October 2009 Archives

By Jon Gold
Staff Writer

CORVALLIS, OR. -
This was the Kevin Prince that UCLA fans kept waiting to see.

This was the Prince that UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel and offensive coordinator Norm Chow kept waiting to see.

Above all, this was the Prince that Bruins wide receivers kept waiting to see.

After a middling 45 minutes, the redshirt freshman quarterback transformed from pauper to, well...

Two touchdowns, 198 yards and a 69-percent completion percentage in the fourth quarter, a princely effort in the team's 26-19 loss at Oregon State on Saturday.

"The fourth quarter, Prince found confidence in the receivers, that's what it was," said UCLA sophomore wideout Taylor Embree, who caught one of those fourth-quarter touchdowns, a seven-yard grab that brought the Bruins to within two. "He's not the kind of quarterback who doesn't have confidence in himself, he definitely does. But I think we needed drives like we had at the end of the game for him to realize that just because there's a defender close by or someone on us, if he just puts the ball up, we have the weapons to make the plays."

Either UCLA did not appear to have those weapons early, or Prince was not willing to take those chances.

As the game progressed though, and an Oregon State lead grew from three points to six points to 13 and ultimately 16 points, Prince needed to take those chances.

Perhaps he needed to take them to save his job.

With true freshman quarterback Richard Brehaut breathing down his neck - Neuheisel insisted throughout the week that Brehaut would play in the first half, and he did, for one series - Prince finally let it all hang loose.

"I was kind of forced to do it in the fourth quarter there," Prince said. "If we don't make plays downfield - we weren't gonna run the ball. Everybody in the stadium knew we weren't gonna run the ball. It was up to me to make plays. I just put the ball up and let them go make plays."

Now, Neuheisel wants him to do it earlier.

He shut down any talk of a quarterback controversy quickly - "He was not not my guy," Neuheisel said - but he also talked about the need for Prince to be his assertive self more consistently.

"He certainly made some good throws, and it looked like he started to calm down," Neuheisel said. "He made some plays when we had to have plays. This hopefully is a precursor to more consistent play as we go forward."

Bumps and Bruises
UCLA sophomore center Kai Maiava suffered a hyper-extended elbow, but remained in the game. ... Freshman guard Stanley Hasiak did not make the trip, for what UCLA officials deemed "personal health issues."

News and Notes
UCLA is in the midst of its worst losing streak since closing 2003 with five straight losses, and it's the first time the team is 0-5 in conference play since 1994. ... Nelson Rosario's touchdown catch with 8 minutes, 39 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter was the team's first offensive touchdown since 9:36 in the second quarter against Cal in Week 6, a span of more than 150 minutes.

By Jon Gold
Staff Writer

CORVALLIS, OR. -
UCLA knew Jacquizz Rodgers could run, and he ran.

The Bruins knew Jacquizz Rodgers could catch, and he caught.

They did not know Jacquizz Rodgers could pass.

He passed.

Rodgers threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to tight end Brady Camp with just more than a minute left in the first half, and Oregon State relied on Rodgers' legs the rest of the way as the Beavers eked out the 26-19 win.

On 2nd-and-8 from the UCLA 14-yard line with 1 minute, 12 seconds left in the second quarter, Rodgers lined up at quarterback for the "WildBeaver" formation - Oregon State's version of the Wildcat - and faked a handoff to a receiver in motion. The momentary pause froze the Bruins defense, and Rodgers found a wide-open Camp at the 2-yard line before he strolled into the end zone.

It was Rodgers' first career pass.

"That has been in the lab for a while," Oregon State head coach Mike Riley said. "It was another great-timed call by (offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf). Quizz told me a couple weeks ago that he was good up to 40 yards. We didn't even need to have that arm today, but he threw a good ball, a nice, tight spiral."

When Rodgers wasn't throwing the ball, he was running it.

Rodgers had 112 yards rushing and 92 yards receiving, not so much bouncing off tacklers as deftly escaping their grasp. Rodgers had 75 yards on 13 carries in the first half and was not caught behind the line of scrimmage, displaying a downhill running style that has marked his maturation this season, as the diminutive back ranks second in the Pac-10 in rushing yards per game.

"I went against some backs like that when I was playing that were short fireplug guys, and they're hard because they're so strong," UCLA defensive coordinator Chuck Bullough said of the 5-foot-7 sophomore. "They're not tall, lanky guys. A lot of times those guys are tough to get down. Sometimes in the holes you can't see them. He's a good back - he's short, but he's strong."

So is his brother.

The "other" Rodgers brother, James - if there really is an "other" Rodgers brother - had 10 catches for 106 yards and added 28 yards on the ground, frequently running around the edge, as he did on his 17-yard, game-winning touchdown run.

"They're very tough, being so low to the ground, having low centers of gravity," UCLA cornerback Alterraun Verner said. "They've got very good balance; when you try to go up top, they'll go under you and when you try to go out their legs, they've got very stronger lower bodies."

But the Beavers were most impressed by Jacquizz's arm, with the touchdown target Camp, exclaiming, "I can't believe that actually worked."

"We'd drawn that one up for quite a while in practice," Oregon State quarterback Sean Canfield said. "It was just a matter of (offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf) calling it. We went to it and it worked. The first time we ran it, Quiz was terrible at it, but he practiced it a few more times and was finally throwing some spirals.

"I told him are you trying to take my job, or what?"

By Jon Gold
Staff Writer

CORVALLIS, OR. -
Russian chess grandmaster Savielly Grigorievitch Tartakower must never have faced a 16-point deficit on the road in the Pac-10 against a team clad in orange-and-black on Halloween, of all days.

Tartakower must never have watched an offense continually sputter until finally finding itself 50 minutes into a 60-minute football game.

Tartakower must never have had to rely on a redshirt freshman quarterback and a pieced-together offensive line and sophomore wide receivers.

So, when he uttered that etched-in-time quote - "Moral victories do not count" - he must not have been staring down the tail end of a five-game losing streak.

But down 19-3 and with an offense that had only mustered 164 yards through three quarters, UCLA rallied back to tie Saturday's matchup with Oregon State, before ultimately falling to the Beavers 26-19, after Beaver wideout James Rodgers scored on a reverse with 44 seconds left.

If there was ever a time for a moral victory, this was it.

Or not.

"I don't even know what the hell that is," UCLA senior linebacker Reggie Carter said. "That sh*t don't mean nothing. Ain't no such things as moral victories. There's victories and there's losses. We just took a loss."

The Bruins were in no mood to pat themselves on the back after falling to 0-5 in Pac-10 Conference play for the first time since 1994.

Perhaps for good reason: UCLA allowed more than 450 yards for the third straight game, watching the Rodgers brothers, Jacquizz and James, dance around tackles like Gene Kelly in "Singing in the Rain."

There was no rain in Corvallis, but the Rodgers' sure were slippery.

Jacquizz Rodgers, the younger brother who won Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year honors as a freshman last season, had 112 yards rushing and 92 yards receiving.
James Rodgers, the older brother who leads the conference in receiving, had 10 catches for 106 yards and 28 yards rushing.

It was his touchdown with under a minute left - after UCLA tied the game on a Kevin Prince-to-Taylor Embree 7-yard score and ensuing Prince-to-Johnathan Franklin two-point conversion - that spelled disaster for the Bruins.

Rodgers took the handoff from quarterback Sean Canfield and followed a cavalry of blockers, running almost untouched into the endzone.

"They just kept going up front and the receivers did great blocking which allowed us to keep driving," James Rodgers said. "We just stuck with it and we knew had to come down here and make a good drive. We practice on this two-minute offense all the time and it came into play today."

The Bruins were only in position to suffer a soul-crushing loss after the late-game heroics by Prince, who finally showed glimpses of confidence early in the fourth quarter, when the UCLA offense scored for the first time in more than nine quarters.

Prince appeared harried, tentative and almost scared for three quarters, as the limp Bruins managed only 164 total yards. Prince had just 125 yards going into the fourth quarter, willing to settle for short gains rather than test the defense.

Finally he threw caution to the wind and the ball into it, connecting on 9-of-13 passes for 198 yards in the quarter, with touchdown passes to Embree and Nelson Rosario, on a 58-yard score that pulled UCLA within eight points.

"I wouldn't say we were scared, but I think some people are just hoping for someone to make a play instead of us wanting to make a play," Rosario said. "Then we realize it's time that we have to, and that's when stuff starts clicking. It's all a mindset. We have to go out there and tell ourselves that we have to make this play, and it will come."

But it needs to come sooner, if the Bruins are to break out of their current slide, their first five-game skid since 2003.

It needs to come sooner, if UCLA is to get back into the bowl hunt, as the team needs to finish 3-1 to even be eligible.

It needs to come sooner, or else all the team can keep hoping for is positive progress instead of tangible wins.

"To be honest with you, there's no such thing as a moral victory to me," sophomore safety Tony Dye said. "The only stat that ever matters is the wins and the losses. We came out with another 'L' today. It's heartbreaking to get so close."

* A loss is a loss, and a team on a five-game losing streak ccan't afford a moral victory, but if there is one, this was it.
* Kevin Prince learned in the fourth quarter that he can try to win rather than try not to lose. Taylor Embree told me he thinks Prince learned to trust his receivers in that fourth quarter, when he threw for 198 yards and two touchdowns.
* The 19-3 deficit might be just the thing UCLA needed to mature as a unit offensively. Now, they just have to keep that sense of urgency alive going into next week.
* This is a team that can. They might not. But they can.
* The defense continues to give up to much underneath, and unless they tackle better, it's going to continue to kill them. A poor-tackling team turns a 2-yard hitch into a 6-yard hitch, and those four yards are devastating.
* Running the ball three straight times in the red zone on the first possession of the third quarter? Norm Chow said this: "People don't understand. Tell me what the coverage was? Do you know what the coverage was? None of you know what the coverage was. The coverage necessitated that we run the football. That's all it was."

Kevin Prince just hit Taylor Embree for a 7 yard touchdown pass to bring UCLA to within two with 2.
Franmklin got the 2point conversion. Tie game.

A beautiful run-after-catch by Nelson Rosario culminated in a 58-yard touchdown catch and run to close the gap to 10, then Prince hit Rosario for the 2-point conversion.
UCLA blocked well in that drive for just the second sustained drive of the day.
It was the Bruins' first offensive touchdown since the second quarter against Cal, a stretch of nearly 151 minutes.

Another Oregon State drived stalled in UCLA territory, as Justin Kahut banged in his fourth field goal of the day, putting the Beavers up 16. Of course, a 16-point lead against the UCLA offense is like a 116-point lead against anyone else.

Drive time: 10 plays, 44 yards, 5:05

UCLA finally got on the board with a 24-yard Kai Forbath field goal, but that's after three straight runs in the red zone managed nine yards.

Drive Time 11 plays, 69 yards, 5:11

* The offensive line has been pitiful. You read it right: pitiful. There is absolutely zero consistency there, and guys are even getting run over.
* Compounded that with the fact that Kevin Prince seems hesitant to let it go early into man-on-man coverage, and the offense has been awful.
* This "creative" play-calling that UCLA started off with resulted in about five yards and nothing more.
* The defense is playing adequately, only burnt twice, on the Rodgers-to-Camp touchdown pass and on a 42-yard connection from Canfield to James Rodgers.
* Some sad stats: UCLA outgained 248-86; UCLA 18 rushing yards; UCLA four fumbles; UCLA three sacks.
* UCLA playing down 16 into the third quarter does not inspire positive thoughts.

Oregon State added another Justin Kahut field goal after getting the ball back with 41 seconds left. The big hit, a 42-yard connection from Sean Canfield to James Rodgers.

Drive Time: 5 plays, 47 yards, 41 seconds

Jacquizz Rodgers can run and he can catch and apparently he can throw.
Rodgers found tight end Brady Camp for a 14-yard touchdown, the team's first of the day, as Oregon State went up 13-0.

Brehaut hands off three times and is sacked.
Not exactly the start he wanted...

I'll keep you posted on his status, though Prince still has headset on.

Freshman quarterback Richard Brehaut just entered the game for the first time. I'll keep you posted...

Oregon State's Justin Kahut capped off a 53-yard drive with a 42-yard field goal. The UCLA defense continues to allow middling plays but shows resolve near the red zone.

Drive Time: 9 plays, 53 yards, 3:46

The UCLA defense is continuing its pattern of boom or bust, as Korey Bosworth just dropped Sean Canfield for a 12-yard sack, after the Bruins let the Beavers escape from their own 5-yard line.

The UCLA offense is as predictable as ever, run-run-pass time after time, though the Bruins have mixed in a couple end-arounds.

Oregon State leads 3-0 on the strength of a 48-yard Justin Kahut field goal.

Stay tuned.
JG

The UCLA defense held strong on third-down after the Rodgers brothers marched down the field, and Oregon State settled for a 48-yard field goal by Justin Kahut.
UCLA must shore up the cut-back defense, as Jacquizz Rodgers danced through the interior defensive line in the absence of Jerzy Siewierski.

Drive Time: 9 plays, 41 yards, 4:25

Sheldon Price is starting at cornerback and Jess Ward is starting at defesnvie tackle in place of Jerzy Siewierski.

