UCLA vs. Fresno State Week 3: Social Media Reactions to the Bruins' Last-Minute Upset Loss
The Bruins had a whole extra week to ride their high and crack jokes at LSU's expense, but that trash talk met a swift end once Fresno State got to town.
No. 24 UCLA football (2-1) lost to the Bulldogs on Saturday night, a big step backwards in what looked like a major season of growth for coach Chip Kelly's squad. The narratives that had been prevalent through the first few weeks of the college football season weren't totally erased, but they were at least walked back quite a bit.
A slow start for quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson and essentially the entire Bruin squad didn't go over too well with the fans, as the contest's label of a trap game became clear right away.
From questioning coaching decisions to just plain old disappointment and embarrassment, it was not the most comfortable start for the Bruin faithful either.
One play epitomized the first half – Thompson-Robinson's self-forced fumble – and fans had flashbacks to when they used to be a regularity for the quarterback who has statistically improved in every category every year.
There was a lot of back-and-forth, and even a shred of hope for UCLA when it took multiple leads late in the game.
It was the perfect Pac-12 After Dark game, with fumbles, random two-point conversion attempts and questionable penalties and reviews featuring prominently.
Disbelief, shock and hints of depression seeped in once Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener led his team down the field in the final minute for the game-winning touchdown though, mixed in with some recognition for just how good he and the Bulldogs really are.
The loss seemed to wipe out a lot of good faith Kelly had built in the UCLA community over the past month or so, and some are ready to send him packing.
Defensive coordinator Jerry Azzinaro would be out the door yesterday too, if it were up to most fans or anyone who watched the fourth quarter play out.
As much doom and gloom as there was hanging over Westwood late Saturday night, Fresno State and its fans left the Rose Bowl pretty pleased with themselves for pulling off the upset.
The team account landed quite the blow with this pun, and the jab was well-deserved considering the Bulldogs have now won their last four games against the Bruins.
Some trash talk was a lot more personal, however.
Fresno State right tackle Alex Akingbulu, who transferred away from UCLA after Jim Mora was fired, was happy to get a win over his old team with a coaching staff he doesn't seem to fond of.
Interestingly enough, other Bruin alumni like Theo Howard, Keisean Lucier-South, Bolu Olorunfunmi and Jaleel Wadood either replied to or liked the Tweet in support of Akingbulu.
Akingbulu doubled down Sunday too, as he appeared to subtweet UCLA a bit one day removed from the game.
Fresno State running back Ronnie Rivers, who entered Saturday with 162 yards in three games, gashed the Bruins for 137 on the ground alone. He hit UCLA with the classic post-upset screen grab of the ESPN College GameDay
Fresno State the school is also probably pretty satisfied with the win too, considering they got paid big, beat a ranked opponent and made national headlines all in one night.
The Bruins will have to try and get people back on their side next Saturday when they play Stanford on the road.
Follow Connon on Twitter at @SamConnon
Follow All Bruins on Twitter at @SI_AllBruins
Like All Bruins on Facebook at @SI.AllBruins
Read more UCLA stories: UCLA Bruins on Sports Illustrated
Read more UCLA football stories: UCLA Football on Sports Illustrated
