Is UCLA Football Cursed?

When I heard that UCLA defensive lineman Datone Jones had broken his foot in a non-contact drill during the Bruins’ fall practice, and would subsequently miss a minimum of four games, it led me to ponder this question:

Is the UCLA football program cursed?

It may seem a bit far fetched to some, but there is some evidence to this theory…

First, two offensive linemen who were expected to make big contributions this year, Jeff Baca and Stan Hasiak, were ruled academically ineligible for this season (Baca’s ineligibility pending an appeal).

Just a few weeks earlier, three recruits were released from their letters of intent and transferred to other schools because they were involved in the theft of a backpack, while Mike Harris, another offensive lineman, was suspended for UCLA’s opener at Kansas State on Sept. 4th.

All of that happened this summer, making it an eventful one in Westwood; not quite as eventful as what has happened crosstown at USC, but quite eventful nonetheless.

Next, I recalled in 2009 Micah Kia, yet another key man on the offensive line, tearing an ACL during fall practice and having to sit out that season. Nik Abele having to retire due to injury didn’t help matters any, as it depleted the personnel up front even more.

The clinching incident to all of this misfortune happened during coach Rick Neuheisel’s first year in 2008.

During preseason practice that year Ben Olsen and Patrick Cowan, both experienced quarterbacks who figured heavily in the Bruins’ plans, went down with season – and as it turned out, career – ending  injuries on the same day.

Combined with a patchwork offensive line and having to rely on third stringer Kevin Craft, that pretty much doomed things in Westwood that season.

I imagine that quite a few folks would say that these injuries, suspensions, and ineligibility are merely unfortunate coincidences.

However, considering that the Bruins sport a rather mediocre record of 24-27 over the past four seasons and combining that with the misfortunes of this summer and before, all leads me to say that…

Yes, there is a curse on UCLA Bruin Football, at least to some degree.

Please don’t misunderstand me here; stating what I have just stated does not mean that I’m giving up on this season before it starts. The Bruins could well have people step up, particularly its freshmen, go on a tear, and be a contender in the Pac-10 race.

Unfortunately, I fear that any more freak injuries like the one Jones, who was the only returning member of that defensive line, suffered will only strengthen my convictions of this curse.

Maybe I AM being superstitious, but it’s difficult to explain all of these recent negative events any other way.

Let’s hope that these injuries and incidents that keep happening in Westwood will cease immediately.