By Jon Gold
Staff Writer

PASADENA - Something happened to Kevin Craft on Saturday night, something hard to spot and even harder to define.

With almost no reps with the first- or second-string offense throughout UCLA's weeklong preparation for Washington, Craft entered the Bruins' 24-23 win over the Huskies on Saturday at the Rose Bowl a changed man.

He was looser, feistier, more willing to riff and rock and roll.

After redshirt freshman Kevin Prince went down with a concussion midway through the second quarter and freshman Richard Brehaut fumbled on his lone series, Craft came in and completed 10-of-14 passes for 159 yards and a score.

He had his moments - a flailing interception, kneeling for a two-yard loss because he thought the defense was offsides - but he was a different player than the guy who threw a team-record 20 interceptions last year.

He was loose, he was creative, he was confident.

He was fun.
"Shoot, I'm just going to go out there and play, have fun," Craft said. "Whatever happens, happens. There's no reason to get tight in a situation where it's close like that. You can't play not to lose. You have to play to win."

And the Bruins finally are.

Offensive coordinator Norm Chow opened up the playbook, running the Wildcat formation more than 10 times and constantly calling deep passes, and it paid off.

Of course, it helped that the offensive line had its best protection of the season.

"It's easy to play quarterback when you've got some time and space to throw it," Craft said. "A couple of times, the timing was messed up because I don't get some of the reps. A couple of them, I'm just running around and making plays."

Craft prefers to make something out of nothing, to be able to scramble around the pocket and let his receivers make second and third cuts to get open.

He feels more at ease.

With his offensive line.

With his wideouts.

With himself.

"I feel like I can come in and just play," Craft said. "I came in, I know everything that's happening, I know the offense, I know what I'm doing. Then it's just a matter of things not always happening how you draw them up. If something has got to happen, I'll let guys make plays.
"We have to let the guys on the team who can make plays, make them."

An Impassioned Plea
UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel stepped to the microphone as he does after every home game, and for the first time in weeks, he was welcomed with cheers.

His voice cracked, his hair messed, Neuheisel made a plea to all those who have jumped ship as one loss became five.

"For those of you who jumped off the bandwagon, I understand," Neuheisel yelled to UCLA's embattled fans. "I'm just asking you to get back on."

Stat Tracker
Nelson Rosario (seven catches, 111 yards) has back-to-back 100-yard games, the first Bruin to do so since Marcedes Lewis in 2005. His seven receptions were a career-high. ... Senior fullback Chane Moline's one-yard touchdown run was his first score in more than two years. ... Washington hasn't defeated UCLA at the Rose Bowl since 1995.

By Jon Gold
Staff Writer

PASADENA - UCLA giveth: Against Washington on Saturday at the Rose Bowl, the Bruins committed five turnovers, including a fumble in the red zone.

Washington taketh away: With five minutes, seven seconds left in the second quarter, Husky linebacker Donald Butler cracked starting quarterback Kevin Prince helmet-to-helmet on a scramble, knocking the emerging redshirt freshman out of the game with a concussion.

And yet despite all that, despite a five-game losing streak, a winless October and a bandwagon missing both axles and a steering wheel, UCLA snuck out of the Rose Bowl with a 24-23 win over the Huskies in front of 72,924.

Perhaps snuck out is wrong: the jubilant Bruins sprinted through the tunnel, whooping, wailing and hollering after their first win since Sept. 20.

"It makes you hungry," senior linebacker Reggie Carter said. "You play this game to win, never forget that. Regardless of how well you play as an individual, the objective is to win. We get hungry after every loss to get that nasty taste from our mouths and get this 'W.'"

All it took was a game-saving play by UCLA's man-on-the-scene.

After a Jeff Locke punt gave Washington the ball on the 10-yard line with 4:21 left to play, Husky quarterback Jake Locker went to work. Locker had been steady but unspectacular throughout the day, completing 20-of-37 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns. Willing to work the clock in what had become a possession game, Locker was efficient on the final drive, hitting 3-of-3 passes for 28 yards as Washington moved the ball to the UCLA 46-yard line.

Efficiency gave way to disaster, though, as Locker forced a pass into Jermaine Kearse, who was tightly guarded by freshman cornerback Sheldon Price. Price popped the ball up, and Bruin sophomore safety Rahim Moore plucked it from the air for his NCAA-leading eighth interception of the season.

"It's called teamwork, man, and teamwork makes the dream work," Moore said. "That two-minute drill, we do that in practice all the time. That's the camaraderie we have with one another. I mean, Sheldon ran up to me and was like, 'I love you, man. I love you, Rahim.' As a team, we've been through so much, to pull out this win is a blessing."

Before the blessing, there was a curse. Or many.

UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel stormed the UCLA sideline like a frustrated general, watching his troops cough up turnover after turnover.

Prince was sensational but for one throw before being knocked out with a concussion, completing 13-of-17 passes for 212 yards and a touchdown. His lone interception, though, led to three Washington points, as did the team's first turnover, a Terrence Austin fumble on a kickoff return.

Then there were the fumbles by freshman quarterback Richard Brehaut and redshirt freshman running back Johnathan Franklin and an interception by senior quarterback Kevin Craft.

Like Prince, Craft was solid besides his lone gaffe, completing 10-of-14 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown.

"There were some great things today - our throwing game getting the ball down the field and our receivers getting open - but we had far too many turnovers," Neuheisel said. "We finally got one back in the end, a very key play in the game, but we're fortunate to be sitting here with a win."

But a win is a win is a win for a reeling team.

A team now on a one-game winning streak, rather than a five-game skid.

A team now undefeated in November, not winless in October.

It is a new day, a new month, even, and the Bruins are putting the past in the past.

"I told them we were like bums on the street, just thirsty for a meal," Carter said, his smile wide and his eyes gleaming. "We finally got one. We ate today, and it tastes great. But regardless of the taste, I'm full, man. And I'll be hungry again tomorrow."

First: The UCLA offense, while committing five turnovers, had its best game of the season. Kevin PrinceCraft had decades to throw in the pocket, and it showed. Yes, two interceptions, I know. But if the Bruins commit to the deep pass as they did against Washington and in the last 10 minutes against Oregon State, there can be more good than bad.

10) The UCLA defense finally learned to trust each other. In the third quarter, Tony Dye had a pitch-perfect tackle: He let the receiver come to him, and he waited three seconds for help before taking him down. In the fourth quarter, Rahim Moore's interception developed because Sheldon Price did not go for the pick or the knockdown, but batted it in the air for Moore to cradle.

9) Johnathan Franklin is beating himself up right now, but he needs to shake it off quickly. He is the best pure running back on the team, and he just needs to get stronger.

8) Milton Knox: Not to say I told you so, but... He just looked so good in practice this week, that I thought he deserved a shot.

7) A+ for the offensive line. Incredible protection that allowed UCLA wideouts to make secondary cuts and weave their way through traffic.

6) Norm Chow finally threw the kitchen sink at a team, and it worked. Fine play-calling, and it makes me wonder what this offense would have looked like had Prince stayed healthy all year and matured.

