The image was poignant.
There was UCLA quarterback Kevin Craft, surrounded by the media, talking about remaining calm. There, on the Rose Bowl's giant video screen, was Bruins Coach Rick Neuheisel being anything but sedate, whipping fans into a frenzy.
The reason for both photo ops could be seen in the faces of the Tennessee players as the 18th-ranked Volunteers trudged off the field following UCLA's 27-24 victory in overtime.
"Look at Coach Neuheisel," Craft said. "He's driving them nuts."
The emotion of the moment was oozing from Neuheisel, with a fireworks display as a backdrop, moments after Tennessee's Daniel Lincoln hooked a 34-yard field-goal attempt wide left. It gave Neuheisel his first victory as head coach of his alma mater, with a soda pop bath from players a gooey reminder of the sticky situation his team had survived.
Yet, the level pulse Craft displayed in describing the game in monotone voice was just as symbolic.
Through the first half, Craft would drop back to pass and the Volunteers band would cue up "Rocky Top." Four of his passes in the half were intercepted, one of which was returned for a touchdown.
Yet, it was Craft who was humming a merry tune at the end. He took the Bruins on two fourth-quarter drives that produced touchdowns, then waited out overtime. When Kai Forbath's 42-yard field goal held up as the game-winner, Craft was unruffled in the postgame postmortem.
"I didn't get rattled at halftime," Craft said. "I have played this game before."
Besides, he said, "the whole team came to me and said, 'We got your back.' Guys came up to me before the start of the second half and said the same thing."
Comforting words that led to a half of discomfort for the Volunteers.
Craft completed 18 of 25 passes for 193 yards after halftime.
He drove the Bruins 80 yards, completing six of six passes for 71 yards. The drive ended with a three-yard touchdown run by Raymond Carter that gave the Bruins a 17-14 lead with seven minutes left.
It lasted five minutes, the time it took for the Volunteers to drive for a touchdown.
Craft shrugged when asked about the disappointment. "We went back to work," he said.
He took the Bruins 70 yards, completing six of eight passes for 66 yards. He finished it with a three-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Moya that would have been the game-winner if the game had been Hollywood scripted.
