42 | San Francisco 49ers 1976 San Francisco 49ers season The 1976 San Francisco 49ers season was their 27th in the National Football League. They began the season with the goal of improving on their previous output of 5-9. There were able to do so, starting the season 6-1; however, after a four game losing streak, they finished 8-6 and missed the... |
| John Sciarra John Sciarra John Michael Sciarra is a former professional American football safety in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1978 to 1983. He also played quarterback for the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League... |
Defensive Back | 4 | 103 | Chicago Bears 1976 Chicago Bears season The 1976 Chicago Bears season was their 57th regular season completed in the National Football League. The club posted a 7-7 record, in their second season under Jack Pardee.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Standings:-References:... |
| Phil McKinnely | Tackle | 9 | 246 | Atlanta Falcons 1976 Atlanta Falcons season The 1976 Atlanta Falcons season was the Falcons 11th season.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Standings:-References:**... |
| Norman Andersen | Wide Receiver | 11 | 299 | Chicago Bears 1976 Chicago Bears season The 1976 Chicago Bears season was their 57th regular season completed in the National Football League. The club posted a 7-7 record, in their second season under Jack Pardee.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Standings:-References:... |
| Terry Tautolo | Linebacker | 13 | 353 | Philadelphia Eagles 1976 Philadelphia Eagles season -Off Season:After coaching #12 UCLA in a win over #1 Ohio State in the 1976 Rose Bowl by the score of 23–10 Dick Vermeil was offered the Head coaching job of the Philadelphia Eagles... |
| Brett White | Punter | 15 | 412 | Philadelphia Eagles 1976 Philadelphia Eagles season -Off Season:After coaching #12 UCLA in a win over #1 Ohio State in the 1976 Rose Bowl by the score of 23–10 Dick Vermeil was offered the Head coaching job of the Philadelphia Eagles... |
| Dale Curry | Linebacker | 15 | 430 | Dallas Cowboys 1976 Dallas Cowboys season The 1976 Dallas Cowboys season was their 17th in the league. The team improved on their previous output of 10–4, winning eleven games. They qualified for the playoffs, but lost in the Divisional round.-Schedule:-Playoffs:-Standings:-Roster:... |
External links
- UCLA Bruins on College Football Reference
- UCLA Bruins Official site of the UCLA Athletic Department