5) Is it just me, or did the Bruin defense attack the quarterback on the blitz for the first time in a while? It didn't always work, but that kind of pressure gets in a quarterback's mind.

4) Three personal foul penalties, all by team leaders, is unacceptable. There should be major extra running for that.

3) If UCLA opens with Washington, Washington State and Arizona State, it starts 6-0. Weird scheduling quirk with five of the conference's six best teams in a row to start.

2) I would be shocked if the Bruins don't come out FIRING at Washington State. They're going to go all out.

1) Has it really been 49 days?

I just spotted Kevin Prince on the sidelines in a gameday hat, but walking around and coherent. I'd assume he'll be back for next week against Washington State.

Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks product Eric Folk just whiffed on a 37-yard field goal, and UCLA maintains its one-point lead.
UCLA stayed strong in the red zone and Folk looked like he took a bad approach.
Folk, you might remember, kicked for Notre Dame after a certain UCLA kicker named Kai.

The Bruins have lost their starting quarterback, given up more than 100 yards rushing and
committed five turnovers.
Yet they lead 24-23, as Kai Forbath converted a 27-yard field goal. Craft looked efficient at times, nailing open receivers. But there was also a dropped interception and a fumble on the series.

Drive Time: 8 plays, 55 yards, 3:07

Kevin Craft good: Weaving his way in the pocket, letting Embree get open, hitting him in motion.
Kevin Craft bad: Awful interception, not diving for fumble, missing wide receivers.
Still, UCLA is about to take a 1-point lead with 14:56 left in the fourth quarter.
Chow has let Craft play, though, and that's something to smile about.

Terrence Austin just came up with a circus catch, diving for a Kevin Craft 29-yard touchdown pass, dropping the ball on the catch before it popped out and he grabbed it again.
After an intentional grounding penalty put UCLA at 2nd-and-21, Craft came back with a fine pass to Nelson Rosario for a first down and then hit Austin for the touchdown.
This is one crazy game.

Drive Time: 3 plays, 39 yards, 50 seconds

Jermaine Kearse just leapt right over Sheldon Price to snag a perfectly thrown Jake Locker pass, and Washington once again scored off a UCLA turnover. The play went for 34 yards, and the Huskies have now scored 13 points off Bruin turnovers.
Things are not looking good at the Rose Bowl.

Drive Time: 4 plays, 50 yards, 1:47

Johnathan Franklin just had his second fumble of the game and UCLA lost its third fumble of the day after a review.
The Bruins now have three four turnovers.

I'm combing the sidelines and field before the start of the second half, and I don't see Kevin Prince anywhere. That is a really bad sign for UCLA, with all indications pointing toward a serious injury.
Kevin Craft is starting the half at quarterback for UCLA.
The announcer in the press box said Prince is being evaluated for concussion-like symptoms and his return is questionable.
Prince was knocked out with 5:07 in the second quarter after completing 13-of-17 passes for 212 yards and a touchdown and an interception.
Stay tuned.

* The loss of Kevin Prince means so much more than the loss of a quarterback who was beginning to put everything together. Now Norm Chow shrinks the playbook, the offense gets back into its little bubble, and the team cannot move forward. Truly a devastating loss.
* This defense is so poor on cutbacks its unbelievable. Chris Polk is getting stuffed at the line of attack then reverting outside, and UCLA cannot contain him. Polk has 102 yards on seven carries.
* Johnathan Franklin seems to be in the doghouse after fumbling once, dropping a pass and stumbling out to a 6-carry, negative-4 yard start.
* Nelson Rosario is becoming the go-to-guy, it seems. He has five catches for 67 yards and is consistently getting open.
* I'll stay on the Prince injury as much as I can. Stay tuned.

Kevin Prince was knocked out on a helmet-to-helmet hit, and UCLA went into the Wildcat formation for the first two plays, but Richard Brehaut is in at quarterback.

After Kevin Prince's first truly bad pass of the day - a lofted ball to Terrence Austin that was picked off by Desmond Trufant - gave Washington the ball at UCLA's 17-yard line, the Bruins got off easy.
The Huskies moved two yards on four plays and settled for another Eric Folk field goal.

Drive Time: 4 plays, 2 yards, 1:01

UCLA committed its third personal foul penalty of the day, after Kevin Prince was picked off by Washington's Desmond Trufant. Washington now has the ball to start at the UCLA 17-yard line. So far, Logan Paulsen, Brian Price and Kai Maiava have been flagged.
I understand frustration, but come on.

UCLA's goal-line defense stepped up for the second time, with Alterraun Verner again being the Husky killer.
Verner had a great open-field tackle on Chris Polk on the 2-yard line, and Akeem Ayers and Kyle Bosworth teamed up for a second big hit on the ensuing play.
Eric Folk capped off the drive with a 20-yard field goal.
Polk continues to punish the UCLA defense, though, as he's gone over 100 yards.

Drive Time: 82 yards, 11 plays, 5;16

UCLA's passing offense in the last 25 minutes has been downright fantastic. Kevin Prince in his last five series - 19-for-26 for 368 and three touchdowns. Wow.
The line is giving fantastic protection and Nelson Rosario and Co. are getting open.
The running game stalled with Johnathan Franklin struggling early, and the defense is giving up huge chunks of yardage.
UCLA leads 14-10 after one.

Kevin Prince continues to be simply fantastic, and not to be Debbie Downer here, but if he hadn't have broken his jaw against Tennessee, you gotta wonder.
Prince completed 4-of-6 passes (with a drop) for 76 yards, and Milton Knox had two nice Wildcat runs. Chane Moline capped off the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.

Drive Time: 11 plays, 80 yards, 4:25

After Terrence Austin fumbled the kickoff following Washington's first score, Eric Folk banged in a 30-yard field goal six plays later to put the Huskies up 10-7.
Alterraun Verner had a fantastic diving tackle to hold Washington on third down, forcing the field goal.

Drive Time: 6 plays, 18 yards, 2:08

Terrence Austin coughed up the ball on the ensuing kick return, and Washington starts with the ball on the UCLA 30. Austin should have bounced the run outside.

Washington marched down the field on four plays to tie the game on a Jake Locker-to-Jermaine Kearse 17-yard touchdown. Locker faced heavy pressure and delivered a precise pass to the side of the end zone, and Kearse simply made a fantastic play.
Chris Polk had a beautiful bounce back that led to a 27-yard run, the big hit on the drive.

Drive Time: 4 plays, 66 yards, 1:44

Incredible.
Absolutely incredible.
I don't know what happened to Kevin Prince with 10 minutes left to go in the Oregon State game, but this is a different person. Maybe the whole offense is different. Maybe Norm Chow and Rick Neuheisel are different.
But whatever happened, it is a good thing for UCLA.
Prince looked incredible on the team's first drive, 6-for-7 for 95 yards and a 1-yard touchdown to Cory Harkey on 4th-and-1 to cap off the Bruins' best, cleanest, most impressive drive of the year.
Yes, Johnathan almost fumbled away the red-zone opportunity, but I have yet to see Prince - or Chow, for that matter - display such confidence.
Incredible.

