The 1972 UCLA Bruins Football Season: A Year of Upsets and Resurgence

The 1972 UCLA Bruins football team represented the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in the Pacific-8 Conference (Pac-8) during the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. The season was marked by a stunning upset victory over the top-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers, a strong run in conference play, and a final ranking of No. 15 in the AP poll. This article delves into the key aspects of the season, including coaching staff, roster, preseason expectations, game highlights, offensive and defensive statistics, and the season's overall impact on the UCLA football program.

Coaching Staff and Strategy

The 1972 UCLA Bruins football team was led by head coach Pepper Rodgers, who was in his second season after being hired in December 1970 to succeed Tommy Prothro. A key element of Rodgers' approach in 1972 was an emphasis on a balanced offense, particularly through continued use of the Wishbone formation, which he had implemented the prior year and which leveraged the team's quarterback and running back talent for a more dynamic attack. This strategy contributed to the Bruins' turnaround, culminating in an 8-3 finish and a No. 15 ranking in the final AP poll.

The coaching staff featured notable additions and holdovers that shaped the season's preparation. Homer Smith joined as offensive coordinator in 1972, his first of three stints at UCLA, where he served as the architect of the Wishbone offense that powered the team's improved rushing efficiency. Terry Donahue, a former UCLA defensive lineman and All-American, continued as offensive line coach after joining the staff in 1970 under Rodgers. Donahue's role focused on developing the unit's fundamentals and cohesion, laying groundwork for his future success as UCLA's head coach from 1976 to 1995.

Roster Composition

The 1972 UCLA Bruins football team assembled a roster emphasizing a mix of experienced returnees and new talent, bolstered by the NCAA's recent decision to grant freshmen eligibility in football for the first time that season. Offensively, the quarterback position was led by junior Mark Harmon as the primary starter, with Rob Scribner serving as backup; both contributed to a balanced attack. The running back corps included returnees Kermit Johnson and Randy Tyler alongside James McAlister, forming a versatile group capable of handling Pac-8 defenses. Defensively, the unit was anchored by returnees Fred McNeill and Cal Peterson alongside Gerald Peeke and Tom Waddell for interior pressure. Linebackers included Steve Hookano and Gene Settles for tackling and coverage, while the secondary's defensive backs-such as returnees Allan Ellis and Jim Bright-addressed pass threats.

Preseason Expectations

Entering the 1972 season, the UCLA Bruins were unranked in both the Associated Press (AP) preseason poll and the United Football Coaches (UPI) coaches poll, reflecting low national expectations following a disappointing 2-7-1 finish in 1971 under first-year head coach Pepper Rodgers. In contrast, Pac-8 Conference rivals USC entered ranked No. 8 in the AP poll and Stanford at No. 20, positioning them as favorites for conference dominance alongside Washington.

Rodgers, in his second year at UCLA after a 5-6 record at Kansas in 1970, faced pressure to rebound from the program's worst season since 1959, with outlets highlighting the implementation of a new option offense as a potential catalyst for turnaround. Expectations centered on building momentum toward Pac-8 contention, though few pundits projected UCLA higher than mid-tier in the conference due to the loss of key contributors from 1971.

Key preseason storylines revolved around returning junior quarterback Mark Harmon, son of Heisman winner and former Bruin Tom Harmon, who was tabbed as the starter after transferring from the University of Oklahoma and showing promise in limited 1971 action. The defense, anchored by returning starters like linebacker Jackie Jensen and safety Randy Gaschler, was viewed as a unit capable of carrying the team with its speed and tackling prowess, potentially offsetting offensive inexperience. However, challenges loomed large with a demanding non-conference slate, including a season-opening matchup against preseason No.

Game Highlights and Key Moments

The 1972 season was filled with memorable games and defining moments that shaped the Bruins' journey. The season's most notable highlight was the Bruins' stunning 20-17 upset victory over the No.

Upsetting the Top-Ranked Cornhuskers

In his first game for the Bruins, Harmon led the wishbone offense and gained a late night upset of top-ranked Nebraska at the Coliseum. An 18-point underdog, UCLA was never behind; Nebraska had five turnovers but fought back to tie the score before halftime at ten and again early in the fourth quarter at seventeen.

Regular Season

Two weeks later, the Bruins lost at home to Michigan, but then won six straight and improved to 8-1 overall.

Read also: Bill Walton's Championship

September 16 at Pittsburgh
September 23 No. 12 Michigan
September 29 Oregon
October 7 Arizona
October 14 at Oregon State
October 21 at California
October 28 Washington State
November 4 Stanford
November 11 at Washington
November 18 vs. No. 1 USC

Season Statistics and Performance

The 1972 UCLA Bruins football team concluded the regular season with an 8-3 overall record and a 5-2 mark in Pacific-8 Conference play, securing second place in the conference standings behind USC.

Offensive Performance

The 1972 UCLA Bruins football team demonstrated a run-heavy offensive approach, accumulating 3,810 rushing yards over 11 games for an average of 346.4 yards per game, which ranked them highly within the Pac-8 Conference. Their passing game was more limited, totaling 653 passing yards at 59.4 yards per game with a 42.7% completion rate.

Individually, running back Kermit Johnson led the team in rushing with 952 yards on 140 carries (6.8 yards per attempt) and 7 touchdowns, while James McAlister followed with 778 yards on 158 carries (4.9 yards per attempt) and 9 touchdowns. Quarterback Mark Harmon paced the passing attack, completing 30 of 70 attempts for 574 yards, 6 touchdowns, and a 120.0 passer rating. Receiver Brad Lyman was the top pass-catcher with 13 receptions for 211 yards (16.2 yards per reception) and 3 touchdowns. Kicker Efren Herrera contributed significantly to the scoring, notably with key field goals, though comprehensive kicking statistics from the era are limited; the team's total offense produced 351 points (31.9 per game).

National and Conference Rankings

In national rankings, UCLA finished 10th in scoring offense (31.9 points per game) and 14th in Simple Rating System (SRS) at 16.34, reflecting their overall strength against schedule strength. Within the Pac-8, they led in rushing yards per attempt at 5.7. Advanced metrics included 5.9 yards per offensive play and a defense allowing 3.5 yards per rushing attempt, underscoring their ground game's efficiency.

The team did not secure a conference championship, with USC claiming the Pac-8 title at 6-1 compared to UCLA's 5-2 mark. No UCLA players received consensus All-American honors that year, though several earned recognition on All-Pac-8 teams for their contributions to the team's performance, including first-team selections running back Kermit Johnson, defensive tackle Rod Martin, and linebacker Randy Crowder.

Read also: UCLA's Championship Team

Season Outcome and Post-Season

The 1972 UCLA Bruins concluded their season with an 8-3 overall record and a 5-2 mark in Pacific-8 Conference play, securing second place behind undefeated USC. In the final polls, they ranked 15th in the Associated Press (AP) poll and 17th in the United Press International (UPI) poll, reflecting their status as one of the nation's top teams despite the losses.

Despite the solid record and national ranking, UCLA did not participate in a bowl game. The Pac-8 Conference maintained an exclusive tie-in with the Rose Bowl for its champion only, sending USC to face Ohio State on January 1, 1973; no second conference team was permitted until the addition of the Freedom Bowl in 1978, and at-large bowl selections that year favored teams from other major conferences with stronger historical bids.

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