By Andy Jasner
CBS SportsLine Staff Writer
Sept. 12, 1998
PASADENA, Calif. -- If last year's loss was dubbed "Rout 66," what should we call this one, "Highway 49?"
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UCLA's 49-31 victory over Texas on Saturday at the Rose Bowl wasn't quite as devastating as last year's 66-3 thrashing in Austin, but the Bruins did make a loud statement.
"Actually," said UCLA quarterback Cade McNown, "we could have played better."
McNown couldn't have played much better in his 1998 debut. The Heisman candidate completed 20 of 30 passes for 339 yards, three TDs and one interception in a near-flawless effort.
With a surprising 113-yard performance from running back Jermaine Lewis and 250 all-purpose yards from dazzling freshman Freddie Mitchell, McNown's job was a little bit easier.
NOT MANY PEOPLE EXPECTED THIS game to be this easy after what transpired last year. Texas' players talked all week about exorcising the demons and getting revenge.
So much for that theory.
"I'm very disappointed," said Texas running back Ricky Williams, who was a bright spot with 160 yards rushing and three touchdowns, surpassing Earl Campbell as the school's all-time leading rusher with 4,530 yards. "I thought we'd play a lot better and win the game. We have a lot of things to correct.
"I still have confidence in this team, but I have to say I couldn't have imagined this type of game today."
UCLA's Mitchell has imagined game situations for two years. And with his electrifying speed and poise, he got the ball right away.
All Mitchell did was toss a 34-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Brian Poli-Dixon on a called option play. Mitchell also rushed for 30 yards, caught four passes for 108 yards and returned three kickoffs for 78 yards.
Not bad for your first collegiate game.
"I was pretty nervous before the game because it's been a while since I have played," said the 5-foot-11 Mitchell, who hails from Lakeland, Fla. "Once I settled down and got out there running around, I felt great. It was great to be playing again."
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Cade McNown picked up where he left off last season in the Bruins' 49-31 rout of Texas on Saturday. (AP)
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WOULDN'T IT HAVE BEEN just as great to play for nearby schools such as Florida and Florida State? FSU coach Bobby Bowden sure could have used him in Saturday's 24-7 loss to North Carolina State.
"I followed both of them, but I liked it here, and thought I'd have a better chance to play right away," Mitchell said. "I didn't want to sit for a couple years. I've waited so long as it was. I think I made the right decision. The players and coaches here have been great.
"I couldn't have asked for a better situation. I'm excited about our team and what we can do this season."
It was the Bruins' first victory this season and their 11th consecutive, which is a school record. They dropped their first two games before reeling off 10 consecutive games last season, starting with the 63-point victory at Texas.
"UCLA has been around a long time and has great tradition in football," Bruins coach Bob Toledo said. "For us to have that kind of winning streak makes me very proud. Our goal was to win the first game, and we did that. My goal has always been to win the Pac-10 and eventually compete for the national championship. We're on pace right now."
TEXAS, MEANWHILE, ISN'T exactly on the same pace. Lost in last Saturday's 66-36 victory over New Mexico State was the fact it surrendered 36 points to a lowly opponent.
Coach Mack Brown is a terrific recruiter and will turn this program around. But it won't happen this season.
"We're not a great football team, and we know that," Brown said. "We played with more confidence, and they started looking more like a football team in the second half. We made more big plays in the first half this week than last. It's just UCLA is a much better football team than New Mexico State.
"I'm really proud of the way our team came back in the second half. They never quit and played hard to the very end."
Andy Jasner is a sportswriter on CBS SportsLine's staff.