Sixteenth-ranked Houston needed a late comeback – 17 points in the fourth quarter – to beat UCLA in the 1979 opener at the LA Coliseum, 24-16. The win was UH’s first-ever game in California.
In the first half, UCLA drove inside the UH 20 three times – and inside the 10 twice – but had to settle for field goals. The Bruins led 9-0 at halftime. UH’s scoring issues
“They didn’t give us anything in the first half,” head coach Bill Yeoman said. “In the second half, they still didn’t give, but we took.”
After trading punts to start the 3rd quarter, linebacker David Hodge intercepted a pass at the Bruin 31. Five plays later, Delrick Brown threw a TD pass to Hubert Miller. After another UCLA punt, Brown scored from a yard out to end an 18-play, 89-yard drive. On their next drive, the Coogs scored in three plays, thanks largely to a 67-yard run by Brown around the left end. Then John Newhouse went right end for 16 yards and Houston’s third score in as many drives.
After a late field goal by Ken Hatfield, four players had scored six points each for the Cougars: Hatfield, Brown, Newhouse, and Miller. Brown ran for 98 yards on 11 carries.
The Veer was notorious for starting slow in season openers, especially on the road. From 1974 to 1979, UH opened on the road four times, scoring 3 total points in those four first halves (The Coogs were 3-1 in those games).
“It was obvious that we were not ready to play in the first half,” Yeoman said. “For us to escape with a win is a credit to the kids.”
UCLA had played in the LA Coliseum for over 50 years when UH went there to open the 1979 season. Before the game, Terry Donahue was 15-0 at home against teams not named USC. The Bruins left the Coliseum for the Rose Bowl in 1982.