Freshman guard Stanley Hasiak did not travel with the team for "personal health reasons," UCLA officials said.

Hello folks,

Here I am at Reser Stadium under the grey sky for UCLA vs. Oregon State. I'll be checking in throughout the game as usual, so please feel free to ask any questions over the next few hours.

Besides a win, what are you eager to see today? How early should Richard Brehaut enter the game? How many carries should Johnathan Franklin get?

Thanks for checking in,
Jon

Head coach Mike Montgomery, Cal
"They might not really be down at the end of the day. If they're not really down at the end of the day, I guess they weren't down at all. The notion that people are saying certain things, that's preseason stuff, that's hype, that's news. The reality is, they've got to play, and teams with those traditions tend to rise up a little bit because they're used to it."

Head coach Mike Montgomery, Cal
"They've got great players this year, they're just young. You don't lose first-round guys two or three years in a row and expect to maintain. You can't recruit behind them necessarily without knowing they're going to leave. You just don't know that any more. All of a guy leaves after one year and you say, 'Aw, shucks that's really going to hurt us'. Then the next year, you have two more guys go who you didn't expect to leave. Well you're three first-round draft picks down from what you expected to be, and that's hard to overcome."

Forward Quincy Pondexter, Washington
"When teams are in transition, they're very vulnerable. When they're young, they're vulnerable. They don't have any idea what it's like. And they have teams who have been grueling for a chance to be at the top. We were itching for the top. We wanted to be the champions, and it happened."

Forward Quincy Pondexter, Washington
"We're not used to UCLA being where they are but they have a lot of talent on that team .You can't sleep on them. They're going to have a lot of learning to do this year; they don't have a Darren Collison, they don't have a Josh Shipp, they don't have an Alfred Aboya. But they have a great coaching staff, and they'll be able to rebound just fine."

Forward Michael Roll, UCLA
On the team's expectations
"The only thing to hang in Pauley is national championships. We feel it's best to win the Pac-10 title, get a good seed, get a closer game for the tournament, have a good fan base. We realize how important the early games are. Every day in practice, coach is working us so that we can get those early games and have a good resume for the tournament."

On a preseason schedule that sees them leave California just once:
"Travelling can get to be very much a big burden. People get sick when you travel, it makes you tired, a little jet-lagged. Some of the guys don't know how to travel. When we stay close, it helps. All the unexpected isn't there."

Head coach Johnny Dawkins, Stanford
On the parity of the Pac-10
"There's a lot of parity, but I thought the same thing last year. From top to bottom there's terrific talent. Every game is very, very competitive. It's reflected in what you see with the preseason polls. Both (UCLA and Arizona) have lost a lot of players, but there is parity."

Head coach Johnny Dawkins, Stanford
On why UCLA will stay competitive:
"I've watched coach Howland for a number of years, and he's a great coach. Right away I'll say that. He hasn't done what he's been able to do for these years without being able to coach his butt off."

Head coach Johnny Dawkins, Stanford
On the youth of the conference:
"The conference is younger; we lost a lot of experienced players. Guys are going to have to fill their shoes and play new roles. There are a lot of unknowns on a lot of teams. But that makes it exciting. Kids always show us that they are remarkable, they will step up and rise to the occasion given the opportunity to do so."

Forward Quincy Pondexter, Washington
On the topsy-turvy Pac-10
"It's how college basketball is. Every kid on the West Coast wants to compete at the schools in the Pac-10. The talent on the west coast is so good that it makes the conference like that. That's why you see the years of Washington, UCLA, USC's been good - I just think everyone takes turns because the conference is so competitive."

Talk about a striking contradiction: UCLA has one quarterback who has had plenty of attempts but wants to throw the ball more, and another quarterback who has had scarce opportunities but wants to hand the ball off.

As the Bruins prepared for today's 1 p.m. showdown at Oregon State's Reser Stadium this week, redshirt freshman quarterback Kevin Prince and true freshman quarterback Richard Brehaut each got their fair share of repetitions with the starting unit.
Despite sharing time, though, they did not share focuses.

Prince is looking to take more chances, to bring some bravado to the position, to risk failure while knowing that an interception does not mean a demotion. He is trying to discover that "gunslinger" mentality only shared by the legends, those who are willing to gamble to be great.

"Growing up, I was kind of more tentative, and my stats would show that," Prince said. "If you look at my high school stuff, I didn't really go downfield unless it was there. But my favorite quarterback of all-time has been Brett Favre, and that's what I love about him. That's something I've tried to slowly get myself into."

I was able to steal some time with various players and coaches at Pac-10 media day. They were all very forthcoming...

Head coach Ken Bone, Washington State:
On UCLA reloading:
"Ben Howland is a great coach and he also has a lot of good players. Because so many great players have left the UCLA Bruins the last couple years, a lot of people think they're just not that strong. But when you've been this business a few years, you see teams reload. UCLA is good and Ben Howland is good, and they'll continue to be strong."

Head coach Ken Bone, Washington State:
On the Howland system:
"It's a good system, and it's been successful. People up in the Northwest talked about the Bennett system and how slow it was, but it was what, two years ago when they were ranked fourth in the country? Ben's system is not extremely fast, it's defense-oriented, but it's extremely successful, and it will continue to be that way."

Point guard Jerome Randle, Cal
On the expectations of being the preseason No. 1:
"I know it's gonna be tough, man. Teams that start off on top, they have to stay on top. You have to play hard every night. There are people out there out to get you. It's really up to you and what you do with it. The expectations should raise our play every night."

On UCLA and Arizona being down in the rankings this year:
"I'm really not throwing any of those teams under bus. The Pac-10 is tough every year. Even if you don't have those projected top-10 lottery picks, you still have good players in this league. I don't take anyone for granted."

1) What would you do with Kevin Prince? It seems his confidence is shot, and he is now a detriment to the team. - Bunche Hall
I would work on him extensively in practice, and let Brehaut or Craft start the next game.

2) With Matt Barkley obviously having a grip on the USC quarterback job for the next three year, will UCLA try and recruit Jesse Scroggins from Lakewood High? - Anonymous
I doubt they'll push too hard for him with Nottingham coming in and two freshman getting playing time now.

3) Rick Neuheisel's helicopter flyby at Kaiser High School angered that school's officials and they questioned letting him near the field. Has Neuheisel burned his bridges at Kaiser and has he received that type of negative reaction elsewhere? - Anonymous
Check it out: Flyby

4) Would it make sense at this point to play some of the frosh on the RS Scout team? Or do you just keep them as redshirts and hold for the future? I am thinking in particular of guys like Marvray and Golper. Marvray supposedly can run crisp routes and Golper in high school was considered a tackling machine who always was on the ball and never missed tackles. Rivals had him rated #5 in the country on pure instincts and having a nose for the ball. - Anonymous
Marvray has a heck of a lot of talent, but has not displayed the consistency needed at the position. Golper is far behind the big three linebackers and even the second team. He'll be a good player, but not worth it to burn the redshirt.

5) What are your "10 steps to help the current UCLA football team get better today?" - Anonymous
1) Play Randall Carroll more. 2) Get Milton Knox and Damien Thigpen at least six touches each per game. 3) Tell Kevin Prince he can throw eight picks and you won't bench him because you have that much faith, or put Richard Brehaut in. 4) Blitz more up the middle. 5) Pass more on first down and second down in the red zone. 6) Stop throwing short to Logna Paulsen and Ryan Moya on third down. 7) Make Derrick Coleman a blocking back or put Trevor Theriot in there on short downs. 8) Stretch the field as often as possible, even purposely overthrowing wideouts just to get the defense on their heels. 9) Relax. That should be No. 1, actually. 10) Pull Kevin Prince if he's struggling and play Richard Brehaut. Too hard to readjust confidence in the middle of a game.

6) During the whole Randall Carroll Twitter blowup, the heart of it was that UCLA practiced the creative, daring plays I expected from Chow, but doesn't run them in games. Is this a fact? Why is this Chow offense so bland? - Anonymous
This Chow offense is so bland because the offensive line does not get the consistent protection needed to guarantee a creative play doesn't blow up in their faces.

7) How is it that Utah, Boise State Cinn. and Tcu who to my knowledge have not had higher rated recruiting classes consistently put a better product on the field? Coaching or poor evaluation? - Mbrant
First of all, a much, much easy schedule for many of those teams. Secondly, Boise State recruits against Idaho, Montana and Wyoming for local talent. UCLA recruits against USC. Third of all, those mid-major teams have a hell of a lot of speed, and the Bruins simply don't. TCU recruits running backs and then converts them to defensive end. It's a risk, but it pays off.

8) Is there a schism between the offense and defense yet? - Bunche Hall
How could there not be? No one will go on the record with me yet, but there has to be some frustration.

9) Has Rick re-evaluated implementing the Spread at all? - Fan4Life
The team does not have the kind of offensive line needed to protect a quarterback in a spread offense, and Prince/Brehaut/Craft aren't good enough right now to pull it off.

10) What do I have to do to get an answer to my question about Jackie Robinson and other four-sport athletes? This is the third week I have asked. - Jungleland
Send me an email at jon.gold@dailynews.com and I'll do my best to find out. I don't have the opportunity on Fridays, when I typically finish the Q&As, to ask that question. Remind me, and I'll make sure I find out this week. Thanks for your patience.

I finally caught up with Colorado transfer Josh Smith, and really, I think UCLA is in store for big things. The kid has looked fantastic on the scout team, and along with Joseph Fauria, he adds to true targets in the passing game next season. With the lack of explosiveness at wideout this season, Smith could become the Bruins' top target next year.
With the graduation of Terrence Austin, Smith, Damien Thigpen and Randall Carroll will fill the role of returner admirably.

Here's what Smith had to say:

What do you think you'll add to UCLA?
"Really, I feel there's a big opening for me, a big opportunity for me, to come right in and fill the void of wide receivers making a lot more plays out there. I feel like next year is going to be a big time for to compete and be the guy. I want to fine-tune the receiver group as a whole, get us on one accord. I want to change the whole attitude of the receivers, for all of us to know that we're going to make plays next year."

What has impressed you most about UCLA so far?
"First of all, man, the defense. The defense is really impressive. At Colorado, I was always that guy just hoping that we'd get a turnover so I could get back on the field. I'd dare them to throw the ball to me after a turnover. To continue to see these guys go out there and get two or three picks a game by one person, another two by another. I have never really been a guy to witness that over at Colorado."

"Secondly, the attitude of these players. They all were dominant players where they were before. They know how to lose well and they know how to win well. That takes a strong person to know how to continue to rally back and not continue that bad attitude into the locker room after a tough loss. These guys have been in every game, not been blown out by any of these teams, when a lot of these teams are capable of blowing out a lot of teams."

How hard is it not to play right now?
"I don't sweat that any more. I'll wait my turn. I've been in the fire before, and now I'm sitting back, but I'm seeing that the game isn't changing. As long as I keep working, it keeps me eager to get back in the fire."

"Watching the game is actually hard. It's a whole lot harder to watch than play. I'm more nervous watching than I've ever been as a player. A lot of people thought I'd be extremely nervous to go on the field my true freshman year. No, I'm extremely nervous to go on the field my redshirt year. I know I can't help."

How have you improved in your redshirt season so far?
"I feel like I've fine-tuned everything. I feel faster. I feel like my routes are a lot more crisp. I feel like I'm more of an aggressive player, not a guy who's just a speed-burner. I get really good reps against guys l ike Alterraun Verner and Rahim Moore."

Hey all,

Arrived at my Corvallis hotel room about three minutes ago. For those of you still around for the ride, sorry I was MIA: Didn't realize travel would take me more than eight hours. But I'm here, and I have some great one-on-one interviews from Pac-10 Media Days for the hoopheads, and a chat with FOOTBALL Josh Smith about his time at UCLA so far.
Also, I spoke with BASKETBALL recruit Josh Smith last night, and he said he'd call after his official visit to Washington this weekend.

Chime in with questions here or at jon.gold@dailynews.com, and check out my Twitter account all day tomorrow at DNJGInsideUCLA.

Thanks guys,
Jon

Hey all,
I just landed in Portland - that's why no posts - and I'll blog away when I get to my hotel.

* As reported earlier, defensive tackle Jerzy Siewierski has plantar fasciitis and is out indefinitely. Expect at least a few weeks.
* David Carter will start at defensive tackle, but Jess Ward, Justin Edison and Andy Keane will all get increased playing time.
* Neuheisel remained uncommitted at starting right guard, but all indications are the Ryan Taylor will get the gig.
* Aaron Hester will play but will probably not get the starting spot at cornerback opposite Alterraun Verner.

UCLA officials just confirmed to me that defensive tackle Jerzy Siewierski has plantar fasciitis and will be out indefinitely.
In his place will likely be a rotation of David Carter and Jess Ward.

Opening statement:
"We have as quick a team as we've had since 2005. I think we have some good guards, our perimeter is strong. But we haven't done a thing, and we have a long way to go. We have to understand as a group the level of commitment it takes to compete at a high level in the Pac-10. A bunch of kids are in a home, and dad and mom provide the lights and food and shelter, and they leave and all of a sudden the foods gone. You take it for granted. We can't stumble into our season and think that because we've had success we'll have it this year without hard work."