Drive Time: 88 yards, 9 plays, 3:33

The UCLA defense will have the first crack at Washington, as Jeff Locke will kick off to James Johnson and Quinton Richardson.
And there it goes...Locke banged it on the 1-yard line and Washington will have the ball at its own 20.

Here at the Rose Bowl on a foggy day for UCLA/Washington.
The Bruins looked zippy in their pregame throw-around, and they certainly understand that today is as good as any to end the five-game skid.
I expect to see a little more backfield creativity today, with Knox finally getting in the mix. He's had a great week of practice, and I'd be surprised if he didn't get at least a few touches today.

Andrew Albers Costa Mesa High School 2011
Tre Hale Damien High School 2010
Victor Woolem S. John Bosco High School 2011

Andrew Lewis Roosevelt High School 2011
Christian Soto Rancho Verde High School 2011
Garrett Gilliland Lutheran High School 2010

Marquan Major Las Vegas High School 2011
Andy Orozco Charter Oak High School 2011
Shaq Richardson Los Alamitos High School 2010

Tyler Gray Templeton High School 2011
Derek Stickney El Dorado High School 2010
George Uko Don Antonio Lugo High School 2010

Ryan Andrews Newport Harbor High School 2011
James Brock Crenshaw High School 2011
John Tavai Mira Costa High School 2011

LeJon Baker Crenshaw High School 2010
Wyatt Baker Servite High School 2011
Owamagbe Odighizuwa Douglas High School 2010

I'll be on John Clayton's ESPN 710 radio show tomorrow morning at 9:25 a.m. to talk global peace initiatives, ending world hunger and UCLA football. We might only get to UCLA football. Sorry if you tune in for the others.

Would love to have you all listen, as it should be a pretty cool gig.

Thanks
JG

Last season, as loss piled on loss, injury stacked on injury, UCLA found solace in Week 10 against a down-on-its-luck Washington team.

The Huskies were in the midst of a winless season that eventually culminated in the firing of head coach Tyrone Willingham. Star quarterback Jake Locker was sidelined with a broken thumb. Optimism gave way to realism, and the facts were simple: Washington was a lost cause.

Now the Huskies have a new coach, former USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian.
They have Locker back.
They have a huge win over USC in Week 3 under their belts.
It's safe to say, the Bruins aren't welcoming Washington into town this year with such open arms.

"Sark is off to a great start," said UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel, who coached the Huskies from 1999-2002. "They've had a couple of signature performances, and it's fun to see Husky Stadium jumping around again. I've watched bits and pieces of the SC game, and when the camera starts shaken, it harkens back to some fond memories."

Locker was at his best down the stretch against the Trojans, completing 4-of-4 passes for 56 yards as Washington drove down for the game-winning field goal.

Locker's return this season is not lost on Neuheisel.

Last year, the Bruins punished Washington backup quarterback Ronnie Fouch to a 7-for-22 performance, allowing just 39 passing yards and 135 total yards, the team's best defensive performance in nearly 20 years.

What a difference a year - and a new coach and a Davey O'Brien Award semifinalist - makes.

"What a fabulous player (Locker) is," Neuheisel said. "He's truly a remarkable guy. I know there are a lot of quarterbacks who get the accolades because of the program they're in. But I don't think there's a better quarterback in the country than him."

The UCLA coach hopes to one day say the same about his own quarterback.
If the fourth quarter last week against Oregon State was any indication, redshirt freshman Kevin Prince is on his way.

Prince completed 9-of-13 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns in nearly leading UCLA back from a 16-point deficit. The Bruins tied the game at 19 with just more than two minutes to play, but the Beavers marched down the field quickly and wide receiver James Rodgers ran the ball in from 17 yards out for the 26-19 win.

After Prince's best week of practice this season, Neuheisel thinks he could just be starting to blossom.

"I know that's a huge step in the right direction," Neuheisel said of the UCLA passing game. "Quarterbacking is a combination of ability and confidence. The conclusion of the Oregon State game, I think is a huge boon from a standpoint of confidence. Once you have that, it's much easier to come in and focus on getting better."

That has been Neuheisel's calling card this season, the "focus on getting better."
Too much time focusing on getting better without actually getting better, though, is a recipe for frustration.

And frustration is certainly starting to set in for a team that is 0-5 in Pac-10 play for the first time in 15 years and suffering its first five-game losing streak since 2003.

"Our guys are dying to win," Neuheisel said. "A week or so ago I talked about you can't get in that comfort zone or that protective cocoon of, `I'm not going to let this pain get to me. It's OK. I'm just going to keep doing my best.' We have to let it go and believe that everything is going to go exactly as we hoped. But you have to risk it before you can achieve it. You can't just go in there, and (think), 'It'll be OK if it doesn't go well.''"

But even in the midst of such a skid, Neuheisel still sees signs.
Then again, the ever-optimistic Neuheisel could find a single ray of sunshine on a rainy day.

"There's nothing magic about the plan," he said. "The magic is in the belief. Therein lies why patience is such a virtue. You just have to believe we're going in the right direction. I think there are signs.

"The quarterback had his best week of practice. Guys are getting healthier. Reggie Carter is healthier than he's been. Hopefully, it will lead to a great win on Saturday."

With basketball season upon us, I'm starting up a weekly UCLA sports podcast that will hopefully be available here, at Dailynews.com and on iTunes. We're working out all the kinks and I'll have a call-in number for you as well.

I'm looking for any suggestions or ideas, because I want to make this as fan-friendly as possible.

Please post comments here or email me at jon.gold@dailynews.com

Thanks guys,
JG

Check this out from up north:

Familiar Foes

Here's Rick Neuheisel's quick pep talk to the band, which plays at the end of every Thursday practice.
``If you bring your `A' game, I promise we'll bring ours,' '' he told them.

On a side note: I've just started tweeting on twitter. You can follow me at www.twitter.com/jillpainter

Aaron Hester is out for Saturday's game. X-rays on his leg were negative, but he's still not playing.

Rick Neuheisel believes Kevin Prince had his strongest week of practice yet. Andy Keane has an elbow injury, and Morrell Presley's left arm was in a sling. Presley has a shoulder sprain and will be out at least a week, maybe two. A UCLA official said Aaron Hester's X-rays on his leg that he fractured earlier this year were negative. Also, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times reports that quarterback Jake Locker is epxected to start on Saturday. He made it through today's practice.

Here's the info for the Westwood Bruin Touchdown Club breakfast on Friday, forwarded by Claudia Hart.

