Believe the hype: Bob Chesney proves UCLA is a dark horse contender

All aboard in Westwood. The Bob Chesney hype train is taking off.

UCLA's new coach began his tenure with a resounding bang, defeating longtime rival California 45-24 in a game that epitomized the legacy of Pac-12 After Dark, while showing promise in the new era of Bruin football.

Finally, a summer of anticipation is validated.

It wasn't a ranked matchup, but the stakes couldn't have been higher in the battle between the pillars of the University of California system. Both programs that know what success looks like, but haven't tasted much of it in recent decades. So, they finally decided enough is enough.

UCLA brought in Chesney, Cal brought in Tosh Lupoi and instantaneously, each brought energy into their programs they had been desperately seeking. For the first time in a long time, it felt like all the pieces were aligning in Westwood and Berkeley for gridiron success. There was belief — and proof — this could work. The page had finally been turned and the stars were aligned.

But talk is cheap. You got to go out and prove it, and what better to do so than against each other.

The matchup lived up to it. It was back-and-forth…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/sports/