Like the Chilean miners emerging from the depths, college football has returned and. with it, the return of UCLA Bruins football. Last year was a rough year for UCLA fans, as the first year of the Chip Kelly era stumbled out of the gate and finished with a woeful 3-9 record. There were mass player departures, growing pains, and injuries which created something of a Year Zero for the Bruins, akin to a year-long practice session.
But even out of those ashes, a hopeful phoenix is beginning to rise. Because, while last year was bad (and I cannot stress it enough, last year was not good), there were signs that something was building.