Westwood Bruin Touchdown Club
Friday Nov 6th -- 7 am
Guest Speakers:
Angus McClure, Director of On-Campus Recruiting
Mike Sherrard, UCLA receiver 1982-1985
UCLA Football Players:
#10 Akeem Ayers, LB
#83 Nelson Rosario, WR
#66 Ryan Taylor, OG
UCLA Spirit Squad
Olympic Collection
11301 W Olympic Blvd (at Sawtelle Blvd)
Free Parking
Cost: $25 includes buffet breakfast and program
For more information call Claudia Hart @ 310-348-UCLA or email at claudia4ucla@yahoo.com
GO BRUINS!

* The best thing about UCLA's 62-61 win over Concordia last night happened in the player's post-game press conference. Someone asked Mustafa Abdul-Hamid if Concordia was actually a good team, and the four players on stage - Abdul-Hamid, Drew Gordon, Malcolm Lee and James Keefe - each chuckled. While Ben Howland tried to say that the Eagles were a worthy opponent, the players knew better. They knew they played awful basketball and have a lot of work to do. Keefe said as much. It's important that UCLA knows that there wasn't much to be proud about.

* Abdul-Hamid may be an adequate replacement for scarce minutes, but Jerime Anderson is needed. Badly. Abdul-Hamid had seven turnovers, and while showing the resolve to hit the game-winning shot, they were bad, bad turnovers. On a young team, a steady presence at point guard will be crucial.

* Against good defenses and stronger, taller, faster defensive players, the Bruins can't rely on the outside game nearly as much. The team didn't shoot badly from distance, hitting 5-of-11 shots, but only 2-for-7 in the first half.

* Reeves Nelson is a good player, but he'll have his freshman flaws, as he shot 0-for-4 on free throws last night.

* Until the team gets in sync offensively, I think Nikola Dragovic is going to struggle. He thrives on set plays and working to get open, and the lack of team practice time wreaked havoc with UCLA's screens and picks.

Looks like Jake Locker's not progressing as much as anticipated:

Locker

Don't forget what happened last year with Locker out - UCLA dominated Ronnie Fouch and the Bruins had their best defensive performance in 20 years in a blowout win.

I caught up briefly with UCLA's only Heisman Trophy winner, Gary Beban. Beban remains a devoted UCLA fan, though he cannot follow the team as closely as he'd like from Chicago, where he works in global real estate.

Here's a little more on Beban: Gary Beban

In your Heisman Trophy campaign, you had just 156 attempts. For comparison, Kevin Prince has 167 in just six games. Talk about the differences between passing in 1967 and in 2009 and how offenses have progressed:
"I'm not sure they've progressed. We had a very balanced attack. The pass was used more for really quick scores. All the way through the three years we had wonderful receivers; we were really able to use the pass to go downfield, to try to score instead of a West Coast offense where you're trying to score first downs. Watching Oregon against USC, that Oregon offense would've been right up my alley.
"I think that with Pepper and Tom Prothro as coaches, we had more of a balance and used the pass for longer gains, rather than the small ones."

Do you still follow UCLA closely?
"It's very hard to do that from the Midwest. If you play past 3 o'clock we don't even know you played! It's a little hard to stay close on a game-to-game basis. I might check in on the big games, and I know there's been some struggles this year."

How can UCLA turn things around?
"I came into a program that had been puttering around for quite a while as well. My sophomore year was a very polarized team. Seniors who had lost a lot, sophomores who had never lost, and in the middle a handful of juniors who were very talented. A great coaching staff that Prothro had, made good players a great team. I don't know what that chemistry was. I don't know how that happened. We never thought twice about losing. Now, how we gain that confidence and that momentum has a lot to do with the coaches putting the right offense in for the players they had. The one thing I think that could have been a trait of those three years is we didn't make a lot of mistakes. I know that's been part of the story this year. I think the players have to commit to play that way. They have to make that commitment to themselves and their teammates."

Can things turn around quickly?
"Without having spent time with coaches or players for that matter, I don't think you can get caught up on what happened two or three games ago. I think you need to get caught up on the last game. What were our mistakes? Correct those, make sure you don't do them again. We always talked about not making the same mistake again."

Is it a matter of talent?
"My senior year, USC had nine first-round draft picks. My tight end was a dentist, my wide receiver became a police officer. We didn't have the talent like the other side of the ball, but we made it a ball game. As players you have to make this commitment that you're doing everything in your power to play at the highest level."

Talk about your Heisman Trophy season, what was the high point?
"I'm not sure that my award was a "year" award. I've made a comment - when voters looked at Gary Beban at UCLA, I think voters looked at three years. We were in contention for three years. We never lost on California soil until (losing to USC by one point in 1967). We didn't lose very often. And I think my award was more of a career award than a season award.
"The highlight was playing in that USC game we lost. It was a highlight because it was what we for shooting for, to play for a national championship. I think everybody left whatever they had on that field that day."

Does the team need another Heisman Trophy candidate at quarterback?
"I don't think that any team needs a Heisman Trophy candidate. You need good players who believe in themselves and are coached well, and when I say coached well, that means coaches adjust their system to the talent they have. Then the players have to make the commitment that when all is said and done, what happens on the field is their responsibility."

Also, here's more on the epic 1967 battle between UCLA and USC: Game of the Century

And Beban's 'My UCLA Moment': Beban Video

Mustafa Abdul-Hamid had seven turnovers tonight, but you probably won't remember those since he drained the game-winning 3-point shot with 16.1 seconds left in an exhibition game against Concordia. UCLA wins - barely - 62-61.
``It was a good pass,'' Abdul-Hamid said. ``I think it was James who made the pass. It was kind of instinct once you're there. Not thinking about it. Just doing what you're supposed to do ad knocking down an open shot. It was a tough game, a long game but I'm glad we all had the mental toughness to make a couple plays at the end and pull it out. They did a great job.''

UCLA, well, "won" against Concordia 62-61 tonight, but Ben Howland will not be happy.
That was 40 minutes of some sloppy basketball.
* UCLA's perimeter rotation was just dreadful, and Concordia made the Bruins pay.
* Drew Gordon was solid in the post but needs to convert easy baskets.
* BoBo Morgan looked decent early but became a non-factor.
* Jerime Anderson was sorely missed, and the Bruins will need his handles.
* Malcolm Lee certainly made strides from last season, but he needs to take care of the ball better.

Yesterday, tiny D-2 school LeMoyne shocked the basketball universe with an exhbition win at Syracuse.
A similar scenario is playing out at Pauley Pavilion.
NAIA powerhouse? Concordia leads UCLA 61-57 with 2:10 left, and the Bruins are having an awful night passing and defending the perimeter. Yes, two starters are out, but this is bad...

The Bruins have been downright sloppy with the ball, committing 10 turnovers as a team. UCLA has been good on the glass, with 23 rebounds to Concordia's 12. But almost every other time down the court, the Bruins have squandered an opportunity.
James Keefe and Drew Gordon have been solid in the post, combining for 7-of-9 shooting with nine points each. Malcolm Lee hasn't converted his opportunities, struggling to a 2-of-7 start.

In the early going against Concordia, the Bruins have too often settled for the long-range jumper, rather than using their size advantage down low.
There has been quick rotation, with several starters entering and exiting the game twice already.
Malcolm Lee has a couple of turnovers but has shown the ability to cut through the defense, and Reeves Nelson looked good on the boards.

