UCLA Coach Questions Low Rose Bowl Crowd After Undefeated Win

The UCLA Bruins extended their undefeated streak to 8-0 with a commanding 27-0 shutout victory against Nevada on Saturday at the Rose Bowl. This marked the program's first home shutout since 2007.

Despite the significant win, head coach Bob Chesney expressed disappointment with the game's atmosphere, noting the sparse crowd in attendance. Video surfaced showing a largely empty stadium as the teams took the field pregame, although attendance did increase as the game progressed.

"Just watch this game. The amount of improvement that has to go on here is significant. There’s no noise," Chesney stated post-game, referring to the crowd's lack of vocal support. He added, "The noise is us, in our own heads, in our locker room of getting better. Period."

Several factors may have contributed to the lower-than-expected attendance. The game fell on Halloween, potentially impacting student turnout. Additionally, Nevada is a non-conference opponent, and this was only the second meeting between the two schools. UCLA, a heavily favored team, demonstrated its dominance on the field.

UCLA Athletic Director Tim Harris had announced at the beginning of the season that all student tickets would be free, an initiative that has not significantly boosted game-day attendance.

Despite the lack of in-person support, Chesney remains focused on the team's performance and future development. "After every win, you feel like there is so much work left to be done. I don’t think you ever walk out of a game thinking… ‘man, we’ve made it.’ Not one guy on this team probably feels this way. Not one coach feels that way,” he said.

The Bruins are set to face a challenging test in their next game against Minnesota, who narrowly lost in overtime to No. 4 Indiana.