Today's stuff
Here is the notebook I wrote for today's paper, basically bringing up the question of whether or not UCLA needs a win badly, and how Washington State should be the elixir.
On a side note, people are emailing me about the health of Raymond Carter's knee, since he hasn't factored into the offense the last two games.
Just to re-iterate what I've reported several times in the last two weeks, Carter is healthy, and he has been for the last two games. But the coaching staff decided to give other running backs a try.
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About Inside UCLA
This is Brian Dohn's sixth season covering UCLA after spending 4 1/2 years covering the Dodgers for the Daily News and other Los Angeles Newspaper Group papers. He graduated from Rutgers, where the first college football game was played in 1869. Sure, the Scarlet Knights suffered for a long time, but now RU is doing what Jerseyans always thought was possible. Winning at Rutgers also proves winning is possible everywhere else in the nation, so underachieving coaches better be careful. Now, if only men's hoops can turn it around.
What stands out in those statistics is Washington State's negative 2.6 turnover margin. That in itself will get you beat almost every time. And it could account for why its offense scores little and the defense gives up big. But turnovers is an area that can be worked on and improved.
This game marks the halfway point of the season for the Cougs, and I bet they take care of the ball at the Rose Bowl. And if so, this game will be much closer than the 19 point spread would indicate.
Brian - any word on Aundre Dean in terms of him factoring in this week? I know you reported he should return to practice.