More to come...

Here's the UCLA starting lineup for tonight's matchup with Concordia:

James Keefe, forward
Tyler Honeycutt, forward
BoBo Morgan, center
Mustafa Abdul-Hamid, guard
Malcolm Lee, guard

Check in for updates throughout the game...

Jerime Anderson, Michael Roll and Brendan Lane are all still out with injuries and in street clothes for tonight's exhibition game against Concordia.

* UCLA went at it in shells today, as Rick Neuheisel wants the team to be more fresh on Saturday for the Bruins 12:30 matchup with Washington.
* Morrell Presley was helped off the field clutching his shoulder after a particularly nasty hit on offense, and he came back to practice in a sling. Neuheisel said he thinks its a sprain, but Presley will have more testing.
* Aaron Hester sat out practice and will have more tests done on his leg; Neuheisel said he was doubtful Hester would play.
* Jerzy Siewierski is improving but at least a week or two away.
* Milton Knox and Damien Thigpen got increased opportunities but time will tell if that translates

UCLA's football game at Washington State on Nov. 14 will kick off at 2:00 pm.

The game will be televised on a national basis by Fox College Sports, which is carried on digital cable systems and DirecTV, and FS Northwest will air a replay at 7:30 p.m.

Readers: Post your final score prediction. Closest to actual score with correct winning team gets to give me 10 questions to ask a player of their choosing, within reason.
NEW RULES: The 10 questions will go to the reader who gets the winner correct with the closest total score; tie-breaker will go to whoever has the closest winner's score.
I still haven't heard from Spedjones or El Maton with their questions, please email jon.gold@dailynews.com. Scrubie came closest this week, so please shoot me those questions, too.

Thanks
JG

You committed five days after getting your offer from UCLA, why so fast?
"I've always loved UCLA, and I took a little unofficial visit this summer. Once I got the offer, I just talked it over with my family and made the decision."

What did your brother, Cal linebacker Mychal, tell you about UCLA?
"He was telling me to commit. He's behind me. He knew I wanted to, and he was actually very excited for me."

With your family connections (dad Marv played for UCLA), was there any pressure?
"I've liked UCLA since I was a kid. I was open to any colleges, but it was that much more for UCLA."

You committed in the midst of recent UCLA struggles, why are you optimistic?
"We're gonna turn it around. The coaches are excited about the future. They're excited to make a change and so am I."

Are you hoping to play early?
"I want to make a difference as soon as I can. I'm my own player. I can do a lot of different things. I played running back, quarterback, receiver, punter, kicker and linebacker. I want to be a linebacker. Everyone will get their chance, and they'll pick the best ones."

1) Do you think that Aaron Hester will be starting the CB over Sheldon Price this Saturday? - Spencer
No, I think his injury was worse than thought and he'll be shut down for the week. I'll learn more today.

2) It seems like Moline is playing more and Coleman is playing less. Are we ever going to get a running game on track? - Gerry4ucla
I'm not exactly sure what is going on with the running game. I don't think the coaches know either. I think they look at a crowded backfield and a below-average offensive line and haven't decided the direction to go with anyone.

3) How do you think Taylor did filling in at RG? Better than Hasaik would have done? - Jungleland
I think Taylor was decent. Looked like he missed a couple blocks, and I saw at least two sacks come in the right side, though I did not distinguish between Maiava/Taylor/Harris.

4) What's the status on Hasaik? Why isn't he playing more? And what's the status on his injury that kept him from traveling to OSU? Do you get the feeling that he is unhappy with his playing time as of late? - Jungleland
The details of the injury have been kept quiet, but have been labeled "personal health issues." I would assume it has something to do with the several skirmishes he's been involved in and trying to work past that. But no, I don't think it has to do with playing time. He's been happy with his playing time.

5) What about the former CU Buffs receiver Josh Smith -- he transferred to UCLA...is he still in the plans to play next year? - Mark P
http://insidesocal.com/ucla/2009/10/quick-chat-with-fb-josh-smith.html

6) In a recent interview on the Scout.com website (http://ucla.scout.com/), Coach Howland specifically cited Reeves Nelson as a possible impact player, because of his physical maturity. Do you have any thoughts on Reeves Nelson? Have you seen him play? - Spencer
Reeves has a good nose around the basketball for the ball in the limited time I've seen him. He also has huge hands, and that's key for rebounding. I don't imagine him being an offensive threat early, although I've seen some decent moves. I just think UCLA's offense is more predicated toward its guards, and he'll learn to work into that.

7) Any thoughts on other possible impact players after seeing practice? - Spencer
Jerime Anderson is going to be good, if he stays healthy. A big if, I know. Malcolm Lee looked efficient running the point and even working off the ball, and I think Tyler Honeycutt is a star. Put 20 pounds on his frame the next couple years, you're looking at an all-Pac 10 guy.

8) When do you think Seattle-area prep star, Josh Smith will announce his decision, this week or during the early signing period? - Spencer
I think he'll wait a little bit, but I'm supposed to talk with him tonight, and I can gauge his decision a little more.

9) Just wondering if you knew where Josh Shipp and Alfred Aboya were playing these days (if anywhere). - Bruintx
From what I understand, Shipp is in Turkey and Aboya is in France.

Check this out, pretty good breakdown:

Pac-10 Preview

The news of Colorado running back Darrell Scott's possible transfer to UCLA sent Bruin message boards and chat rooms into a tizzy on Tuesday.

Scott was the consensus top running back recruit in the nation after his senior year at St. Bonaventure of Ventura, after transferring from Moorpark High before the season. He considered attending UCLA out of high school but ultimately went with Colorado, picking the Buffaloes over Texas, Florida and LSU.

The Bruins are mentioned as a possible destination after the transfer of Scott's uncle, wide receiver Josh Smith, from Colorado in early September. Smith has been a standout on the scout team during his redshirt, and is expected to fight for a starting position next year. Smith would not comment on the situation.

Scott was quick to downplay any negative talk about Colorado, stating, "I just needed to get back home," but the sense is that he was frustrated with playing time and his role on the team.

He said his interest in UCLA is high, "really high, really," and said that despite the team's recent struggles, he believes the Bruins can turn it around.

"They started the year off pretty well," Scott said by phone on Tuesday night. "I think they're struggling, but they can turn it around. I played football with most of the guys on that team, and I think they have a lot of potential. A lot of talent."

Scott was rated the No. 1 running back in the country by several publications during his senior year for the Seraphs, when he rushed for 2,433 yards and 34 touchdowns, after gaining 3,194 yards and 45 touchdowns during his junior season for Moorpark.

However, Scott's time at Colorado has been marred by injuries and what fans have considered underutilization. Before having arthroscopic knee surgery on Oct. 22 to correct an injury suffered in Week 2 against Toledo, Scott had just 23 carries for 95 yards this season, after 364 yards on 87 carries in 2008, his freshman season.