On rebounding:
"The mark of a successful program ongoing is that maybe you lose some players, and the new ones pick up where the other ones left off. It means we'll have to rebound like we did before Jon Brockman was there. We've got to have more of a concerted effort by our group to attack the glass."

On the youth of the conference:
"The way things are now with the ability to come out early makes it a little tricky for a lot of programs. It's hard to replace a situation like USC, where they lose guys before the eligibility is up. It makes it a little more difficult, and when you recruit, you have to be creative and strategic."

On Abdul Gaddy:
"He fits in really well. He's the purest point guard on our team. We have a whole host of guards on our roster. Abdul is more of a point guard. He's a pass-first point guard. He's a point guard with size, understands how to run a team. He's beyond his years in term of maturity."

Opening statement:
"No. 1, we're just trying to get healthy. We've had more injuries sustained during early practices. I think we're getting closer. I'm hoping by Monday we'll have everybody out there. Jerime Anderson will be limited still. We're a very young team and we need the practice time. We have nine underclassmen, and they'll be key for us to have success this year. We've got games coming up real quick. A month from today we'll have already played five games. When you have a young team learning things for the first time, that's really important."

On what UCLA lost:
"We lost a lot. When you talk about Darren Collison, Josh Shipp and Alfred Aboya and Jrue Holliday, a first-round pick. For freshman, it does take a very long time. We're asking Reeves Nelson to guard four guys on the perimeter. But basketball is a game of habits, and in order to get good at something, you need a lot of practice."

On the youth of the team:
"We've had seven players leave early in my six years. There's no way of really being able to project what's going to happen. We have 13 scholarships, and I have yet to have 13 scholarships. I'm looking forward to that day. Jerime is going to be an outstanding point guard for us, and he has yet to practice. Malcolm Lee will back him up. It's tough. We've had four point guards in the last four years drafted in the first round. That's a real key to why we've had a fair amount of success. You've got to have a good leader and someone who can make good decisions. I'll be praying every night for our good health. Malcolm Lee is going to play a fair amount of time, 8-to-10 minutes a game as the backup point guard."

On Drew Gordon:
"We expect a lot out of Drew. We keep stats every day in practice. There's accountability every day. Drew has been our second-leading rebounder thus far. Drew gained a lot of experience last year. He's a strong, physical presence. Drew is going to end up playing a major role for us this year."

On the Pac-10:
"You have to look at who you guy's picked, and I think you're correct. Washington, who won the conference, and Cal is the best shooting team in the conference. They really are efficient offensively. They really push it hard, and I thought they did a great job pushing the ball. You look at the rest of the conference, the Oregon schools basically return everybody. I think Ernie's team took their lumps because they played so many freshmen. Anybody can beat anybody on any given night in the Pac-10. How many pros have come out of this conference? The most in the last three years comes out of the Pac-10. It's not a big enough story nationally. It's been unbelievable - three years in a row, the league has had 60 percent in the Pac-10 tournament."

On dealing with injuries:
"Definitely it's not fun. In '06, our first real good year, we had a number of injuries. That's when Ced Bozeman went down. Josh Shipp filled in for four games. Lorenzo Mata was in and out with a broken leg. We had so many injuries that year. But we somehow found a way."

Opening statement:
"There's a little bit of optimism around, I think. We're in the process of trying to do things better than we did last year in the areas where we weren't very strong. We need to get better defensively. I think we can shoot the ball. That's going to be no secret to anybody. But we need to get better defensively."

On comparing Jerome Randle to Brevin Knight:
"Jerome certainly does things that Brevin would never dream of being able to do. But Brevin, having proven himself as a 10-year, 11-year pro, had other qualities that were very unique to Brevin. The similarities are of course that they're both small. Both are very good players."

On Jorge Gutierrez:
"As soon as you start to back up he pursues you and pursues the ball He's fearless. He's a very quiet kid, but he loves to compete. He sees the game in a way very few people to. He runs after balls and he runs after people."

On Cal being No. 1 and Stanford No. 10:
"I really think that probably both predictions are a little bit erroneous. I think Johnny's team is going to be better than people think they are. It's hard to establish yourself, as we all know. But Johnny is in the process of having a very good recruiting year. I think it's just a matter of time before he gets it where he wants it. For most of us in this league, it's somewhat cyclical."

Opening statement:
"I'm just learning our team, really. It's obviously well-documented what's happened the past couple years. Whatever comes out of the investigation, we're going to move forward in a positive manner. We're going to recruit well, get good players and be competitive. I'm still learning a lot about our players."

On USC:
"Our group is a group that will play hard. We'll have to play hard defensively and rebound the ball well. When you lost a recruiting class and three guys to the pros, you're basically counting on the returning guys. They have to step into roles that they didn't have to. Not so much is it a great challenge for them, but a great opportunity."

On taking over a USC program in turmoil:
"For me, the No. 1 thing that I got the job was to keep the guys intact who were already here. I tried really hard to keep the guys intact. My style or whatever I teach is different from what Tim taught. At the same time, I think our guys have responded well to it."

On playing Arizona:
"I don't feel bad about the way things happened at all. I'll say like I've said every time, I left Arizona and never said anything. Arizona's a great place. Lute Olson's a Hall of Fame coach, and I have great respect for him. I don't feel any different about playing Arizona as I do Washington State or any of those places."

On coming to Arizona:
"I'm excited to be here. People have asked me time and time again about leaving Xavier to come to Arizona, and one of the reasons I did it was to coach in a conference of this factor. The incredible success that teams have had in the NCAA tournament. The great coaches, the great cities. I'm excited to be the coach in a conference of this stature and in particular. It's reality here at Arizona. We have five freshmen and four sophomores. Nine scholarships are in the first two years."

On changing things at Arizona:
"To me the most important thing to do is to establish a way of doing things. How we play, how we practice, how we're aggressive in our non-conference scheduling. We've gotten a lot better in the first 10 days, but we're clearly a lot further behind in the learning curve for many reasons."

On Arizona's freshmen:
I really like our freshman class. They're a diverse group, a couple of players with great size, a couple of wing players and a combination guard.

On Nic Wise:
"Nic Wise has been terrific. He came back to college for all the right reasons. He'll be one of our conference's most experienced players, and I believe one of the best point guard in college basketball. Our style of play is really a good fit for how he plays, as well."

On Derrick Williams
"He's been one of the highlights of our preseason. One of the things that's so exciting is his body. Physically, he's much bigger than you think he is. He's not that rail-thin freshman who takes a year or two to develop physically. Very hard worker, easy to coach, bright kid. As bright of a future as anybody in our program."

On 25 straight NCAA tournament appearances:
"To me, it's the greatest positive we have. Our program takes a back seat to no other when it comes to tradition. Players who have won a national championship, been in the final four, won 10 pac-10 championships. You think about making the tournament and advancing. We've never been more vulnerable. Can that streak break this year under my watch? Absolutely. But the biggest thing for me as a new coach is to run a complete program."

On WSU's scorers:
"On the perimeter, Klay Thompson for sure. If not him, Reggie Moore is a pretty creative scorer. I think he'll be able to put up some numbers. In the post, probably DeAngelo Casto. In my mind he's probably a poor man's Jon Brockman. I love the kid. But he's really not a good scorer yet."

On his career path:
"I spent a lot of time at Seattle Pacific University and really enjoyed it. We had a good school, a good program, had some success. When Lorenzo moved to town and we talked about making the move to the University of Washington, what an ideal time to do it. At that moment, those couple days there, it was an easy decision. Though I didn't expect it ever to happen. Going from there to Portland State, I said I could probably stay there for a long, long time. I want to be in the Northwest, and I want to coach college basketball. If a good opportunity came about in the Northwest, then I could foresee myself doing it."

On landing Rainier Beach product Reggie Moore:
Seattle and the Northwest are primarily my recruiting ties, and most of our staff has those ties. I really feel like there's so much talent in the Northwest. It was really important for us not only to find a kid who could handle the ball, but shoot, we found him in Seattle. For us, there could not be a better scenario.

On his coaching style:
"It would be nice to be able to play faster than we even are going to play this year. I don't really care to take it there without the depth, or the lack of. It would be such a transition. The Bennett's, there system was very slow and it was effective."

Opening statement:
"Last time I was here, I went first. It sure is nice not to be going first. When I was here last, I talked about changing a culture, and how the players felt about themselves. I think we accomplished that a little more than I expected. When you're expected to win you can't just show up at practice. We've been working really hard at living up to the expectations we have this year."

On the higher expectations:
"Our biggest area of growth was being about to manage higher expectations. Last year, we snuck up on people. This year we won't be able to do that. It's a different mindset when you're playing and expected to win a few games. It sounds like it's not that hard of a mindset to change, but when you have guys who've lost for a long time, it's a big deal."

On top-100 recruit Roberto Nelson
"He's gonna be a very good player for us. We're really excited about getting us going. Once he gets cleared, he's going to be competing for playing time."

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.

On Gabriel Harris:
"Gabriel Harris is a combo guard for us; he's practicing very hard and getting better. But like any freshman it's a long season for them. We're excited, we think he can have an impact as the season progresses."

On the point guard position:
"For us at the point, we'll have to do it by committee. We don't have a true point guard in the program right now. It's up to us to tweak our offense in a way for these guys to be successful. I think they've all made good adjustments and will be able to help us."

On the loss of freshman Andy Brown:
"That's a significant loss for us. Andy was a kid we expected to contribute. More importantly, it's tough for him. You talk about a young man who's having his ACL repaired for the second time. That's difficult. We're pulling for him to get back as we all should do because of his love for the game."

On the Pac-10
"For the last three years, we've heard the Pac-10 is down heading into the preseason. Then sure enough we get all the scouts to come to the Pac-10 and they say, 'We could just draft the Pac-10 alone.' What you're going to see in the conference this year is the emergence of a lot of great young players. As we get into Pac-10 play it's going to be a great conference race."

On Oregon last year:
"Last year, when we started our season, I looked out on our floor and saw six young players who hadn't played a game. With a grueling schedule we had, I don't think we really had a chance for success. But they've had an exceptional offseason. We're bigger, a lot bigger. We're stronger. We are a deep basketball team, and of our four new players, three are going to really help us."

On Oregon:
"When you see our team, you'll see the most athletic basketball team we've had at Oregon since I've been there. We've had a couple scrimmages already and the thing most impressive for the staff is how we've been able to score the basketball. We need to find our rhythm early, and once we do, we have a chance to be a very good basketball team."

On UCLA:
"I thought they were a really good basketball team last year. Yet you heard a lot of talk about his defense not being as good in the past. He was playing freshmen. I think the biggest thing, and we've gone through this, is the reloading process. From a national perspective, people say he's lost 1-2-3, but they've got some great personnel in their basketball program."

Hey all,

I'm sitting here at the LAX Hilton for Pac-10 Men's Basketball Media Day.
I'll be chiming in throughout the morning with assorted posts from the Pac-10 players and coaches.

Anything you want me to ask if I get the chance?

Thanks for reading, as always,
JG

Check out my feature on Rahim Moore in today's Daily News:

"Pac-10 quarterbacks, watch out.

If Rahim Moore gives you that look - that deep, longing, alluring, penetrating, soul-piercing, heart-tugging look - be afraid. Be very afraid.

It means he's looking you directly in the eyes, almost through them. It means Moore knows something you don't. Or, rather, it means he knows everything you do know.

It's the same look he would give Jessica Alba..."

Moore

UCLA's injury woes are thinning out, as three players returned to practice this week - BoBo Morgan, Malcolm Lee and James Keefe.

Morgan participated in non-contact drills and will be re-evaluated, but Lee and Keefe are back in action.

Jerime Anderson, Michael Roll and Brendan Lane are due back on Monday, two days before UCLA's first exhibition game against Concordia.

* Jerzy Siewierski limped off the practice field on crutches after tweaking his foot. Neuheisel doesn't know his status yet.
* Ryan Taylor got most of the work with the starting offensive line at right guard Wednesday.
"I just thought that Ryan Taylor deserved a chance. He's been playing backup center, but he's very athletic," offensive line coach Bob Palcic said. "I wanted to get a good look at him out there and make sure I have the best five guys."
* Crowd noise pumped in throughout the latter part of offensive drills, particularly when Richard Brehaut was out there.
* Neuheisel said the protocol for inserting Brehaut into the game was not yet determined, but reiterated once again that he would play.

Micah Kia is out for the season with a torn right ACL.
But his mind still works and his mouth is still firing.
Hopefully, we can run this I, Kia feature every week, if things work out.
Here's what he has to say before Week 8:

"How close are we? That's hard to say - we could be as close as one week away or the end of the season. Mentally, we make ourselves as close as we can. But like I said before, this team has a lot of growing up to do. Realistically, we have all these games under our belts and (youth) shouldn't make a difference. I think we're getting better, and I don't think our record reflects how good a team we are.

The fact of matter is, we are extremely close to being a top tier team. It's very frustrating to see these last four weeks that the small things continue to ail us. Really that's all it is. We clean up the offsides, the holding, the dropped balls - small things. But they add up. They become a major pain in our side. It's frustrating to see it last for four weeks.

