UCLA Football: The Ten Greatest Wins Over Rival USC

1.  1996, 48-41 (2OT):  The only overtime game in the history of this rivalry!

I'm sure that everyone from the two schools remembers that day—the Bruins were down by 17 points halfway through the fourth quarter after R.J. Soward went nuts with those 70-yard touchdown runs.

Yes, I was there, and the next thing I knew after LaVale Woods fumbled (which allowed us to tie the score), we blocked their winning field goal attempt to force OT.

Everybody in Bruin Nation recalls quite fondly the 25-yard Skip Hicks touchdown run in the second OT that won the game after we were dominated for three and a half quarters.  

I know I do.

I remember after the game lying down in my seat thanking God for that miracle, which is what it was, and also seeing Soward crying like a baby on the way back to USC's locker room, as well as some hysterical Trojan fan kicking trash in a temper tantrum outside the Rose Bowl.

And the best thing about that day?

That game was purely for pride—no bowl game was at stake and nothing was on the line for either team.

Often that makes for the best games, because teams playing for just pride have nothing to lose.

Kind of like the UCLA Bruins this Saturday.

That's about it for my list. Hopefully it will produce good memories from Bruin fans, in light of what's likely to happen on Saturday.    

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