He would not discuss his diminished role at Colorado, but he did make it known that he believes he can contribute to any major program.

"I don't want to say anything," Scott said, "I want to show it with my actions."

Four Sports Illustrated writers weighed in on Trevor Ariza's fast start with Houston, and Ron-Ron's slow start for the Lakers.
Pretty interesting takes on the former UCLA and Westchester High product, who I still think had the best dunk in a high school game I've ever seen when Westchester defeated Thousand Oaks in the first round of the 2001-02 State Finals.

Ariza A-rises

I tried to grab Josh Smith quickly before practice to chat about his nephew, Colorado running back Darrell Scott, but to no avail. I'll do my best to get him after practice.

In the meantime, it does appear that Scott has his heart set on UCLA, according to the Denver Post - Great Scott

Scott, you remember, was the No. 2 prospect in the country in 2008, behind Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor after a star-studded career at Moorpark High and St. Bonaventure High.

I chatted with Jerzy Siewierski briefly before practice and he said his foot is feeling a lot better, to the point he can walk on it without discomfort and even roll his ankle. He is still in a walking boot, but he said there's a chance he could be back this week, though that might just be wishful thinking. Expect at least another week.

1) The offense might not be completely ready to take advantage of it but I think or defense will be able to hold usc in the teens and make a game of it. Can you share your thoughts on what's going to happen on November 28th? - Anonymous
I don't think it will be very close. USC by at least 14, I think.

2) How do you think Ryan Taylor performed with the offensive line this past Saturday? - Spencer
Taylor looked OK, but the offensive line as a whole underperformed. Very inconsistent run blocking, and at least two sacks.

3) What do you think about the comment that was posed to CRN about moving Dye to CB and moving Love to SS? Dye seems to miss many assignments at SS and Love plays incredible when he's on the field. CB was Dye's original position, and they are demolishing Price at that postion. What's the problem? - Anonymous
I actually asked that question, and I thought it made a lot of sense, but I was shut down immediately. I think it makes sense to get your four best DBs on the field, especially in light of the short passing game being so effective. Maybe not.

4) What's the best-case scenario for the Pac-10 as far as Bowl appearances? - Anonymous
I think the Pac-10 is going to be hurting in the BCS. Oregon State should get the Poinsettia; Stanford in the Emerald Bowl; Arizona in the Las Vegas Bowl; Cal in the Sun Bowl; USC in the Holiday Bowl and Oregon in the Rose Bowl.

5) What do you think is the most pressing need for this recruiting class? OL and DT? - Anonymous
Absolutely offensive line and it's not even a question to me.

6) Any early predictions for basketball season? Are you thinking 3rd in the pac-10? - Anonymous
Right now, I'd say third, but if the team can start to gel, I wouldn'

7) Do you think Price is gone after this year? - Anonymous
No. I think another year will make his draft stock rise markedly.

8) What are your thoughts on our basketball team? Do you think there will be similarites to Howlands first trip to the final 4? - Anonymous
Um, no. I don't think this is a Final Four team.

9) Why does Chow keep telling kids he is going to use them like Reggie Bush. Based on NFL success I would rather be compared to MJD than a bust who dates TV Skanks. - UCLAVES
I think Chow thinks he can use shifty running backs creatively, but he forgets he doesn't have a LenDale White, or a Matt Leinart for that matter.

10) Is there any chance of hope that Brehaut can still petition for a redshirt if he doesn't play the rest of the year? - Anonymous
No. His redshirt is done this year.

1) Why is the Washington game not subject to the tape delay like the Oregon st game was? I thought ABC had the rights to the time slot? - Nicolas
Since ABC is not doing a game at 12:30 pm this Saturday, there is no exclusivity in the 12:30-3:30 window

2) What are the odds that Tony Jefferson actual signs with UCLA? Your update on Mobley was cut off last time, please respost. - UCLAVES
Odds on Jefferson becoming a Bruin, 50 percent. Here's the Mobley story: http://www.dailybreeze.com/sports/ci_13614736

3) Misdirection and cutbacks have been killing the Bruins for years, especially this year. Is staying at home for the DE or OLB a point of emphasis? Are the players being taught this and failing or are the coaches not coaching it? Even James Washington commented on this when James Rodgers scored that last touchdown while Ayers came down the line and tacked the guy without the ball. - Resource Guy
It is definitely a point of emphasis, I just think they're executing it extremely poorly. Good college football players want to be great college football players, and when they try to do too much, sometimes they become bad college football players.

4) Is Brehaut the clear cut number 2 quarterback now? If both Brehaut and Prince go down, will Craft come in, or would the staff rather go with a guy that hasn't seen the filed and give Crissman a shot? - Bruinbrian
To be honest, I have no idea what they'll do. They say Brehaut is the second, but Craft goes in first. It doesn't make any sense. I would assume, from this point forward, Brehaut goes in second. I think. With Crissman, I don't think he's an option.

5) Is the deep passing game as successful in practice as it was in the fourth quarter against OSU? - bruinbrian
There are times when things are clicking and times when they are not. At the college level, I don't expect perfection. But progress would be nice.

6) It appears that the Eddie Williams injury has really hurt an already very think UCLA offensive line. Do you agree? - Spencer
Yeah, Williams was a big upgrade over the backups. He was a much more physical presence, though he had some issues, too.

7) After watching Logan Paulson consistently drop passes and miss blocks all season, isn't it time Cory Harkey start over him? - PUSC3
Paulsen has had moments of inconsistency, but I think he's certainly earned his starting spot.

8) From listening, it seemed like Locke was not getting nearly the distance, accuracy, and height on his punts and kickoffs that he normally does. Is he hurt or did he just have a bad day? - Alex18
I think he just had a bad day. He looked normal in practice all week.

9) Has Rosario finally beaten out Terrence Austin for the starting spot? - Anonymous
No. Austin is still the starter.

10) When Jerime Anderson is on the bench and Malcolm Lee is at the point, who plays the two guard? Mike Roll? Others? - Spencer.
Michael Roll primarily, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Mustafa Abdul-Hamid for a few minutes a game at the two.

Less than a week after securing an offer from UCLA, Fresno Hoover linebacker Eric Kendricks committed to the Bruins.
With offers from Washington State, Nevada and Fresno State, Kendricks told Scout.com's Brandon Huffman that he was just waiting on UCLA - where his father, Marv, played in the '70s.
"I have been wanting a UCLA offer for a while," Kendricks told Scout.com. "I went to their camp this summer so they could see me. They said they just wanted to watch me a little more this year. Then they offered me last Wednesday."
The 6-foot-1, 213-pound middle linebacker said UCLA coaches wanted him to play either linebacker spot, like his older brother Mychal, who plays for Cal and had a 68-yard interception return for touchdown against the Bruins this year.
"They want me as a linebacker, but they'll figure outside or inside later," Kendricks told Scout.com.

I have a phone call into Hoover myself, so I'll try to reach Kendricks as soon as possible.

