Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl preview: 5 things to know about the UCLA Bruins

Bret Bloomquist, El Paso Times
·3 min read
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For the first time in nine years, the UCLA Bruins are headed back to the Sun Bowl, which will break an uncommonly long five-year bowl drought for the program.

That they would make a bowl was clinched six weeks into a 6-0 start spurred by one of the nation's best offenses.

This was the team the Sun Bowl hoped it would get and it did.

Here are five things to know about the Bruins as they prepare to face Pitt on Friday.

Laiatu Latu is one of the best stories in college football

UCLA linebacker Laiatu Latu (15) watches the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz., on Nov. 5. UCLA won 50-36.
UCLA linebacker Laiatu Latu (15) watches the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz., on Nov. 5. UCLA won 50-36.

The Sacramento, California, native looked like an instant impact player when he arrived at Washington in 2019 and played 12 games as a true freshman linebacker.

Then he missed the following year with a neck injury and his comeback in 2021 was thwarted when Washington's medical staff said he hadn't recovered sufficiently and announced him as retired.

Latu had none of that. He entered the transfer portal and UCLA gave him a second chance.

How did that go? Latu was named one of three national comeback players of the year after a season when he had 9.5 sacks, tying him for 10th nationally (with, among others, UTEP's Jadrian Taylor). He also had three forced fumbles.

Another special RB is coming to the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl

UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet runs the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Arizona on Nov. 12 in Pasadena, California.
UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet runs the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Arizona on Nov. 12 in Pasadena, California.

Last year the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl featured the nation's leading rusher in Central Michigan's Lew Nichols III. This year, UCLA tailback Zach Charbonnet leads the nation in all-purpose yards at 168 per game ‒ one spot ahead of Pittsburgh tailback Israel Abanikanda.

The Michigan transfer Charbonnet, a Football Writers Association of America first-team All-American, led the Pac-12 in rushing, was fourth nationally in yards per carry at 6.97, and is part of a devastatingly effective Bruins rush game.UCLA is fourth nationally in rushing offense at 246.3 yards per game (behind Air Force, Army and Ole Miss) and first in yards per rush (6.08).

Bruins have a good quarterback, too

UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson passes during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Arizona on Nov. 12, in Pasadena, California.
UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson passes during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Arizona on Nov. 12, in Pasadena, California.

The dual threat quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who merits the initialism DTR, set career highs with 250 completions, 2,883 passing yards, 25 passing touchdowns, a .698 completion percentage (that was fourth in the nation) and 631 rushing yards.

The best measure of DTR is what he's meant to the offense. The Bruins are third nationally in total offense (507.8 yards per game), 10th in scoring offense (39.6 points per game) and sixth in third-down conversions (52%).

UCLA hasn't bowled since 2017

The Bruins were set to play North Carolina State in the Holiday Bowl last year in a Pac-12 vs. ACC matchup, but the game was a late cancellation because of COVID issues with UCLA. Unlike the 2021 Sun Bowl, the Holiday Bowl couldn't find a replacement.

Before that the Bruins were down when Chip Kelly arrived in 2018 and suffered through three losing seasons.

This will end their longest bowl drought since a stretch from 1966-74. That was ended in 1975 when coach Dick Vermiel led the Bruins to a Pac-8 title and the Rose Bowl.

Why are they the Bruins? Grizzlies was taken

Branded as the Southern Branch of the University of California in 1919, the school adopted the nickname Cubs in deference of their junior status to the system flagship Cal Bears. In 1923 they became the Grizzlies, but when they joined the Pacific Coast Conference (a forerunner of sorts to the Pac-12) in 1926, another team that preceded them in that league, Montana, already had that name.

So, the school that later became known as UCLA (it took that name in 1927) adopted the name Bruins.That's worked out well. The institution is second only to Stanford in total national team championships across all sports with 120.

Famous athlete alums (there are a bunch) include Jackie Robinson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Arthur Ashe, Bill Walton and Troy Aikman.

Famous actors and actresses the school has produced include Carol Burnett, Leonard Nimoy, George Takai, Steve Martin and James Dean.

Bret Bloomquist can be reached at 915-546-6359; bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl preview: 5 things to know about UCLA Bruins