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By Adam Karon

Daily Bruin Reporter

If one word could describe the 2000 UCLA season, it would be “ouch.”

From the first series against Alabama to the final snap against USC, the Bruins faced an uphill battle against injuries that plagued starters on both sides of the ball. That said, there was more to the Bruins’ season than pain and suffering.

Expectations were high heading into the 2000 season, particularly after a disappointing 1999 campaign in which the team finished a dismal 4-7. With Cory Paus and DeShaun Foster settling in as regulars for the first time, the Bruins looked to contend for the Pac-10 title.

Unfortunately, the Bruins (6-5 overall, 3-5 Pac-10) were separated from their title hopes like Paus’ shoulder on the third play of the season. Shortly after, preseason All-Pac-10 selection Kenyon Coleman went down for the year. While things did not necessarily go downhill from there, it was a struggle for the Bruins to retain some of the swagger that helped them down then-No. 3s Alabama and Michigan early in the season.

“It was better than last year because we played much better,” Paus said. “But it was still disappointing.”

Finishing the season with two losses did not help alleviate the disappointment the team felt with what they considered a sub-par year. No single aspect of the Bruins’ game can be blamed for the team’s finish. The defense struggled much of the year. The 20 points allowed to Michigan was a season low for a unit troubled by injuries on the front line. Despite this, the Bruin defense made some huge plays at times to keep the team in the game when it needed the effort.

“We were 3-0 coming off of two number three teams,” defensive end Rusty Williams said. “We were on our way to the top.”

“Obviously, we could have done better,” added junior linebacker Robert Thomas. “We went through some ups and downs this year, but we have another opportunity to play and we’re all excited.”

Fortunately for the team, the ups and downs were confined to the playing field and away from the parking lots. The Bruins took huge steps towards improving the team’s reputation following last year’s disabled parking scandal.

Offensively, Freddie Mitchell stands out as UCLA’s most solid performer in 2000. The junior wideout finished the regular season with a UCLA single season record of 1,314 yards. He averaged 119.5 yards a game, second in the nation. Mitchell is one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the nation’s best receiver. In addition, he was the only Bruin named first team All-America by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.

Robert Thomas was the glue that held a battered UCLA defense together all year. Despite playing the end of the season with an injured ankle, Thomas led the team with 80 tackles and led the Pac-10 with six forced fumbles. The junior linebacker was one of 11 semi-finalists for the Butkus Award, presented annually to the best linebacker in the nation.

Mitchell and Thomas were named the team’s offensive and defensive MVPs, respectively.

Throughout the season UCLA refused to blame their disappointments on injuries. Despite dipping as deep as third string across the defensive line, most Bruins claimed that a lack of execution, not injuries, was the main problem.

“Injuries obviously set us back,” Williams said. “But that’s something you have to overcome.”

The word “overcome” took on a special meaning for UCLA this year. The Bruins failed to score first in 10 of its 11 games this year, putting the team in a hole to start each game, something they were at times able to overcome.

On the season, the Bruins were outscored 347-333. The team gave up almost twice as many rushing yards as it accumulated, but was able to pass for nearly 500 more than opponents. The defense can take solace in the fact that UCLA finished the season with a plus-seven turnover ratio.

Individually, DeShaun Foster led the team in scoring with 72 points by way of 12 touchdowns. Chris Griffith was a close second with 69 points on nine field goals and 42 extra points.

“We don’t feel like we achieved our goals,” Williams said when asked to sum up the season. “But we don’t lose many guys, and we have a lot to build on.”

Next year should be a good one, as long as the Bruins can stay on the field and out of the trainer’s room.