• printer friendly
• mail this article
• iPod format
• digg

Monday, September 29, 1997

Skip Hicks has four down and a new record; now he wants five

By Brent Boyd

Daily Bruin Staff

"Touchdown, Skip Hicks."

"Touchdown, Skip Hicks."

"Touchdown, Skip Hicks."

In recent weeks, the phrase has been repeated so often that it only seems like a broken record to UCLA fans and opponents. Over and over again it is repeated by announcers on the television, on the radio and at the Rose Bowl.

But Saturday, "Touchdown, Skip Hicks," meant just that. A broken record.

When Hicks scampered for the right corner of the end zone on the Bruins' first play from scrimmage in the second half of their 40-27 victory over Arizona, the senior tailback broke the school's all-time mark for touchdowns scored with his 41st touchdown of his career. Gaston Green held the previous mark with 40 touchdowns from 1984-87.

"It's one of those things where everybody dreams of breaking records and I was able to do it," Hicks said. "It is something I'll never forget, something that I'll always look back on."

But Hicks knew he shouldn't share in the glory alone, a few other guys had a lot to do with his new record - namely the offensive linemen who block for him day in and day out.

"I told the offensive line, this record is as much yours as it is mine," Hicks said. "I'm going to give them as much credit as they deserve, and they deserve a lot. They are like my brothers."

Count junior right guard Andy Meyers as one of those linemen who open the holes for Hicks to run through and keep the defenders away from the star tailback.

"I definitely take a lot of pride in the record," Meyers said. "I've been here two years - it's been a great journey."

And what a long journey it has been for Hicks, who has had an unbelievable up-and-down career at UCLA.

As a freshman in 1993 he was heralded as one of the best youngsters in the world of college football and led the team in rushing yardage. A year later, he lost his starting job when he had to battle back from reconstructive knee surgery.

Then in 1995, despite playing the first few games, he sat out the majority of the season as a medical redshirt.

Last season, he set the UCLA single-season record with 20 touchdowns, and this year has come under fire for miscues in the first two games despite standing third in the nation in scoring.

Despite all he had been through as a Bruin, he had no idea he was even close to breaking the career mark until just recently.

"I didn't realize until last year when a buddy told me about it that I even had a shot at it," Hicks said.

With his fourth touchdown of the game, and his 13th of the season, coming only 61 seconds later, Hicks not only added on to his school record, but added his name on another page of the UCLA history books.

His touchdown runs of 8, 19, 4 and 3 yards made him only the 13th Bruin ever to score four touchdowns in one game (the fourth time in Hicks' career he has accomplished such a feat). It was the second time this season that Hicks had reached the apparently insurmountable four-touchdown mark.

"I'm still trying to get five," he said.

The fact that he didn't get his fifth (or for that matter, sixth) score irks Hicks. Twice the Bruins had the ball inside the Arizona five-yard line and came away with only field goal conversions to show for it.

Then with UCLA in command of the game in the final minutes, he was given a breather, while backups Keith Brown and Cheyanne Caldwell took over the rushing duties and ran out the clock with the Bruins standing at the Arizona seven-yard line.

"I was just playing by the proper rotation," Hicks said. "It was my turn to sit out and I was told not to be greedy."

Not only was a potential fifth touchdown on the mind of Hicks, but it was a hot topic of conversation on the sidelines as well.

"Yeah there was the temptation (to put him back in for the final minutes), but we didn't go for it," UCLA head coach Bob Toledo said. "I asked (offensive coordinator Al Borges) if we had a 30-yard running play and he said no."

Perhaps the most impressive part of Hicks' performance was the competition he did it against.

Prior to Saturday's contest, the Wildcats sported the 10th-best rushing defense in the nation - allowing just 61.3 yards per game on the ground and only 1.7 yards per attempt. And in the last 58 games, only 10 players had been allowed to rush for more than 100 yards.

Hicks finished the afternoon with 118 yards on 28 carries (4.2 yards per carry) and the aforementioned four touchdowns.

"They have a really good defense and it is a privilege to be able to gain 100 yards against them," Hicks said.

Serving as extra motivation for Hicks was his performance a year ago against the Wildcats.

In the Bruins' 35-17 loss in Tucson that eliminated UCLA from bowl contention, Hicks was held to only 48 yards on 21 carries - and his longest run was nine yards.

"I did think a lot about last year's game - particularly the night before," he said. "I just tried to go out and play hard and see what happened."

Well, it resulted in a new record, a big Bruin win, and a new promise from Hicks.

"Before I leave here, I'll get five."

Sounds like another broken record.

Comments

Post a comment