After the UCLA football team’s memorable win over USC, I, like many of my UCLA friends and family, was in a state of sheer ecstasy. And why not? The Bruins just beat their crosstown rival and snapped their 3-game losing streak. It was also UCLA’s third win of the season, so getting a victory in this autumn of frustration, simply felt good.
UCLA next faces Stanford, a team they have lost to 10 consecutive times. Imagine if UCLA beats them, how crazy will that fan reaction be? But that is not the point. The point is not for UCLA to go into the game against the Cardinal thinking they just beat a champion and will slaughter Stanford, because they didn’t and they won’t.