There's definitely a measure of frustration, but I think overall, mentally, we're still fine. Things haven't gone are way and guys realize this. But as a team, were doing a good job of keeping the faith, staying the course, any amount of finger pointing has been put to rest. The leaders on the team have done a good job trying to eliminate that. From the outside looking in, people might say my word doesn't mean a lot because I'm not playing. Fact is, I am an older guy on this team, I've been through the fire, and regardless of not having a very good season last year, we did come together as a senior unit. The way things have gone is regrettable. Regardless, myself and the other guys in my position have established the respect we've deserved in terms of being able to lead this team.

We don't need to have any kind of division on the team, and there really isn't. Nerves are built up, guys are a little frustrated and some regrettable things were put up. That's something we need to address internally. The issue has been taken care of.

The next step is eliminating the small things. It's the difference between being a mediocre team and a good team, a good team and a great team. Great teams don't make small mistakes. Good teams will make some, average ones make them consistently. We need to do away with that to take it to the next level. Our intensity in practice is good, our execution is good. But in order to make that next advancement, you have to eliminate the small errors. We have more than enough talent on this team to eventually compete for a national standing.

The strong start we had is still close at mind. I think it's going to be a great test to our team. Our foundation was shaken these past four weeks. It will really show how far along we've come if we can get out of this rut. Just gotta keep on grinding, as simple as that. The pieces are in place. The hard work has been put in. Sooner or later it has to break."

Here is Percy Allen of the Seattle Times' take on how the Pac-10 men's basketball season will shape up:

Hoops

After three straight weeks against hot running backs, UCLA finally got a bit of a reprieve in the ground game last week against Arizona.
With starter Nic Grigsby still nursing a shoulder injury and backup Keola Antolin limited to just 77 yards, the Wildcats didn't put on quite the same show in a 27-13 win that the three previous Bruin opponents did.
Now UCLA must deal with Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers on Saturday.
So much for that reprieve.
Rodgers ranks second in the Pac-10 in rushing yards with 810 and leads with 14 rushing touchdowns after winning conference offensive player of the year as a freshman in 2008.
He is scary fast, he is freakishly nimble, he slashes like a Ginsu knife.
But he is not the entire Oregon State offense, and the Bruins better not just focus on Rodgers.
Sean Canfield will make them pay.
Canfield has thrown for 1,734 yards and 11 touchdowns for the 4-3 Beavers and is coming off a 329-yard, three-touchdown performance in Oregon State's 42-36 loss to USC.
"There's no doubt about it - it's confidence and decisiveness," Beaver head coach Mike Riley said. "That's not only into the year, but through the year. Almost game-to-game. He's hung in there and made throws and hasn't blinked, which is a big, big part at quarterback."

A brief story:

As someone who spent three of my four years of high school football completely unsure of my role on the team, I sympathize with the UCLA freshmen. My freshman year of HS, I played backup offensive tackle. My sophomore year, I played backup defensive tackle/backup offensive tackle. My junior year, backup offensive tackle. My senior year, backup and then starting offensive guard.

For three years, I was simply confused - what was my role? If the starter went down, would I then be the starter? Am I only going in for scrap time with the other members of the "Green Team," essentially my high schools pity unit. Am I an offensive player? A defensive player?

Midway through my senior year, I was entrenched as backup guard, rotating in rarely in the early going. When the starting right guard went down, I went in. I rotated a bit with a teammate, but I was a guard, I would never play defense, I knew my role. My confidence grew incredibly.

And not because of the starting role or anything more than this: I knew what I was. If I was a backup, I was a backup. If I was a starter, I was a starter.

A long story:
I had a long phone conversation with the OC Register's Adam Maya about the UCLA quarterback position tonight. The more we thought of Richard Brehaut's time, the more confused we became.
Then I took a look at UCLA's other true freshman "contributors."
Tell me if you wouldn't be confused about YOUR role:

Fourteen former UCLA basketball players will tip off in the next few days for the start of the NBA season, nine of whom played for Ben Howland.
Six othose nine - Arron Afflalo, Darren Collison, Jordan Farmar, Jrue Holiday, Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook - were first-round picks in the last four years.

Here is the list of UCLA alumni in the NBA:

Arron Afflalo, Denver Nuggets
Trevor Ariza, Houston Rockets
Matt Barnes, Orlando Magic
Darren Collison, New Orleans Hornets
Baron Davis, Los Angeles Clippers
Jordan Farmar, Los Angeles Lakers
Dan Gadzuric, Milwaukee Bucks
Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia 76ers
Ryan Hollins, Minnesota Timberwolves
Jason Kapono, Philadelphia 76ers
Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Milwaukee Bucks
Earl Watson, Indiana Pacers
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

*Aaron Hester got many reps with the ones, rotating with Sheldon Price, but Hester was in there at the end during the two-minute drill portion. I would be surprised if Hester didn't start.

*Richard Brehaut said after practice that he expects to go in the game in the first half, as Rick Neuheisel has assured him, but that he understands that it's a game-time call. "It's coach Neuheisel's call - I'm sure if Kevin's rolling, he's gonna leave him in there. That's all up to coach Neuheisel and coach Chow. If Kev's thrown for touchdown passes on three straight drives, I'm sure he's not gonna yank him out."

*Ryan Taylor worked in at right guard with Nick Ekbatani and Stan Hasiak. Should be an interesting development...

*Nik Abele said before practice that he hasn't been able to sleep for three days with a sore neck after colliding with Nate Chandler in Thursday's practice.

*A sense of urgency has set among the players, as they've waited four games to match their win total from a year ago. Banged up players are out there competing, including Reggie Carter, who is playing with a sprained knee.

Spedjones won the UCLA vs. Cal score predictor; El Maton won for UCLA/Arizona.
You each get 10 questions, and I'll try to do both this week if I can get them in time. If not, El Maton will be next week's 10 Questions.

Please email me at jon.gold@dailynews.com.

Thanks
Jon

I took the Pac-10 Men's Basketball Schedule and cut out just UCLA's games:

Mon., Nov. 16
Cal State Fullerton at UCLA
9 p.m.
ESPN

Fri., Nov. 20
Cal State Bakersfield at UCLA
7:30 p.m.
FSW

Mon., Nov. 23
Pepperdine at UCLA
8 p.m.
FSW

Mike Riley from the Pac-10 coach's conference call:

On quarterback Sean Canfield's improvement:
"There's no doubt about it. It's confidence and decisiveness. That's not only into the year, but through the year. Almost game to game. He's hung in there and made throws and hasn't blinked, which is a big. big part at quarterback."

On Jacquizz Rodgers being up for the Heisman:
"I don't know what to say about that, except he's one of the very best player in the country. He's the second leading all-purpose guy in the conference, second-leading rusher in the conference. In a ton of ways he's playing at the highest levels. I don't look at all that stuff. If you're looking at somebody for a deal like that, I do not see why he doesn't qualify."

On Rodgers' ability to find the endzone (14 touchdowns)
"Absolutely - I think that he has scored rushing touchdowns against outstanding defenses; blocked well, but with tremendous effort. Quizz has that great leverage down there. He'll almost always be below your pads. He's hard to stop in a goal-line situation or anywhere."

On running the ball more against a struggling UCLA rush defense:
"It's not going to be more of a focus. Our deal always is in order to be who we want to be, we have to run the football. When we start running the ball better in the second half last week, we were a better team because of it. It's always about attacking."

On the Pac-10 being rated above the SEC:
"Having a team like USC is obviously part of that. The fact they've been in tough games. But you take UCLA, they won at Tennessee and beat Kansas State. Cal goes back and crushes Minnesota. We've had some games that people have taken note of. We all don't have the record to prove it yet, but eventually it'll work out to be that."

Some Inside UCLA reader has asked 10 questions about this post by Scott Wolf on the InsideSocal.com/USC blog:

BUZZ

Well, after about seven phone calls, I finally reached the Kaiser High Athletic Director, Mark Olay. Here's what he said:

Was there an incident with Coach Neuheisel on a recruiting trip?
"He wasn't aware that his pilot called at 5:30 on Wednesday and requested to land on the field. I assumed he meant practice field. We weren't in the position to maintain a perimeter and hire security. It's no big thing."

Will it affect the recruitment of Josh Shirley?
"No, no not at all. We've coached a bunch of UCLA guys over the years. Its no big thing at all. UCLA's great."

So no repercussions?
"That was just a logistical thing. No big thing."

UCLA's Nov. 7 Homecoming tilt with Washington is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.

The game will be televised locally by Prime Ticket.

In light of Rick Neuheisel and Norm Chow's decision to start Kevin Prince, do you agree with the decision?
Should Prince start?
Should Brehaut play?
Should they rotate from the get-go, either series-by-series or at least back and forth?

I pulled Neuheisel aside and asked him unequivocally, "So Randall Carroll will not be punished? Extra running? Anything? Or just he won't be suspended?"

Neuheisel:
"The Randall Carroll incident gave me an opportunity have a meeting with our team about the use of technology, the proper use of tech and the need to be careful. It also gave me a forum to discuss the use of phrases that might be considered inappropriate to a large portion of the population."

UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel said in Monday's press conference that Kevin Prince would start on Saturday.
Richard Brehaut, though, will get MEANINGFUL snaps, and Neuheisel is making sure of it.

After watching the game on TV, which afforded me the ability to go back and watch certain plays, here's what I think of the performance. How bout you?

RESULT: Arizona 27, UCLA 13
RECORD: 3-4
WEEK 7 GPA: D

QUARTERBACK
Combined 15-of-35, 146-yard effort is unacceptable.
F+

RUNNING BACKS
Either not getting the chance to succeed or simply not capitalizing.
C-

WIDE RECEIVERS
An astounding seven TOTAL catches by UCLA wideouts. Pitiful.
F

OFFENSIVE LINE
Holding penalties, false starts, four sacks. What is this, 2008?
F

DEFENSIVE LINE
Contain. Contain. Contain. Contain.
D

LINEBACKERS
Not a bad effort, but those end-arounds fall on their shoulders, too.
C

DEFENSIVE BACKS
Burned a couple times, but turnovers make up for it. One bright spot.
B+

SPECIAL TEAMS
Forget bronzing Kai Forbath's shoe. Bronze his leg.
A

COACHING
Questionable personnel moves underscore increasing player frustration.
D

From tonight's conference call with Rick Neuheisel:

Opening statement:
"Once again, I'm pleased with the effort. I think the kids defense played hard. Unfortunately too many unforced errors on offense. Holding penalties, dropped balls, missed open receivers. We're not a good enough team to overcome that. That was the tale of the tape.
"I think our defense kind of caught up to the fly sweep action that was hurting us. I thought we played valiantly with respect to the five turnovers. But we didn't make enough plays. We're not the kind of offense that has the big-play potential that makes us able to forget the methodical things."

Is the decision to start Prince about winning next week or winning in the future?
"The goal at this point in any season is to win the next game. Certainly I have the eye on the long-term health of the program. But I don't think that will be squandered because of an effort to win this weekend."

Why rotate quarterbacks?
"There's an old adage if you play two quarterbacks it means you don't have one. I know there are a lot of coaches in that school of thought. Given the youth of the two youngsters, it might be beneficial. We can give each a part of the plan they can concentrate on."

How did Sheldon Price play?
"Sheldon does some good things and sometimes he needs to be a little bit more aggressive. Maybe a bit sturdier as a tackler. He's gonna have to continue to work at it, but we certainly need him to be as sturdy as possible."

Why not move Tony Dye back to cornerback and start Glenn Love at safety?
"We move the chess pieces around all the time and try to take advantage. We do that on a weekly basis. Change sometimes sounds good just because it gives you change, but you want to make sure there's prudent chance. That's why I want to be careful about the quarterback position."

From UCLA...

The 2009-10 UCLA men's basketball team still has five scholarship players on the inactive list for practice. UCLA returns to practice on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. after a regularly scheduled day off on Monday.

Senior guard Michael Roll joined the list today when he sprained his right ankle during practice. He will see a doctor on Monday, at which time his length of inactivity will be determined.

Sophomore center J'mison Morgan (left knee), sophomore guard Jerime Anderson (left groin), sophomore guard Malcolm Lee (concussion) and freshman forward Brendan Lane (left ankle) have all missed the last week of practice.

The four previously mentioned student-athletes will be revaluated on Monday and their status for practice will be determined then.

Freshman forward Mike Moser (lower back) and James Keefe (left shoulder) each returned to practice last week. Keefe is slated to return to 100 percent of practice with full contact on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

One day after UCLA's fourth straight loss, head coach Rick Neuheisel said the offensive coaching staff would need to evaluate the quarterback situation.

The Bruins played three quarterbacks in their 27-13 loss to the Arizona Wildcats, with none of the three able to lead the team to the end zone. Starting redshirt freshman quarterback Kevin Prince went 7-of-15 for 60 yards, senior Kevin Craft went 6-of-17 for 75 yards and redshirt freshman Richard Brehaut went 2-of-3 for 11 yards.

"We're going to continue to look and evaluate our options as we go forward," Neuheisel said. "I'm not angry at Kevin Prince. I think he's a fine young quarterback. We're asking an awful lot of him as a freshman. I wish things were easier, that all the pieces around him were flourishing and more experienced. We are who we are.
"I'm not ready to make that decision yet."

