Sixteenth-ranked Houston opened the 1979 season in the toughest way possible and still walked out with a win, rallying from a sluggish first half to beat UCLA 24-16 at the LA Coliseum.
The Cougars’ first trip to California turned into a grind early. UCLA kept marching into UH territory in the opening half, reaching inside the 20 three times and inside the 10 twice, but the Bruins came away with field goals each time. That left Houston staring at a 9-0 halftime deficit and plenty of work to do.
“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.”
Houston finally found its footing after the break. Following a pair of punts to open the third quarter, linebacker David Hodge picked off a pass at the Bruin 31.
Five plays later, Delrick Brown hit Hubert Miller for a touchdown. UCLA punted again, and Brown finished an 18-play, 89-yard drive with a one-yard score.
The Cougars were just getting rolling. On the next possession, Houston needed only three plays to score again, with Brown breaking loose for a 67-yard run around the left end to set things up. John Newhouse then turned the corner for 16 yards and Houston’s third touchdown in as many drives.
Ken Hatfield added a late field goal, and by the end of the night four different Cougars had reached the end zone or put up points: Hatfield, Brown, Newhouse and Miller. Brown carried 11 times for 98 yards.
The slow start fit a familiar pattern for the Veer offense. From 1974 through 1979, Houston opened on the road four times and managed only three total points in the first halves of those games. Even so, the Cougars went 3-1 in those contests.
“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 been playing in the LA Coliseum for more than 50 years when Houston showed up for that opener. Terry Donahue was 15-0 at home against teams not named USC before the game, and the Bruins would not leave the Coliseum for the Rose Bowl until 1982.
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