EL PASO, Texas — Playing in every game of the Chip Kelly era means that Stephan Blaylock can tell you some things about perseverance.
The veteran safety has pushed through three losing seasons. Several rosters' worth of turnover among teammates. Trash-talking from fans that cut deeper than anything said by an opponent. A bowl game canceled only hours before kickoff, leading to a flood of tears.
Unlike scores of others who bolted amid the frustration and disappointment, Blaylock remained, a UCLA fixture as steady as the bear statue in Bruin Plaza, as reliable as an eight-clap in boosting spirits.
