Got an urge?
There are still tickets available for Saturday's opener with Stanford. The new stadium holds 50,000, and the school is expecting about 40,000.
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There are still tickets available for Saturday's opener with Stanford. The new stadium holds 50,000, and the school is expecting about 40,000.
UCLA's defense is expected to be one of the best in the Pacific-10, but the offense is more of an unknown. Bruins QB Ben Olson said he could tell by the offense's attitude in training camp it will be improved.
"We competed a lot more, as far as being successful and move the ball, against our defense this time,'' Olson said. "You don't measure the success you're going to have by what you do in practice, but it also is an indicator of some of the progress you're making.''
Punt returns were an adventure for UCLA last season, namely because the Bruins couldn’t find a reliable returner capable of catching the ball all the time.
However, sophomore Terrence Austin, who had a few tries at is last season, said he finally learned technique during the offseason and is ready to make a mark after working with assistant Dino Babers, the running backs coach who helps with special teams.
“I’m just focusing on the turn of the ball, and when it’s going to come down and when it’s going to keep sailing on you,’’ said Austin, who averaged 13.8 yards on eight returns last season. “I catch it a lot better. Last year was my first doing it. I didn’t return punts in high school, so I was just trying to catch on. I was trying not to drop the ball, but now it’s second nature.’’
Austin said another key is catching the ball above his waist.
“Anything below your waist may bounce,’’ he said. “It gives you a better chance to catch it when you try to catch it high.’’
UCLA and USC kick off their seasons Saturday, and the Daily News will kick off its Web game coverage as well.
UCLA (ranked 14th by The Associated Press) opens its season at Stanford at 12:30 p.m., while top-ranked USC hosts Idaho at 7:15 p.m. at the Coliseum. The Daily News will provide in-game analysis on everything you need to know about the game while it's happening.
Get the latest on Bruins quarterback Ben Olson's first start of 2007 as well as impressions of first-year Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh, who has been outspoken on many issues. Check out who's getting the most carries in the ultra-competitive USC backfield and see how the highly-touted Trojans defense holds up.
Phil Collin will provide an up-to-the minute game account of the Trojans-Vandals while Jill Painter will do the same for the Bruins-Cardinal game. Both will do so from Los Angeles.
If you're already watching the game, get your laptop out so you can watch and read along at the same time.
As always, you can read UCLA beat writer Brian Dohn's report online and in the Daily News on Sunday as well as columnist Steve Dilbeck. Scott Wolf, Paul Oberjuerge, Mike Waldner and Phil Collin will analyze the ins and outs of USC. And check out Dohn's UCLA blog and Wolf's USC blog during and after the game for updates as well.
I visited the renovated Stadium Stadium today, and it is quite a bit different than the old one. This one looks like it actually may have some atmosphere in it.
But the folks coming to the game better bring some water and a hat because it is going to be hot. The latest weather report is for a high of 90 degrees at Stanford, with a temperature of 87 at kickoff.
Since it is the first game of the season, conditioning should be a factor, especially if it is close in the second half.
Thanks again for the responses. Here is the last installment of this week's Q&A.
Do you know if the athletic department has tried to do anything about the fact that the first two home games are usually poorly attended because the students don't get back until late September?
I don’t think it’s a student thing because, relatively speaking, not that many students go to the games. Attendance is usually based on the opponent. There’s nothing the athletic department can do because UCLA isn’t getting off the quarter system.
Why are Cal fans so ignorant to the fact that UCLA has stricter academic requirements for student athletes?
Got me. Take that question to the Cal board, and let me know the results.
Brian, could you give us an update on Glenn Love?
He is currently nursing a leg injury, but he was going to red-shirt anyway because of off-season shoulder surgery. But I do know defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker is extremely high on the kid. And I mean extremely high on him.
Brian what can you tell us about Joe Cowan, haven't heard much about him in practices. Given that he had a very good 2005 and the team obviously missed his presence last season what type of season do you expect him to have in the jumbled WR rotation?
Cowan is doing fine and looking like he did in 2005. His speed seemed to be back, and after having the drops early in camp, he is performing more consistently. I think he will be a solid receiver who can get UCLA 30 to 40 catches.
I am an NCAA D2 athlete and I just signed papers saying that I was to in no shape or form allowed to gamble. So I am assuming since Reed admitted to playing black jack it is legal for D1 athletes ?
Well, I know the Bruins played in the Las Vegas Bowl a few years ago and the players stayed at hotels with casinos in them, and the players that were 21 were allowed to gamble. I doubt they were allowed in the sports books, but I don’t think anything was wrong the black jack, slots and such.
Are we still looking into Craig Noble?
I’m not sure, but I’ll check.
Are the Wear twins preferred by coach Howland to someone like Renardo Sidney? It's strange we haven't extended an offer, unless grades are an issue.
There are some other issues with Sidney that, at this time, I don’t feel comfortable discussing.
Are we still trying to get Austin Holt and Golden? Who would grayshirt, or do we expect some losses from committed people to open scholies?
Yes, UCLA is still trying for those two. I cannot tell you who would grayshirt at this time because it changes the recruiting approach for other schools. For example, if I say Player A is going to grayshirt, another school may call the kid and say, “Hey, why are you going there. They don’t think you’re a priority because they want you to come in after everyone else. So come here.’’
Stanford is a heavy underdog, and we have high expectations for this season. It is a similar situation to our 06 upset of SC. What safeguards has Coach Dorrell taken to assure UCLA is at the right level of emotional and game preparation for this initial game?
I don’t see similarities because Stanford doesn’t have much talent, and it isn’t a rivalry game. As far as safeguards taken, I don’t think he needs any. This is a veteran team, and it should understand how to approach this opener.
Are any of the defensive starters going to be on special teams?
Yes, there are.
Can you tell us what internet site leaked the Brian Price academic information. Much has been made about this site, but nobody has addressed them by name. I feel that since they didn't care enough about Price to keep his private information out of the public, we shouldn't care about naming the site responsible.
No. That’s just not my style.