Terry Donahue endured consecutive losing seasons in 1989 and 1990, the last time the Bruins went two straight years without going to a bowl game.
But would a just-scraping-by bowl game be enough to save Mora’s job in the wake of a 4-8 season the year before? UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero told The Times in December that his expectation for 2017 was for the Bruins to contend for the Pac-12 championship, a benchmark the team is obviously not meeting while tied with Colorado and Utah for last place in the Pac-12 South.
Mora's contract, which runs through 2021 and includes a $12-million buyout, might be one element working in his favor.