LOS ANGELES -- In 2000 and 2001, UCLA swept Alabama in a home-and-home series. In 2000, the Crimson Tide were ranked No. 3 but couldn't stop running back DeShaun Foster. In 2001, the Bruins' victory in Tuscaloosa was keyed by a goal-line stand.
UCLA was the more physical team, and that wasn't up for debate.
"They dominated us on both sides of the line of scrimmage," then-Alabama coach Mike DuBose said after Foster piled up 187 yards and three scores in Pasadena in 2000.
So the notion that the Bruins are manning up and getting nasty and physical this spring isn't exactly a revolution in Westwood.