What Is 1959 UCLA Bruins football team

Overview

The 1959 UCLA Bruins football team represented the University of California, Los Angeles during the 1959 NCAA University Division football season. Led by second-year head coach Bill Barnes, the team competed as a member of the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU), the precursor to the Pac-12 Conference. Despite modest results, the season reflected a transitional period for the program as it sought greater national prominence.

The Bruins played their home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, one of the largest stadiums in college football, which provided a significant home-field advantage. While the team did not achieve a winning record, several individual performances stood out, and the season laid groundwork for future improvements under Barnes’ leadership.

• Record: The team finished with an overall record of 5–4–1, including a 3–3–1 mark in conference play, placing them in the middle of the AAWU standings.
• Head Coach: Bill Barnes was in his second season as head coach, having taken over in 1958, and continued to shape the team’s offensive and defensive strategies.
• Home Stadium: All home games were held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, a 101,000-seat venue that hosted both UCLA and USC football games.
• Key Player: Quarterback Don Long led the offense, throwing for 658 yards and 4 touchdowns, the most on the team that season.
• Notable Game: A 13–13 tie against Stanford on November 14, 1959, was one of the few scoreless ties in UCLA history, highlighting defensive struggles on both sides.

Season Performance

The 1959 season showcased both promise and inconsistency for the Bruins, as they alternated wins and losses throughout the campaign. Their schedule included regional rivals and emerging West Coast programs, providing a competitive but balanced slate.

• Opening Game: UCLA began the season with a 33–6 victory over Loyola Marymount, setting an optimistic tone with strong offensive execution.
• Conference Play: In AAWU competition, the Bruins split their games, defeating California (13–0) and Oregon State (14–13), but losing to Washington (13–14).
• Defensive Challenges: The team allowed 149 total points over 10 games, averaging 14.9 points per game, which ranked them below the national average.
• Offensive Output: UCLA scored 138 points for the season, averaging 13.8 points per game, with most of the scoring driven by Long and running back Ray Smith.
• Final Game: The season concluded with a 20–14 loss to crosstown rival USC, a game that underscored the growing intensity of the rivalry.
• Postseason: The Bruins did not qualify for a bowl game, finishing unranked in the final AP Poll and Coaches Poll.

Comparison at a Glance

Comparing the 1959 UCLA season to adjacent years reveals trends in performance and coaching development:

The 1959 season served as a pivot point between a disappointing 1958 campaign and the resurgence seen in the early 1960s. While not dominant, the 5–4–1 record indicated improvement, foreshadowing UCLA’s stronger performances under Barnes in subsequent years, culminating in a Rose Bowl appearance in 1962.

Why It Matters

The 1959 season may not stand out in terms of championships or national rankings, but it played a crucial role in the evolution of UCLA football during a formative decade. It highlighted the challenges of building a consistent program and underscored the importance of continuity in coaching and player development.

• Program Development: The 1959 season was part of a rebuilding phase that eventually led to UCLA’s first Rose Bowl berth in 1962.
• Coaching Stability: Bill Barnes remained head coach through 1964, allowing for long-term strategy and player recruitment consistency.
• Player Development: Quarterback Don Long’s performance in 1959 helped establish a foundation for future offensive schemes.
• Rivalry Intensity: The loss to USC in 1959 intensified the crosstown rivalry, which has since become a key fixture in the college football calendar.
• Historical Context: This season occurred during the early years of the AAWU, which later evolved into the Pac-8, Pac-10, and Pac-12 conferences.
• Legacy Value: The 1959 team is remembered as a transitional squad that helped bridge UCLA from mediocrity to competitiveness in the 1960s.

Though overshadowed by more successful seasons, the 1959 UCLA Bruins football team contributed to the long-term growth of the program and remains a footnote in the university’s athletic history.