Can Dorrell, Bruins get out of free fall?

Two weeks ago, USC was down by 23 late and on the road against Oregon State. The Trojans found determination and grit and pushed back to miss overtime by a fingertip deflection of a two-point conversion. The attitude continued last week and they destroyed Stanford.

Two weeks ago, UCLA was at home against Washington State and ahead at halftime. The Bruins got shut out in the second half, losing in a 37-15 game not as close as the score. The attitude continued last week in a loss to Cal.

Given the performance under their current staff, is it any wonder that UCLA All-Americans Ken Norton and Wendell Tyler either want to coach at USC or want their sons to play there next season?

KEN HAYMAKER

Woodland Hills

*

I read the recent stories about Karl Dorrell and his act is getting tired. It gave me eye disease from reading the same old words and same descriptions of a coach out of his element. It’s so stale the newspaper broke in half when I got to the second paragraph. I am now ashamed to have gone to UCLA because it is JC Penney in a Macy’s world.

TIMOTHY M. WAGNER

Torrance

*

Before Pete Carroll jumps ship for a pro team, UCLA should fire Coach Dorrell and try to grab Norm Chow.

UCLA messed up when it didn’t go after Mr. Chow four years ago. Now it has a great opportunity.

JOHN H. BROWN

Rialto

*

It was nice reading about UCLA’s 1954 national championship team [“Crowe’s Nest,” Nov. 6]. Those Bruins and Karl Dorrell’s team have something in common -- this year’s team isn’t going to the Rose Bowl, either.

JACK WOLF

Westwood