1) In your opinion, is the team playing hard? Is it showing the intensity needed to compete. Additionally, can you see any week to week improvement in the team? - Rob
Playing hard, yes. Is it showing the intensity needed to compete....sometimes. All football players take plays off. After a 30-yard run, an offensive guard might not have much push on the next play. And when things are going as bad as they are, it is very hard to get that extra burst you need in football that only comes from deep down inside.
Regarding week-to-week improvement, in some ways I see some, in some ways I don't. I think the defense is mentally and physically fatigued. I think they have tremendous lapses in concentration that quite simply boggle the mind. And poor defense is a slippery slope; when one man is out of position, you instinctively try to make up for him. That has happened far too often. I still think the offense needs to be much more creative. You tailor your players to your offense, not your offense to your players. How much worse can it get?

2) Am I crazy, or is it now time to begin the Richard Brehaut era? - Sunset Bruin
Yes. It needs to happen. They need to try something.

3) Jon do you see aaron hester taking over the cb duties this weekend? Hester is definetly an upgrade over price because of his size to help in run support. - Bruin123
Yes, he should be back.

4) Do you think Forbath's accuracy is actually hurting the team...the thought being that if he were less reliable, UCLA might take more chances and go for it on 4th down more often? - Anonymous
I don't think it hurts the team, but I think it does play a factor in the decision-making. In certain circumstances, it's a good thing. But overall, this offense needs to take more chances.

5) Is Neuheisel offically on the "hot seat?" - anonymous
If he is, it's a joke. Rebuilding takes time.

6) Jon it was mentioned on BN that Prince was on campus last week with ice on his shoulder, was this an injury that was not reported? Watching his mechanics in the game he did not appear to be throwing comfortably?? - Rico Bruin
There's a difference between being hurt and being injured. I think he was sore and uncomfortable, but he didn't appear to show any signs during the week.

7)
What is holding Knox back from getting some PT??
You're asking the wrong guy, Rico. I said in spring ball that he was the most impressive back I saw. He is the most elusive, and while he might not be the pure, downhill runner that Franklin is, he has...escapability. I know that's not a word, by the way.

8) You had said coaches should get at least 4 years to build a program. Looking at CRN: 08 was his first season, 09 his first recruiting class. If 11 is his last season, his own recruits playing that year are still only sophomores and juniors. How about 5 years instead? - Tim Warren
After four years the talent of the players is pretty evident. If he can't do anything with the players he recruited, he should be judged then.

9) How often does Rick Neuheisel overrule Norm Chow on playcalling? - Bunche Hall
He does so with discretion. I would be surprised if he did it more than a couple times a game.

10) What would you think if a Pac-10 QB had the following statistics after 7 games: 2 TDs, 4 INTs, 5+ Fumbles, 52% completion percentage? - Bunche Hall
I would think the backup should be given a chance to start.

*Both have head coaches who previously coached at UCLA.
*Both have defensive superstars but bad defenses.
*Both have woefully inept quarterback play.
*Both have speedy wide receivers who don't catch passes or run crisp routes.
*Both have lengthy offensive line issues.
*Both have perplexing moments of complete mental breakdowns.
*If the Raiders win today, they'll be 7-12 in their last 19 games. UCLA is 7-12 its last 19 games.

You have 10 steps to help the current UCLA football team get better today. Not tomorrow. Not two years from now. Today.
What do you do?

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.

Thanks guys
JG

For not busting on me too much today. Wasn't a good day for the Bruins and there are definitely a lot of questions going forward, but there will be better days. Thanks for the banter and not taking it out on me too much and hopefully I see you guys down the road. Now to do what many of you either are doing or probably are contemplating doing - to get a drink.

Caught up to Richard Brehaut as well - only guy I missed was Kevin Prince, as I was talking to Carroll when everyone else got him. I covered him at Los Osos and quite frankly, I think he's the future of this team and the rate things are going, the future may be coming quicker that UCLA wants.

"We just aren't executing right now. It's not one of those things where we are like 'Oh, crap' out there. We aren't overwhelmed, its just things aren't very easy right now. We have to get things done."

On being inserted into the game down 14 in the fourth
"It doesn't matter when you go into the game - up 14, down 14, first quarter or fourth, you have to produce. It's not an excuse - I have to go in there and move the team down the field."

On the QB camraderie
"We are all for each other right now and we are all looking to try to help someone out so we can get this thing going. KP was pumped for Craft being out there and they both were giving me support when it was my turn."

Caught a visibly annoyed Kevin Craft outside of the locker room. Here's what he said:

"The defense did a great job and as an offense, we need to win the game when our defense gives us five turnovers. They did their job and gave us a chance to win against a very good offense and we didn't do it."

"We keep on making simple, stupid mistakes. We make penalties, we miss assignments, we make wrong reads. The plays are there, but we need to focus more, especially when we are in the red zone. When we are in the red zone, it seems like we make more mistakes."

On the fourth-down incomplete swing pass to a wide-open Johnathan Franklin in the fourth quarter
"The play was there and he would have had some big yards. I saw the linebacker coming at me and I tried to put some touch on it and loft the ball over him to (Franklin). I put too much on it."

Sorry guys, I was writing three stories and going generally nutso. Anyway, I talked to Neuheisel and Carroll about the Twitter incident and while there's going to be a story in tomorrow's paper and online, this is basically what went down.

Talked to Neuheisel immediately after the game and he dismissed it initially, thinking that it was a question of Carroll questioning play-calling. Wasn't happy about it, but figured it was worth a talking to and no more, lesson learned.

Talked to Carroll in the locker room and he was apologetic. Said that he loved Norm Chow, that he was one of the main people to recruit him to UCLA and that he didn't mean any disrespect, that he was just frustrated about losing. Reiterated that he wasn't sure if Chow trusted the freshman, but said that he shouldn't have said it on Twitter.

Neuheisel called all the UCLA reporters right before the Bruins got on the plane and said that Carroll would be dealt with for "derogatory, offensive and deplorable comments." Said that he didn't know about the racial part of the post and said that the type of conduct wouldn't be allowed in the program. Said he hoped to use it as a lesson for the other players.

After all this I did some googling and found the actual slur that was used - published reports by the L.A. Times didn't mention it. It was a slur, but it was not a slur that referenced Chow's Chinese ancestry. In fact, it didn't reference any Asian ancestry at all. I'm not going to say it in here for obvious reasons, but it is commonly said in hip-hop and rap music. I'm sure you can figure it out from there.

Does this condone what Carroll did? Of course not, it was a stupid thing to say, especially on a public forum such as Twitter. But I felt that the context of the slur should be mentioned, because it changes the baseline perception of the remark. I don't think Carroll should be suspended for more than one game, if that, but I think he should be running some steps this entire week.

Also, Riley went on record with another reporter of ours - Miguel Melendez of the Pasadena Star-News - and said that he never saw the message in question. He vouched for Carroll, though expressed confusion at why Carroll would say things like that in a public forum.

I hope that sheds a bit of light on this whole brouhaha.

With Kevin Prince and Kevin Craft combining to go 13-of-32 thus far, UCLA is putting freshman Richard Brehaut in with 5:41 left down 27-13. Quite frankly, they should have done this earlier - win or lose.

Heading down to the field now.

After converting two fourth-downs on the drive, the Bruins finally crapped out on a 4th-and-6 from the Arizona 31 as Kevin Craft overthrew a wide-open Johnathan Franklin on a swing pass out of the backfield. Franklin might have scored if the pass was accurate. However, accurate has not been something that Craft - who is 6-of-17 for 75 yards - has been tonight.

Arizona kicker Alex Zendejas followed Kai Forbath's missed field goal with one of his own, his being from 39 yards out. UCLA has the ball at its own 34 after Kevin Craft hit Terrence Austin with a 12-yard pass - only the third thrown to a wide receiver all game.

Kai Forbath missed low and short on a 52-yard field goal attempt, keeping UCLA behind 14 points at 27-13. At fourth-and-7, I personally would have gone for it, but that's fine.

And as I type, Delashaun Dean ran 26 yards for Arizona on, you guessed it, an end-round. Wildcats are at the UCLA 23, looking for the kill shot.

The Wildcats answered Tony Dye's touchdown with a 10-play, 63-yard march that was finished off by a 6-yard touchdown run by Greg Nwoko. Key play of the drive was a 16-yard pass from Nick Foles to Terrell Turner on 3rd-and-11 from the Arizona 36 on the third play of the drive. Arizona is now 9-for-12 on 3rd-down conversions.

27-13 Arizona, 34 seconds left in the third.

Akeem Ayers dropped a lateral by Foles, kicked it forward and fell in disgust at dropping the ball. But safety Tony Dye was Johnny on the Spot, picking up the live ball and returning it 28 yards for a touchdown. It passed the review, putting UCLA within 20-13 with 5:20 left in third.

Major props to Dye for keeping his head in the game when everyone else on both teams had given up on the play. That makes five turnovers for Arizona as well.

Arizona cashed in on Christian Ramirez's fumble, with Nick Foles and Juron Criner hooking up again on a 25-yard touchdown pass. William Wright had the big block on the play, taking out Sheldon Price to allow Criner to tiptoe up the left sideline.

8:34 left in third, 20-6 Arizona.

Christian Ramirez just fumbled, with Devin Ross recovering for Arizona at the Wildcat 49. Arizona safety Cam Nelson, who forced Prince's fumble in the first half, was there again, getting his hat on the ball as Ramirez was going down.

Kevin Craft has entered the game with 11:53 left in the third and the Bruins starting at their own 17. Not sure why you wouldn't give Richard Brehaut a shot if you are going to switch QBs, but we'll see what happens.

Arizona continues to play the role of Santa Claus, with Foles and Greg Nwoko messing up the handoff of the first play of the second half, with DE Datone Jones recovering for UCLA.

Then the officials did their part, blowing UCLA's first-down play dead as an incomplete pass even though Prince seemed to throw the ball backwards incomplete to Ryan Moya. Either way, Kai Forbath kicks a 33-yard FG to put UCLA within 13-6 with 13:59 left in the 3rd.

Like I said, Arizona is doing whatever it can to keep UCLA in this game with the three interceptions, including two in the red zone.

A couple things stand out besides that - a) Arizona has 74 yards rushing from its wide receivers and b) a 3-yard pass to Taylor Embree is the only pass the Bruins have completed to its wideouts. Helps explain why the Bruins are 1 for 7 on third downs.

As far as brass tact stats, here we go:

First downs: Arizona 14, UCLA 5

Passing yards: Arizona 157 (Nick Foles 14-of-20, 157 yards, 1 TD, 3 Ints), UCLA 58 (Kevin Prince 6-of-12, 58 yards, 0 TD, 0 Int)

Rushing yards: Arizona 103 (Juron Criner 3 rushes, 39 yards; Nic Grigsby 9 rushes, 26 yards, 1 TD), UCLA 39 (Johnathan Franklin 5 rushes, 26 yards; Christian Ramirez 5 rushes, 18 yards).

Receiving leaders: Arizona (Delashaun Dean 4 catches, 27 yards; Willam Wright 3 catches, 31 yards; Criner 2 catches, 51 yards, 1 TD); UCLA (Ryan Moya 2 catches, 24 yards)

Penalties: Arizona 1-5, UCLA 5-35.

3rd-down efficency: Arizona 4-6, UCLA 1-7.

UCLA got its third pick of the half with 29 seconds left, as DT Jerzy Siewierski caught a tipped Foles pass. DE Korey Bosworth hit Foles as he was throwing, keeping UCLA down only 10 despite being outgained 260-97 in the first half.

10 seconds left to go before halftime.

Kai Forbath just booted a season-long 53-yard field goal to put UCLA within 13-3. UCLA actually moved down to the Arizona 21, but a false start by Nick Ekbatani and Arizona's third sack of the day - this time by LB Sterling Lewis - forced Forbath's ninth career 50-plus field goal.

Rahim Moore picks off Nick Foles for a second time today, giving him seven on the season - which is already tied for fourth on the single-season list. Not sure what Foles was thinking there, as he had David Roberts on the deep slant and Terrence Turner on the short slant and threw right between them.

The 36-yard return of the pick gives the Bruins good field position at their own 38 down 13-0.

Arizona is at midfield right now after yet another big gain on an end-around. That's four for 60 yards for those counting at home. UCLA has gotten a first down on each of its first three possessions, but crapped out after that.

Cam Nelson got to Kevin Prince again, as his second sack of the game thus far caused a fumble which Apaiata Tuihalamaka recovered at the UCLA 23. Nic Grigsby scored three plays later on a 6-yard run to put the Wildcats up 13-0 after Alex Zendjas missed the extra point.

Grigsby's touchdown run was set up by a 14-yard run by Juron Criner on the end around, giving Arizona receivers 44 yards rushing on three end-arounds.

The Wildcats struck on their second possession, with Nick Foles hitting Juron Criner on a 41-yard touchdown pass. Criner ran a stop-and-go route on Courtney Viney, with Viney biting on the fake. With no safety help, it was an easy pitch-and-catch for Foles and Criner.

4:39 left in the first, 7-0 Wildcats.