1) If an NFL team had several high draft picks the last two years, and if the team played their first- and second-year men at the same rate that UCLA is playing their freshmen and sophomores, would that NFL team do any better than UCLA is doing right now? - Tim Warren
Absolutely not. Football is so much more about experience and know-how than anything else. I'll take a good veteran over a very good rookie, a very good vet over a great rookie, every day of the week. With age and experience comes consistency.

2) Whatever happened to Colorado football Josh Smith? - Anonymous
Check it out: http://insidesocal.com/ucla/2009/10/quick-chat-with-fb-josh-smith.html

3) Who among the currently redshirting freshman do you think will have the biggest impact next year?
Josh Smith, Joseph Fauria, Todd Golper come to mind first.

4) Will Derrick Coleman see the field again as a running back? Can't figure out why he has not played recently especially with Franklin hobbled. Is he in the Chow 'Doghouse'? - Bruin911
I don't think he displays enough vision to warrant time over Franklin, but I'm simply shocked that Christian Ramirez got the nod over him or Knox/Thigpen last week.

5) Do the Bruins make a Bowl game this year? - Anonymous
Nope, I don't think so.

6) How did Morrell Presley look after the game? - Dat
I didn't see him, but I assume frustrated.

7) If the NFL actually does move to the Los Angeles area and UCLA football is still not competing for the Pac-10 title, how do you think the average attendance numbers will look for the Bruins? - Anonymous
The NFL stadium would be far enough from UCLA that I can't imagine the numbers changing too drastically. Many college programs have NFL teams nearby and do just fine.

8) Comment and then a question. In general, teams do not do well without quality quarterback play, which we haven't had since Drew Olson. In watching Kevin Prince, he looks lackadaisical/slow in his drops. Is this an issue the coaches are concerned about? - AV Hill
I think they'd be worried if he were a senior. He's a redshirt freshman who only played one year of varsity football without injury. If he continues to show progress, I think they stick with him for four years.

9) Why would someone who didn't want to know what was happening on a tape-delayed game read your blog while the game was going on? - Common Sense
Because they lack...hey, nice name.

10) Which current Bruins will be playing in the NFL next year? - Anonymous
Reggie Carter, Alterraun Verner, Brian Price, with the Bosworths and maybe one more player on a practice squad.

Malcolm Lee, on Monday's practice:
"This was the first practice that we had where everybody felt really good. At one point we only had 10 people practicing, and there were no subs. If one person was about to get hurt, you had to tell them to just suck it up, because we had no more bodies. It felt really good today to have almost everyone out here."

James Keefe, on what he hopes to see Wednesday:
"I just hope we gel well. If you just look player to player, we have a lot of talent. But the season is going to depend on how we gel as a team. How we play team defense, how we run our offense. That's what I'm hoping for on (Wednesday), that we come out as a team."

Reeves Nelson, on his early expectations:
"I'm not going into it expecting to start or get minutes. I know it's going to be a big adjustment; all the freshmen are used to dominating. But I think I'll pick it up pretty easy."

James Keefe, on the importance of exhibition games for the backups:
"It's really important, especially in these exhibition games, for these guys to get experience. That's one thing we're lacking on this team, that experience. We're really going to need those guys to step up who aren't in those roles."

Reeves Nelson, on knowing his teammates' strengths:
"Just from watching the games last year and playing with the freshman class all summer, I think we all have a pretty good of what we everybody does well. Mike Roll and Nik are shooters, so you try to hit them. Malcolm and Jerime are really good at driving. I think we all played enough together to know what everyone can do."

Malcolm Lee, on what he's seen from the younger players:
"One thing I did notice is I see some spectacular plays out of the young guys, but one minute they'll do a nice play and the next minute a turnover. That's just a learning curve for them. When they get more comfortable with this system, they'll become smoother. That's going to play a real big part here, once the games start rolling."

James Keefe, on what he knows about this team:
"I know we have a lot of talent. All these guys have proven in the fall and last summer that we can play. Yeah, injuries have set us back and it's hard to gel as a team when our point guard is out, our shooting guard is out, but I think we made do. We made a lot of progress, and guys have stepped up because of injuries."

Reeves Nelson, on the team's injuries:
"On the court it has been tough with a new person going out every day. But it's not a big deal - there's much of a drop off in between anyone. We're all pretty solid. It's difficult to get really good chemistry, but we're not doing that bad."

Malcolm Lee, on his dedication over the summer:
"I took the time to work out extremely hard - the Santa Monica steps, the Manhattan Beach sand dunes - and I was in the court every day to get a lot of makes up. I took the time to train really hard because big things are expected out of me."

Hey guys,

UCLA had its one and only open practice of the season today, and here are some of the thing I saw:

* When healthy, Jerime Anderson is going to be a true floor leader for UCLA. He had some niced tipped balls and while not going full-speed, displayed some real lateral quickness.
* If BoBo Morgan continues to refine his game in the paint, he could see some major minutes.
* Reeves Nelson has some gigantic hands and displays a tenacity on the boards that UCLA lacked last season. He could be very impressive early in the year.
* UCLA will need to find a way to get Michael Roll and Nikola Dragovic open shots.
* Malcolm Lee could benefit most from Anderson's injury - on Wednesday, he and Mustafa Abdul-Hamid will be UCLA's only two point guards against Concordia.

UCLA's first - and I believe only - open practice of the year today is the first time in training camp that they've had 17 of 18 players practice.
Michael Roll is in no-contact drills with a sprained ankle.
Jerime Anderson is going through a "partial" practice with a groin pull.
Brendan Lane is out with a sprained ankle still, and there is no timetable.

From today's press conference, ctd.:

On what impressed him in the fourth quarter:
"I thought the quarterback in particular settled down, and kind of found himself, in terms of his rhythm, his poise, his ability to stand in there and make throws down the field. Coming up with two two-point conversions is not easy to do. Those are all building blocks. Hopefully we'll use that as great momentum for this week of practice.

On UCLA's tough Pac-10 start:
"The schedule is what the schedule is, I just know we get a chance to play each Saturday. We found out in the month of October when you don't play our best, nothing good is going to happen. We need to correct that and become a much more consistent team in November."

On pressuring the quarterback more:
"You have two ways of playing pas s - you can get pressure on the quarterback and get him to throw it before he wants to or you can drop back into coverage. We have to do a better job of mixing that up. We have to be right when we choose to pressure the quarterback. We have to do a great job in coverage of making sure we do just that, make sure were covering."

On Jake Locker:
"I think he's a complete player. Obviously he's flourished with Coach Sarkisian. I had an opportunity before I got this job at UCLA to spend a few days with him in Louisiana for the Manning passing camp, and I'm very impressed with him.

From today's press conference:

Opening Statement:
"We try again for that elusive first Pac-10 victory. Disappointed in the outcome the other day, but I'm certainly feeling good about the effort, especially in the fourth quarter trying to get back into the game. Obviously the team has been in a dry spell. But the effort is continuing to be there. Now we just have to continue to work to be more consistent on both sides of the ball.
"Sometimes when you're in the skid we're in you can see kids throwing in the towel - nothing can be further from the truth."

