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The UCLA Bruins improved to 8-0 on the season with a 27-0 win at the Rose Bowl against Nevada on Saturday. It is the school’s first home shutout since 2007.
Maybe making it even more impressive was how well the defense played despite not having much of a 12th man.
Video surfaced of the Rose Bowl crowd as teams took the field pregame.
The Rose Bowl filled up a bit more as the game progressed but nevertheless was far from sold out.
After the win, rising star head coach Bob Chesney addressed the seemingly empty stadium on the field.
“Just watch this game. The amount of improvement that has to go on here is significant. There’s no noise,” Chesney said.
“The noise is us, in our own heads, in our locker room of getting better.
“Period.”
Granted, there were a few different reasons that led to the no-show from fans. It is Halloween, and the students did not show out as much as they might have otherwise. The Bruins were playing a nonconference opponent in Nevada for just the second time in school history.
UCLA was heavily favored and showed why on the field.
New UCLA athletics director Tim Harris announced to begin the season that tickets would be free to students. That has not made much of a difference.
Despite not garnering much support in person, Chesney knows what lies ahead.
“After every win, you feel like there is so much work left to be done. I don’t think you ever walk out of a game thinking … ‘Man, we’ve made it.’ Not one guy on this team probably feels this way. Not one coach feels that way.”
The Bruins will face arguably their biggest test of the season next week at Minnesota. The Golden Gophers came within two seconds of defeating No. 4 Indiana in Bloomington on Saturday, ultimately losing in overtime.