Just as I was about to flog UCLA for giving up 30 yards on two end-arounds by Delashaun Dean and Juron Criner to help Arizona move to the Bruins 26, Rahim Moore comes up with his sixth interception of the season. Nick Foles threw high to David Douglas in the seam, with Douglas deflecting the ball into the waiting arms of Moore.

By the way, Randall Carroll was lined up wide right on the first play of UCLA's second possession.

It's sunny, warm and red here at Arizona Stadium and the national anthem has just concluded. With the recent developments on Randall Carroll, it will be interesting to see if a) he plays or b) there's any distraction. Last thing a team on a three-game losing streak needs are comments of a racist or otherwise negative nature in a public forum like Twitter.

Arizona about to enter the field with UCLA to follow.

Right now several UCLA players are gathered by the tunnel of the southwest end zone stretching. The stretching, which consists of leg lifts and leg extensions, is a product of what is apparently a freakishly small visitors locker room here at Arizona Stadium. Usually a lot of the stretching that is being done in plain view would be done in the locker room.

Then again, I can't say I'm surprised. I walked right into the press box from off the street two hours ago without a single security person asking me who I was. Probably not the best of ideas by Arizona.

Reading about the Arizona offense's prolific output has likely caused some UCLA fans to starting banging heads into walls. But if the Arizona defense was a wall, one well-timed headbutt would likely send it crashing down.

The Wildcats don't exactly have the Desert Swarm going this season, as Arizona gave up 584 yards last week to Stanford and 407 yards a couple of weeks ago to Oregon State. But then again, somehow Arizona held Central Michigan and prolific QB Dan LeFevour to 182 total yards in the season opener, so who knows?

Either way, this seems as good of time as any for Kevin Prince and the UCLA passing game to break out, as Andrew Luck is fresh off putting 423 yards on the Wildcats. I'd like to see the Bruins stretch the field a bit (Randall Carroll is a CIF sprint champion, hint, hint). The Arizona run defense isn't horrible, but there should be some room for Jonathan Franklin and company to run - provided UCLA stays close enough to where the run game is a realistic option.

Apparently 6th Street and 6th Avenue are completely different. The stadium is on 6th Street, right by campus, while the exit to 6th Avenue off Interstate 10 put me in South Tucson which was, for lack of a better word, interesting to say the least.

Also "interesting" is how the UCLA defense will deal with the Arizona offense, specifically sophomore quarterback Nick Foles. Foles, a Michigan State transfer that took over for Corona Centennial graduate Matt Scott as the starting quarterback in Arizona's fourth game and has been slicing up defenses since, throwing for 1,053 yards and seven touchdowns the past three games. He spreads the ball around well, as four Wildcats (Juron Criner, David Roberts, Terrell Turner and David Douglas) have 23 or more receptions.

Lost in the Foles hoopla is Arizona's running game, which is capable of big plays with junior tailback Nic Grigsby. Grigsby had 325 yards in the first two games, but a shoulder injury has held him to 184 yards since. However, Grigsby busted out for a 57-yard, game-winning touchdown against Stanford last week, which is not good for a UCLA run defense that's been gashed during the Pac-10 season.

So what can UCLA do to slow down the Wildcats? Consistent corner play would be one, as Alterraun Verner needs to play more like the All-American he's capable of being while Sheldon Price need to provides some form of stability on the other side with Aaron Hester likely out again this week. The safeties have to perform the basic tenets of their job and flush last week, when they allowed Cal four touchdowns of 42 yards or more, out of their system.

Taking away any semblance of an Arizona running game would help a ton as well, as that would allow Brian Price and the front four to create pressure and perhaps force Foles into a turnover or two. Foles has been proficient, but he is young and can be forced into mistakes, as Washington proved two weeks ago by forcing two interceptions.

Is me, T.J. Berka. I'm normally a preps writer for the San Bernardino Sun and Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, but I'm in Tucson today giving Gold a day off. I'll do my best to fill his considerable shoes. If it makes you guys feel better, the only UCLA game I covered this season was the Kansas State one - the Bruins' last win. So maybe that'll give you guys some confidence heading into today.

I have some stuff later as we get closer to game time - just wanted to introduce myself.

Hey guys,

I'm at my best friend's wedding today, and while I also wish I could be at Arizona delivering the goods, I cannot.
I will try and keep up with the game and drop by if I can, but you are in the able hands of TJ Berka for the day.
Please treat him with respect.

Thank you
Jon

For three games, the UCLA defense has faced the cream of the Pac-10 running back crop, a slate of backs so elusive that the Bruin defenders were grasping at jerseys that were no longer there.

UCLA was tossed around in the three losses to Stanford, Oregon and Cal, a combined 93-52 thrashing, eventually running on empty, gasping for air behind Toby Gerhart, LaMichael James and the two-headed monster of Jahvid Best and Shane Vereen.
Against Arizona this week and with their season essentially on the line, the Bruins won't be chasing quite as much.
Whereas UCLA's previous three opponents ran, ran, ran and ran some more, the Wildcats will pass.
Arizona quarterback Nick Foles has 138 attempts in three games since taking over at quarterback for a struggling Matt Scott, and the Wildcats have gone 2-1.
"They're going to do what they do," Bruins redshirt freshman safety Rahim Moore said. "They might keep it simple when they run the ball, but it's the best group of receivers I've seen in the Pac-10 since I've been playing. There are going to be a lot of opportunities. All we can do is sit back, relax, be patient and let the plays come."
That strategy worked in the team's 3-0 start, as the Bruins pressured opposing offensive lines, quarterbacks let loose a flock of ducks and UCLA defensive backs were there to gather them in. The Bruins hauled in eight interceptions against San Diego State, Tennessee and Kansas State; Moore had five of them to lead the country.

Since then, UCLA has had one pick.

"It's letting me know that we're not making enough plays," Moore said. "Making plays, getting turnovers puts the ball in guys like Kevin Prince's, Johnathan Franklin's hands. That's one thing we need to pick back up. If we average nine turnovers every (three) games, we're going to win. I never realized that, but that's the reason we're not winning."
But not the only reason.

The Bruins have allowed 683 rushing in three games, a shocking number for a defense that was supposed to be the team's strong suit. But on certain plays, UCLA just looks lost, allowing either wide-open passing plays or missing tackles at will.

The unit has allowed running backs to make them look silly, and just when it appears the Bruins are getting back to the basics, a deep pass will sail over their heads.

Against pass-first Arizona, though, the scheme just might play into their hands.

"That's the nature of this beast; there's so many different kind of offenses in this league, you just have to (adjust)," UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel said. "Coaches have to give you a plan you can execute and you have to go out and do it. But we certainly understand we're playing a very effective offense, and one that is hot right now."

The same cannot be said about the Bruins offense.

UCLA had its second-highest scoring output of the season against Cal in a 45-26 loss in Week 6, but settled for four field goals by Kai Forbath.

The Bruins will need to begin converting those crucial opportunities if they are to reverse their recent fortunes.

But Moore said it will not come down to scoring, just preventing the Wildcats from doing so, and that's where those turnovers come in.

"It gives your team such a joy and urgency," Moore said. "It makes you want to win. It makes you want to play even more. ... I love it. I want a team to try and pick on us. That just means we get opportunities to make plays. Either we come through or we don't."

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.
For coming closest last week, spedjones will get to ask 10 questions also next week.

*Nick Ekbatani will get the starting nod at right guard, but UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel said Stanley Hasiak will rotate in early. The coaching staff is not sold that Hasiak's ankle is 100 percent from last weekend.
*Aaron Hester will travel with the team to Arizona but likely won't play.
*Nik Abele and Nate Chandler were out there in jerseys but on the sidelines, recovering from consussions suffered during practice yesterday.
*Neuheisel on the defense facing a passing offense for the first time in a while:
"That's the nature of this beast; there's so many different kind of offenses in this league, you just have to. Coaches have to give you a plan you can execute and you have to go out and do it. But we certainly understand we're playing a very effective offense, and one that is hot right now."

UCLA sophomore center J'mison Morgan has some swelling in his left knee but his MRI was negative. He will miss the next 3-4 practices and will continue to do daily rehabilitation.

1) Why has there been such a dip in the game performance of UCLA's defensive big three, Price, Verner and Carter? All three were supposedly headed for big years this season. - Scott
Price has been an absolute beast, on pace for 21 TFL and eight sacks, joke numbers for a defensive tackle. Verner has been good - three INTs isn't bad - but he's been exploited at times, particularly in glaring situations. Carter already has two more TFL than all of last year and will finish with more tackles. I don't think those three are the problems...

2) On that TD pass to Javid Best, I counted only 10 players ucla ...where was Verner?
Frankly, I think the players get over a lose fast, so thinking why should fans labor a loss so hard? - JoeB.Ruin
First, of all, UCLA had 11 players on the field on the Best TD catch. Fans are fans - fanatics. They care, and it's great they care until they start getting unreal expectations, which I think was the case with many UCLA fans this year. 8-4? I don't think this team ever dreamt of being 8-4.

3) Earlier, you said you thought Morgan would start at center for the BB team. Last season he looked pretty raw and out-of-shape. Have you seen him playing well in the gym or was that more of a guess/projection?
Why him over Gordon? - Steve
Everything Howland said about the offseason's most improved player was about Lee and Morgan. Same with the players. They all hyped him up.

4) How do you pronounce Hasiak? For some reason I always thought it was "Hash-ick" but announcers keep saying "Hass-y-ick". - UCLABZ
HayZeeAck...I think. I hope, or else I've been sounding like an idiot.

5) What happened to the NCAA sanctions that were supposedly coming to USC football and basketball for clear violations of rules??? Is the NCAA hoping it all goes away so they won't have to punish a football team who brings them lots of revenue? - anonymous
Yes, the NCAA wants USC to win more than any other team. They all secretly wear maroon underwear and gold undershirts and sit back in their chairs like C. Montgomery Burns saying exxxcellent. Seriously, I think the NCAA is taking its time in the investigation because it appears there's a LOT to uncover.

6) I too would be surprised if Kai Forbath left early for the NFL. That being said, he's got the best leg in the country, better than most NFL kickers and has proven his consistency. A player can come back and get his degree at any time. Are there any good reasons why he shouldn't go? - Sam Bradford's third cousin
Yes, because this is college and he's with his best friends and he has a great life. This year he'd be a 6th/7th round pick. Next year, he's a 6th/7th round pick. I'd stay in school.

7) Who is thrown under the bus first, Neuheisel or Chow? - Hard Knocks Wife
Chow.

8) Who beats USC first, Charlie Weis or Rick Neuheisel? - Charlie Bucket
Rick Neuheisel

9) Any idea where Alfred Aboya and Josh Shipp will be playing ball this season? - Steve
I think Shipp is going to end up in Italy and Aboya in France.

10) Are there any recruits that are pretty much down to choosing between UCLA and usc? - The Edge
Not down to those two, but Deitrich Riley is interested heavily in both.

1) Updates on Mobley & Maka please. - UCLAVES
Here's an update on Mobley: Mobley

2) Where in the world are Jerry Johnson and Moutra and why arent they playing??? Are they THAT bad? - 909Bruin
The coaches don't think they're better than the five in the rotation. At this point, I'd just throw them out there and see what they can do, but that's just me.

3) At the game Saturday, I overgeard heard two parents of highly regarded freshmen talking about how their kids are unhappy on the scout team and the fact the coaches seemed to care about them when they were recruited but the scout team players are treated like crap. Is there any morale issue with scout team guys? They are the future players. - Anonymous
Go to any program in the country and find me a happy recruited scout-team player. There won't be one. Players on the scout team are taken for granted anywhere.

4) What does it mean when the crowd screams out "Supersize It!"?
I assume there's some sort of deal with McDonald's about passing a certain point barrier and getting a meal or something. Or the Hamburglar is holding each individual fan hostage and forcing them to scream. Let's hope it's not that.

5) What do you think are the worst/best case scenarios now that half the regular seasons over? - Anonymous
Best case scenario, 7-5. Worst case scenario, 5-7.

6) What are your thoughts on keeping Kevin Prince the starter? What has he done to warrant keeping the job: sub-50% completion rate, constant fumbles, multiple pick-six INTs, doesn't have the velocity of Brehaut. When do the coaches open the competition at QB again? Does Brehaut get a real shot at the position this year, or even next year? - Bunche Hall
I think Brehaut deserves to play more, but Prince should be the starter. There's no reason in a 19-point loss Brehaut shouldn't get at least a few snaps. It's not like it would interrupt the offensive rhythm. There was none. Prince has the tools to be an effective quarterback, but none of the help. Next year, I think the competition opens again with Brehaut given a year to catch up.

7) Using all of your knowledge about the program you've gained thus far, can you list your ideal (but still realistic) starting offense and defense for our team NEXT year, including commits and UCLA leans?
I wont jump on Rick's case yet....but next year, he's on the hook. - Anonymous
First of all, saying he's on the hook is unfair. Judge him in 2011. Not a minute sooner.
Anyway:
Offense
QB Prince
RB Franklin
RB Knox
Short-yardage RB: Jones
WR1 Embree
WR2 Rosario
WR3 Presley
WR4 Carroll
Hybrid RB/WR Thigpen
OL Su'a-Filo
OL Hasiak/Baca
OL Maiava
OL Williams
OL Kia/Harris
TE Chandler/Harkey

Defense
CB Hester
CB Price
S Moore
S Love/Dye
LB Ayers
LB Westgate
LB Sloan
DE Jones
DT Carter
DT Edison
DE Holmes

K Forbath
P Locke
KR Thigpen
PR Thigpen

8) As with any program, it seems many fans are reacting too harshly to the state of UCLA football. It's only Neuheisel's 2nd year at the helm, and I expect to see more results by next year. At this rate, do you think it's possible to go bowling (I'm assuming we'd need to finish at least 7-5)? - Tristan
No. To be honest, 7-5 would be very tough and 6-6 looks more likely, but doesn't guarantee a bowl.