On what he's done to temper his own expectations:
"I read a little bit of John Wooden over the last day or so, read again that while winning is important, it's not how you judge yourself. It's important that our players, especially the really young ones in the program, believe that if we're continuing to work hard, the wins will come."

On the defensive struggle:
"We've played some pretty darn good offenses, but yes we have to play better on defense. I don't know that you can point at one thing. Assignments, tackling, just being where we need to be and making plays when they're there to be made."

On Sheldon Price's struggles:
"Until we stop them, we're going to have to face the facts there. Sheldon's going to have to continue to improve and we'll have to try to create competition there. We're going to play the guy who plays the best in practice. We're not down on Sheldon, he's a young player trying to help the team and he's playing hard.
"But we certainly understand we have to play better and not give up the easy yards."

1) I was wondering if you could give us another injury report on the basketball team. Is everyone back to practice yet? Or is Brendan Lane the only hold out? - Spencer
From what I've been told, everyone is supposed to be back today. I'd be surprised if Jerime Anderson was 100 percent, based on what I've been told.

2) I have not heard much about Jayson Allmond. Is he redshirting? Also, will he stay at FB, there was rumors of him moving to DT? - Matt
He is redshirting, but with Moline and Theriot and graduating, I'd be surprised to see him moved to DT. However, I am 100 percent for switching running backs to the D-Line, a la TCU, which churns out lightning-quick ends every year.

3) It looked like Prince had more time to throw in the last quarter. What did you notice that was different? - lompocjr
Oregon State was blitzing less and Prince was finding his way around the pocket; the biggest difference, though, was his willingness to throw into coverage.

4) Have you heard of any recruits changing their minds about attending Ucla? if so who? - theuclan
I have yet to hear of any flip-flops, and with the kids UCLA is getting - the ones already committed - I don't think the five-game losing streak is changing any minds. I think these kids want to play and play early, and they see the ability to at UCLA.

5) Have you heard about any possible transfers out of the football program due to non-playing times? - bruincheerleader
The only rumors I heard were about Milton Knox, but he squashed those quickly. If the lack of PT keeps up for some guys, though, I wouldn't be surprised to hear more grumbling.

6) Who are the most important football recruits for the Bruins to grab this season? - hicalliber
Malcolm Jones was huge for making in-roads into Oaks Christian; Chris Ward was a big get for the same reason at Mater Dei; if they can somehow land one more impact player on defense, it's a very good class.

7) What are the chances of Josh Smith ending up at UCLA? - Anonymous
Very good. But Lorenzo Romar is a hell of a recruiter, and it's not a gimme.

8) Also, do you think McCullum or Zeigler will end up committing to UCLA? - Anonymous
McCallum more so than Zeigler.

9) Is there a rift between Chow and Neuheisel-particularly re. the QB position? It seems like Neuheisel is starting to pull rank over Chow? - Anonymous
This is a tough question. They are both very confident coaches and neither wants to be wrong, but the way they've handled Brehaut is questionable and has been from the start of the season. Either you want him to progress in games or you want him to learn on the bench. Pick a direction and stick with it.

10) How does Bowens look on the scout team? Do you think he will be ready for real game action next year, should his number be called? - Anonymous
He should contribute on special teams at least, as the Bruins lose several important ST contributors.

RESULT: Oregon State 26, UCLA 19
RECORD: 3-5
WEEK 8 GPA: C-

QUARTERBACK
Prince showed some major potential in the fourth quarter.
B-

RUNNING BACKS
Poor performance out of the backs, who weren't able to break free.
D

WIDE RECEIVERS
Came up huge when it mattered, showed Prince what they could do.
B+

OFFENSIVE LINE
Complete breakdowns on several plays, poor run blocking.
C-

DEFENSIVE LINE
Not much pressure on the quarterback, failed to contain the outside.
C-

LINEBACKERS
Looked easily fooled on reverses and trick formations.
D

DEFENSIVE BACKS
Burned once, struggled with tackling throughout and a huge missed opportunity.
D

SPECIAL TEAMS
Solid as usual in the kicking game, not bad in coverage.
B

COACHING
Looser play-calling in the fourth, but needs to be more aggressive early.
C-

You've got questions...
I've got answers...

Fire away, and if there are enough questions by tomorrow, you'll get the dish sooner than later. There were a few answers remaining from last week that I'll tack on first.

Thanks guys
JG

Taylor Embree on the fourth-quarter offense:
"At the end of the game, we were forced into situations where we had to pass deep, and I think honestly that was the biggest thing for us. We can make the plays. We know we have the weapons to make the plays. We just have to be put in the position to make those plays."

Reggie Carter on OSU's last drive:
"They got the ball off fast. They got a screen, a quick flare pass and a fly sweep. I missed a tackle on that quick flare. They knew we were gonna try to pressure them so they just got the ball out quick and get some catch-and-run yards."

Taylor Embree on UCLA's comeback:
"Us being away at Oregon State and being down like that, we could either curl up and hide in a ball or we could just say enough is enough and fight back. We didn't have enough time to do it. But once we figure out how to do it the whole game, we'll be unstoppable."

Norm Chow on Kevin Prince's performance:
"He came back and played pretty well at the end, but I think he still missed a couple of throws that he shouldn't have missed. That's just part of the learning process. The one he really should have made was that third-and-short. He knows better."

Just got back into town, and here's some extras from yesterday...

Norm Chow on the offense being drastically better in the second half:
"You always make halftime adjustments and they always do things to you you're not expecting. They blitzed us a lot more on second down. People don't see that."

Tony Dye on what ails the defense:
"Big plays, man - we give up a deep ball, we drop a pick. Here and there, things are killing us. I think we're doing pretty well when they're just trying to drive the ball on us. We're getting off the field; yeah, OK, they convert here and there, but I think what it comes down to is we're giving up big plays."

Nelson Rosario on Kevin Prince in the fourth quarter:
"He threw all the right passes he should have. He played like we all expect him to. Now we have to get more consistent with it. I wasn't even aware of the whole 260-minute thing, I just knew we hadn't scored a passing touchdown in a minute."

* Neuheisel had a pretty entertaining give-and-take with TJ Simers, who wondered if CRN/CNC were babying Kevin Prince: "We're going to disagree on babying our quarterback. I trust that the playcalls are the appropriate ones."

* Tony Dye: "Every single one of them was a winnable game, and we were all in winnable situations. We just let it slide through our fingers every single time. It's getting old. Two minutes they drove, what, 70 yards? That's the kind of stuff we're giving up that gives them these close wins."

* Nelson Rosario: "That's everything I did in high school. That's natural to me. That's stuff I'm used to doing. Honestly, I just want whatever works. But seeing that it works, we have to put that together."

* Oregon State quarterback Sean Canfield on going short time after time: "It was just a matter of picking away at them. They weren't giving away much deep. We saw that all night, and we saw that in film. It was just a matter of being patient and being smart with the football."