3 UCLA players nominated for College Football Hall of Fame

UCLA had three players nominated for the College Football Hall of Fame on Thursday -- Ken Norton Jr., John Sciarra and Cade McNown.

Ken Norton Jr.

The record book: Arguably the best linebacker UCLA has ever produced, with Anthony Barr waiting in the wings. Norton was a big part of four consecutive bowl victories, including the 1986 Rose Bowl. He was named All-American in 1987 and went on to earn four Super Bowl rings -- three as a player, one as a coach.

Not in the record book: Norton had as big an impact across town from Westwood. He was an assistant and a highly effective recruiter at USC from 2004-09, much to many UCLA fans’ chagrin.

John Sciarra

The record book: Sciarra helped end USC’s three-year visitation rights on the Rose Bowl. He not only led the Bruins past USC for the Pac-8 title, he beat top-ranked Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. Sciarra was the game MVP and was named first-team All-American.

Not in the record book: Sciarra replaced Pat Haden as quarterback at La Puente Bishop Amat Memorial High. A few years later, Paul McDonald followed in those footsteps. It gave Bishop Amat three quarterbacks who won four Rose Bowls as starters during the 1970s.

Cade McNown

The record book: McNown was a four-year starter at UCLA and left as the school’s all-time leading passer with 10,708 yards. He was a consensus All-American in 1998, when he led the Bruins to the 1999 Rose Bowl, where they lost to Wisconsin, 38-31.

Not in the record book: Had it not been for a hurricane, McNown would likely have taken the Bruins to the 1999 national championship game. An early-season game against Miami was postponed. When it was played at the end of the season, Miami running back Edgerrin James had become Edgerrin James.

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