9) We were 8th in the Pac-10 last year with 3 conference wins. I thought we would 'jump' into the middle of the Pac-10 this year but we seem to be headed for another lower-tier finish (8th-10th). Are we making progress since Dorrell left? What was his worst finish in Conference play? - BruinBob
Absolutely making progress. The team was left threadbare by Dorrell, lost its No. 1 and No. 2 quarterbacks last year and still beat a talented Tennessee team. Then they beat three teams, including a win AT Tennessee, and loss to probably the three best of the five teams in the Pac-10. If this team started Pac-10 play with Washington State, Arizona State and Washington, they're 6-0 and everyone is calling Rick Neuheisel a genius. All along they were going to lose to Oregon and Cal, and had an outside shot of beating Stanford, WITHOUT their starting quarterback. Smile.

10) Are you suprised that with CRN & NC at the helm the offense has looked so poor?
And how many recruits will be scared away by the lack of offense? - theuclan
Looked so poor? No. Frosh QB, RB, LT, LG, Soph RB2, WR2, WR3, C, RG, RT. Show me one team that looks great with a unit so young. Creative? Yes, I'm surprised that the offense hasn't been more creative. I'd just get the ball in the hands of Knox, Thigpen, Carroll and Presley more often. I don't think any recruits are scared away. I think they think they can help and want to come to a school where they can play early.

You have always been a good student. Some people find high school more challenging because they feel the pressure to get good grades to get into college. How would you compare the academics of your high school to ucla?
Up here is not easy, but they give us a lot of help to pass classes with tutoring and study halls. You get the work done, they set it up to where you can pass.

Kevin Craft said he would not want to play on the line because of its inherent violence. What do you do to change from your usual mellow self to a man who has to meet violence with violence?
Football, you've got to flip a switch. You can't play passive. You have to get out here and get after it. You have to play like a madman. Like Lawrence Taylor says, you've got to play like a bunch of crazed dogs. Coach Bullough says it's a gift to get angry. You can't just go in public and hit somebody, you'd go to jail. Out here, anything goes, you can hit the sh*t out of somebody. That's what you play football for, to hit somebody.

You dominated offensive lineman, especially in high school. Have you ever felt sorry for an offensive lineman that you were having your way with, and then backed off a little to save him some dignity?
It's my job. I tell them don't take it personal, I'm just doing my job. We're all on a mission out here

Without stating anything profane give us some examples of the trash-talking that goes on in a football game.
Anything goes, you hear it all. But personally, I don't say anything in games. I got the nickname Quiet Storm in high school from my dad because I don't say much. But you can feel the impact, though.

You are projected as a high NFL draft choice when you decide to leave ucla. How would becoming an instant multi-millionaire change your life?
It wouldn't just change mine but the people who are close to me. Even those who are not. I plan on doing things back in the community to help kids who are unfortunate. I want to start back at home. It would be great to live the life I've never lived before.

You have six sisters. What did you learn about womanhood from them?
I'm a ladies' man now. I know it all. I can read a lady like a book now. I can look at them and tell if something's wrong. I know it all. Maybe not everything - I mean, it's a gift and a curse.

Drawing is one of your hobbies. Do you have any pieces that you have displayed?
That is like an escape from the pain. I don't talk about my problems; I just used to draw. I'm not the greatest. I just do it for fun. The tattoos I have, I've draw them out, most of them. Display? No. I draw and give them away to certain people.

You went to high school in Crenshaw which is located in South Central. Bruins say SC is located in South Central, and say it in a derogatory manner. I know South Central and like the people there. Tell us something about South Central.
It isn't as bad as every makes it seem in movies and stuff. You have violence, but it makes you a stronger person. Every day is not like that. You actually learn how to become a man, you grow up fast. You make a lot of friends to become street smart. Growing up there was a great experience - going through tragedy wasn't great, but it's made me the man I am today.

You played 3 years of baseball in high school. Can you still hit the curveball?
It's hard to hit a curveball, but I think I can do it, take it over the fence.

You are a history major. If you could change one event in history to make for a better world what would it be?
Change the world? I don't know man, everything happens for a reason. I wouldn't want to change anything. If I change something, something else will happen. I'll just leave it as it is.

Nate Chandler has a concussion and Nik Abele has concussion symptoms and will have precautionary X-rays of his neck area, UCLA said after practice.
Nick Ekbatani, meanwhile, is expected back at practice tomorrow after tweaking his left knee.

UCLA's Oct. 31 football game at Oregon State will be televised on a delay basis, beginning at 3:30 pm, on Prime Ticket is Los Angeles and FS Northwest in OSU's home area. The game kicks off at 1:00 pm.

The game could not be televised live because the Pac-10 Conference's contract with ABC gives an ABC telecast of a Pac-10 contest exclusivity in the 12:30-3:30 window.

*The UCLA defense is adjusting to a completely different offensive game plan this week, as Arizona quarterback Nick Foles has 700 and four touchdown in his last two games. Quite a difference from Jahvid Best and the Cal running game.
*Offensive guard Nick Ekbatani walked off the field early after tweaking his knee, and it looks like Stan Hasiak is going to get the majority of the snaps - if his ankle holds up. If both are a go, there will be plenty of rotation, though, between the experienced Ekbatani and the bulldozing Hasiak.
*Practice was temporarily halted as trainers attended to freshman scout team tackle Nik Abele and sophomore reserve tight end Nate Chandler after the two collided on a special teams drill. Abele laid on the field for more than 10 minutes before walking off and Chandler had blood splatters on his jersey. Rick Neuheisel said both should be fine.
*Aaron Hester worked in at cornerback, primarily on the scout team, as he is trying to get caught up to game speed. He may be cleared by doctors, but that's a far cry from being game-ready.

From UCLA:

UCLA junior place kicker Kai Forbath has been named to the Sporting News Mid-Season All-America team.

He has made 17 of 18 field goals and 10 of 11 PATs for 61 points. He leads the nation and the Pac-10 in field goals (2.83) and field goal percentage (.944) and is fourth in the Pac-10 and ninth nationally in scoring (10.17).

Forbath has converted 30 of his last 31 field goals (14 straight) and had a string of 16 straight successes (final 13 of 2008 and the first three of 2009) snapped at Tennessee when he missed wide from 51 yards. He has connected on his last 27 straight field goal attempts from a distance of 50 yards or less (his last such miss came on a 47-yard attempt in game six last season at Oregon). He ranks third in school history with 61 field goals and ninth in career scoring with 244 points in just 31 games.

UCLA running back Derrick Coleman was nominated for the FedEx Orange Bowl Courage Award:

Coleman

Micah Kia is out for the season with a torn right ACL.
But his mind still works and his mouth is still firing.
Hopefully, we can run this I, Kia feature every week, if things work out.
Here's what he has to say before Week 7:

"I'd like to say there's nothing eating at the team, but three losses, there's definitely some thoughts going on in the back of some minds. It's important to keep that off the surface. We're in a tight spot, but we have the potential to climb out. There's only one way to get out of this.

It's very important to just forget about what happened in the past years. We had a great offseason, and I think it's really important remind these guys about the work they put in. Yeah they're young, but they're being forced into action fast. This isn't something they need to go through, but they HAVE to. It's up to the older guys on the team to remind them that you've got to grow up fast regardless of what's going on. They're no longer rookies. They've got six games under their belts. It's time to grow up. Even if you have to lose, lose like a man. Take it on the chin, hold your head up high. You can win as a man and you can lose as a man - that's going to prove your worth.

The good things are that we're still working hard. Yeah, we've got three losses, but the general consensus on the team is that we take it a game a t a time. Something bad happens you flush it away. Every game is a single-game season.

It's the same thing I've talked about before, but I thought the offense did a good job growing in the loss. As a team we made some progress. We didn't make a whole lot of huge mistakes but a lot of little ones that cost us big.

Part of the growing process is to forget that mentality of a losing team that was last year, but also remember what we went though. We can't just forget the hardships we went through. Remembering mistakes made in the past is what helps you grow in the future. It's very important for the guys who went through that, myself included, the only thing I hold onto is I remember the pain. I don't want to go through it again."

For some reason, this didn't post last night...but anyway,

First, James Keefe. Then, Jerime Anderson. Finally, Malcolm Lee, Brendan Lee and Mike Moster.
Wait, not so finally.
J'mison Morgan has a swollen left knee now, the sixth UCLA basketball player to be injured in early preseason practices. The Bruins were off Tuesday, and Morgan had an MRI, with results known today.

Anderson, Morgan, Lee and Lane will miss practice today, and Moser is day-to-day. Keefe is still limited and Lane is out up to two weeks.

This was a pretty interesting read, about how Kai Maiava is paying off outside the field:

Maiava

Here's what he told Wisconsin Scout.com site BadgerNation:

Vander Blue: It was a tough decision and I am so glad that it is over with. It has been a long, long process. A lot of long nights, a lot of confusion. I am so glad that I came to a conclusion. I followed my heart and I feel that I am comfortable with my college career with Buzz Williams and the Marquette Golden Eagles.

Blue: It was probably the history of the style of play, knowing that Marquette being an up-and-down team and them playing real fast, and the Big East conference really separated them. The Big East is a great league, and the academics course work that Marquette has impressed me, too. I think the Big East conference really sealed it because I always wanted to play in the Big East. They are the best conference in the country, so that sealed it for me, too.

UCLA has it's eyes on Tyler Lamb (a solid UCLA verbal) and Trey Zeigler at the shooting guard position now.

To put things in a little perspective...

Offense
Kevin Prince - 2008 - No. 40 QB - 3 stars
Johnathan Franklin - 2008 - No. 55 RB - 3 stars
Chane Moline - 2006 - No. 28 RB - 4 stars
Terrence Austin - 2006 - No. 9 WR - 4 stars
Xavier Su'a-Filo - 2009 - No. 3 OG - 4 stars
Stanley Hasiak - 2009 - No. 9 OG - 4 stars
Kai Maiava - 2007 - No. 29 C - 2 stars
Jeff Baca - 2008 - No. 36 OG - 3 stars
Mike Harris - 2007 - No. 28 OG - 3 stars
Logan Paulsen - 2005 - No. 18 TE - 4 stars
Taylor Embree - 2007 - NR WR - 1 star
Kai Forbath - 2006 - No. 5 K - 3 stars

Defense
Alterraun Verner - 2006 - No. 56 CB - 3 stars
Datone Jones - 2008 - No. 23 DE - 4 stars
Brian Price - 2007 - No. 7 DT - 5 stars
Jerzy Siewierski - 2006 - No. 50 DT - 3 stars
Korey Bosworth - 2005 - NR LB - 2 stars
Kyle Bosworth - 2005 - NR LB - 2 stars
Reggie Carter - 2005 - No. 71 LB - 3 stars
Akeem Ayers - 2007 - No. 12 DE - 4 stars
Aaron Hester - 2008 - No. 19 CB - 4 stars
Rahim Moore - 2008 - No. 2 S - 5 stars
Tony Dye - 2008 - No. 9 CB - 4 stars
Jeff Locke - 2008 - No. 1 P - 4 stars

Final tally
Class of 2005 starters: 4
Class of 2006 starters: 5
Class of 2007 starters: 5
Class of 2008 starters: 8
Class of 2009 starters: 2

Five-star starters: 2
Four-star starters: 10
Three-star starters: 8
Two-star starters: 3
One-star starters 1

Meanwhile...

Cal's starters against UCLA
Class of 2004 starters: 1
Class of 2005 starters: 7
Class of 2006 starters: 5
Class of 2007 starters: 6
Class of 2008 starters: 5
Class of 2009 starters: 0

Five-star starters: 0
Four-star starters: 8
Three-star starters: 11
Two-star starters: 4
One-star starters 1

This should explain a few things. First off, UCLA starts 10 players from the classes of '08 and '09; Cal starts five. UCLA starts 14 players from the classes of '04-07; Cal starts 19. This is just one team, just the Bears, who whooped the Bruins. I am not for or against Rick Neuheisel, or Norm Chow or Chuck Bullough, for that matter. However, as someone who has watched a university bail on a coach before, justified or unjustified, all I can say for sure is 18 games into Neuheisel's tenure is too small a sample size. If it were up to me, colleges and universities would have to guarantee a coach four years. Likewise, coaches should not be able to bail early, either.

Do with this list what you will...

Here is College Hoops Net's UCLA hoops preview, in which the Bruins are ranked No. 29...

CollegeHoopsNet

The Pacific Club IMPACT* Foundation has announced the 20 quarter-finalists for the annual Lott Trophy and UCLA's Alterraun Verner and Brian Price are among those who have advanced to the next round.

Named after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, the Lott Trophy is awarded to college football's Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. Now in its sixth year, the Lott Trophy is the first college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player.

Sponsored by The Pacific Club IMPACT* Foundation in Newport Beach, the award is given to the player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

The quarter-finalists (alphabetically):
Sam Acho (DL, Texas)
Pat Angerer (LB, Iowa)
Eric Berry (DB, Tennessee)
Kurt Coleman (DB, Ohio State)
Jerry Hughes (DL, TCU)
Greg Jones (LB, Michigan State)
Trevard Lindley (DB, Kentucky)
Taylor Mays (DB, USC)
Rolando McClain (LB, Alabama)
Gerald McCoy (DL, Oklahoma)
Mike Nixon (LB, Arizona State)
Eric Norwood (DL, South Carolina)
Joe Pawelek (LB, Baylor)
Brian Price (DL, UCLA)
Brandon Spikes (LB, Florida)
Darrell Stuckey (DB, Kansas)
Ndamukong Suh (DL, Nebraska)
Alterraun Verner (DB, UCLA)
Sean Weatherspoon (LB, Missouri)
Kyle Wilson (DB, Boise State)

There are eight defensive backs on the quarter-finalist list; six linebackers and six defensive linemen. The Big 12 has six players on the list, the SEC five, the Pac-10 four, the Big Ten three and one each from the Mountain West and WAC.

The semi-finalists will be announced Nov. 3 and the four finalists Nov. 24. Those four finalists will be flown to Newport Beach, Ca. for the annual black-tie banquet that will be televised by FOX Sports West.

As the offers have continued to pile in, Taft linebacker/running back Lucky Radley is just waiting on one from UCLA. The transfer from Agoura sat out four games to start the season but has come on strong for the rebounding Toreadors, who are 3-3 after a tough schedule. Radley set up his first official visit to North Carolina today and is scheduling a visit to South Carolina soon. Still, he holds hope to stay home.
(Click on Radley's name for his Scout.com profile)
Here's what he had to say tonight:

What do you still need to show UCLA?
"I just feel I have to show them more film. I've been playing out of position at linebacker, and I haven't really played DB this year. I haven't been playing what I'm projected as. I feel that I just have to continue playing good games playing where I'm at."

How are things going at Taft?
"Taft is cool, I'm liking it a lot. They are some good coaches, and I think we're a totally different team now. Our line is doing great."

What did sitting out four games do for you?
"It had me focus on the recruiting not playing in the games. I've been able to sit down and see what schools I want to go to, which ones I'd have a good fit in. And now UCLA came out even though I don't have an offer from them."

Why do you like UCLA?
"I've always been a UCLA fan; the school is a great school academically. It's superb. Their alumni system is awesome. I always meet somebody that graduated from UCLA and I hear nothing but good things about it. The location is great. I'm from LA, Woodland Hills, and that's right down the street. The campus is fifteen minutes from my house, and I want to stay home.
And then football wise, the coaches are great. I can see them being a top program in a couple years. They keep having these great classes."

Has UCLA come on stronger recently?
"I'm great friends with Tony Jefferson, that's my boy. He's been really putting UCLA in my mind. I liked UCLA earlier but I wasn't too sure, but he's been convincing me."

You know a lot of players on the team, does that affect your ultimate decision?
"All the players there are really cool and I have a lot of friends on the team. I feel like it'd be a great place for me."

How do you feel you can help UCLA?
"I'm being recruited as an athlete, some offers as a running back some as a safety, and I would prefer to play defensive back, wherever. If I have to play kicker, anything, I'm willing to play."

How good is this recruiting class shaping up?
"That's a great class already with Malcolm, he's one of the top RBs in the nation and LB, too. And he's a cool guy. With those big guys, it should bring more big ones over. I saw last year that Coach Neuheisel is not afraid to start true freshmen, and I think that's good for guys wanting to come. They have young guys, and when they get older, UCLA should be back on top."

If you end up at UCLA, who gets the full-court press from you? Your backfield mate D.J. Morgan?
"Man, that's my boy. I'll be trying to get everybody. D.J., Deitrich. I'll try and get everybody."

On Nelson Rosario:
"I think Nelson is a very, very talented young man who at times teases you that he's going to blossom into that great one. He reminds me of J.J. Stokes. But I'm also mindful that J.J, didn't really hit full stride until the ninth game of his sophomore year. As a freshman I think he had four catches. Nelson got here and there wasn't anybody to follow behind. He got thrust into it early in his career. While we all want him to blossom now, I still believe there's this big-time player who's going to come out."

On UCLA not realizing Cal had only 10 men on the field for two plays, one of which was an interception returned for touchdown:
"It's rare that a quarterback counts 10 and 11. We see coverages, and there were seven in coverage which is the norm. The coverage wasn't out of whack. The pass rush was."

On Johnathan Franklin playing a bigger role in the passing game:
"Johnathan Franklin is a very exciting young player and will have a the impact in the throw game as he continues to develop. It's about growing up and learning that and developing it."

On scoring more touchdowns:
"I'd prefer that, much prefer that. Even though I love Kai, and he's having a magnificent season, I'd prefer to rest him a little more. See if we can get him some short ones, some extra points."

On what they need to do in the red zone:
"You want to run the ball, that's great, and we certainly have, and you take some shots when they're prudent to take. Thought we had a good one with that ball to Nelson. There was another chance to Taylor and (Kevin Prince) slightly overthrew him. Then there was the last sequence of downs where we had Logan and had a chance and it didn't turn out so well. (But) I don't know that pressing is the right word. I know the frustrated out there would like us to do it all day and every day."

On dropping passes
"Ultimately, it's got to be something that just gets done. We practice catching the ball all the time. There aren't an inordinate amount of drops in practice. Catch the ball and tuck it away rather than leave it out there."

Can you comment on the rumors of you potentially transferring?
"I mean, I've been hearing about it. But right now, I'm just focused on the season. I'm not going anywhere. I'm basically waiting for my opportunity to show what I can do."

What do you think is holding you back from seeing the field?
"To tell you the truth, I have no idea. I don't think anything is holding me back for right now. I really can't say. I really don't know. I don't have any ideas. That's what the coaches choose. I'm basically just waiting. There's nothing I can do but wait."

Your hometown is just minutes away from UCLA, what has kept you here?
"Yeah, I was talking to my friend it the other day. He said, "You could have gone anywhere. why'd you come here?" I basically came here because I wanted to stay close to my parents and my grandmother. I basically stayed just because of them. Things happen. Just unfortunately I haven't had the chance to play like I want to. I'm just trying to show that I can play."

How hard would it be to leave?
"To tell you the truth, I really can't say I'm going anywhere. It was kinda funny, just because in the game I was walking in at halftime with one of the weightlifting coaches, I had my head down and I was mad we were losing. One of the fans shouted out "Yo Milton, don't transfer! Don't leave." That's how the rumor started - he said it real loud. Everyone on the team just looked at me, put me on the spot. It's crazy and bizarre. I got at least 20 text messages today. Yeah, it's kind of a hard pill to swallow. Everyone who comes here wants to play, and for me not to play, it is hard to swallow."

Jerime Anderson (groin), Malcolm Lee (concussion), Mike Moser (back), James Keefe (shoulder) and Brendan Lane (ankle) all are out for Wednesday's practice, after tomorrow's day off.
Lee suffered a concussion in yesterday's practice, Moser strained his back today, Lane sprained his left ankle today and Anderson and Keefe have been out.
Lee: Day-to-Day
Moser: Day-to-Day
Lane: 1-2 weeks

From the press conference

On choosing between Sheldon Price and Courtney Viney at cornerback:
"We'll wait and make that determination later in the week. Sheldon Price is doing a lot of good things, unfortunately, he's a little bit sometimes overwhelmed. We've got to assess that."

On choosing between Stanley Hasiak and Nick Ekbatani at guard:
"He and Nick Ekbatani will compete for that spot. We can look at other combinations. Stan's got a little bit of an ankle injury, we have to see how significant. It was thought to be a day-to-day thing."

On Milton Knox:
"Milton's on our depth chart as a tailback and we think he's a good player. He has to pay more attention to detail. I know there's some frustration in pat of your younger players in terms of playing time. That's part of growing up. When you're an accomplished program you don't have as many young players playing as we have currently. There's a rise that normally takes place and you learn and become a player in the program."

From the press conference

On defensive lapses of concentration:
"When things aren't going well they become much bigger. There were lapses in concentration in the Tennessee win, in the Kansas State win. They just happened where they weren't as monumental or pivotal in these last three weeks."

On what ails the defense:
"It's not one thing. It's a combination of a lot of things. The big play was the haunting thing in this game. One of the big plays came when we missed an assignment and we didn't follow our guy in motion so we were a man short. One of them we kind of guessed on a route rather than played a route. One of them was a bad angle and a guy out of control in a run scheme where Best goes 93 yards. Those are the little things I'm talking about. Practice will be a giant array of those little things."

On what's gone wrong the past three games defensively:
"We talked about the Stanford game having more missed assignments than in any of the previous three games. We work hard to shore that up and I thought we played pretty darn good defense against Oregon. The Oregon was a four minute spell with a kick return and an interception return that gave them 14 points."

On the linebacker corps:
"Like probably all parts of our team, we can get better. We played with Reggie Carter this week who didn't get to practice we felt because of his leadership and experience he was the best option. I think Reggie's had better games. We can be better and we will be better."

UCLA's Week 8 matchup with Oregon State on Oct. 31 - Halloween - will be played at 1 p.m.
ABC did not choose to carry the game regionally, so the game will not be televised, due to the Pac-10 agreement with ABC. UCLA explored the options of playing at a time when the telecast could be done, but Oregon State thought it was in the best interest to play at 1 p.m.

From the press conference

On what good he saw from game film:
"I saw improvement. Kevin Prince was better this week. He gets to have another chance this week. I saw improvement in our offensive line. Each week we go and look at our offensive line from a year ago and it's a huge difference against a very talented Cal defensive line. A guy like Johnathan Franklin who has a sprained ankle finds a way to get into the game and compete like he did and gets a long run. That was encouraging. Rahim Moore's concentrated effort to come back and be a real good open-field tackler. He had a great week with that. Those are the kinds of things I see. Those kids are all part of our future. I know in our conversations with our seniors that they haven't thrown in the towel. They see a second half that there's glory to be achieved. I know they're anxious to get out there and be the leaders they are."

On being more creative in the red zone:
"You do two things: No. 1 you look and see what you're capable of doing. But you have to see it demonstrated. We have memories of great red zone offenses. But then you have to ask your individuals who play those position, can they execute them?"

On what the offense needs to do in the end zone:
"It's making the throw that needs to be there on time and when it's there you've got to catch it. We're not far off. Even though it's a frustrating thing, it's a frustrating thing for all of us who are doing it. Once we break through, confidence will grow and it will be more and more and exciting to see. The great things about going through these tough times, there is amnesia when you get there. People forget how hard it was to get there when all of a sudden you've arrived. That's why I come here today with great optimism."

On Aaron Hester:
"Aaron Hester is full-go this week. He's been given a clean bill of health. Now it's about how quickly he can get back into football shape. He hasn't played with his pads on. We'll see how quickly he can adapt. He's a young guy who's dying to play. We have to make sure he's ready to play."

Here's what Neuheisel said when I pulled him aside at the press conference:

On the rumors of Milton Knox possibly transferring:
"Until Milton talks to me I have no reason to believe rumors. Addressing the more general issues, there are going to be youngsters who are frustrated. There's a couple ways to deal with that frustration. One is to continue to work and continue to look inside yourself as to how you go out and become somebody that everybody notices. The other is to way, well I'm just gonna go try it someplace else. My answer is it's always best to stick it out, having done it. I was fifth, fourth, third, second. I was the lowest of the low on the totem pole. I know, having stuck it out, not only did it have a happy ending for me as a player, but I also know I never walked away. There are always times it's prudent to do something else. As your time dissipates and you want to go play and you're not going to get that chance. Certainly my door is always open for those conversations. In the case you're mentioning, Milton has a lot of time left, and it doesn't make any sense to me. But that's a conversation for him and I."

On the offensive line in the red zone:
"I don't see our issues in the red zone as an offensive line issue. I see the throwing game not on all cylinders down there. We ran in for a touchdown on Saturday, we had a long run for touchdown. But we've gotta make plays, and we've got to execute when we're asked to execute on that area of the field."

On the offensive issues:
"Our issue is experience, and getting it so that everybody is on the same page. When we have it, the good news is when we have it, we're going to have it for a long time. These guys are still very early."

From the weekly press conference

Opening statement:
"Optimism is still full. It's a full trough here at UCLA. I know we're disappointed we're in this skid, but there certain things to be gleaned from the tapes that give you hope, not only for this week but for the coming future. I just believe if we continue to make great effort to emphasize the little things in our play and in our program that great things are on the horizon. I understand the frustration of those who follow our program. Don't think that it's lost on me that there is an urgency to be better. But now is not the time to lose focus or lose sight that we're on the right track. I truly believe that we are. We stay the course and keep grinding away."

On going 10-2 at Colorado and 11-1 at Washington in Year 2:
"Each of these opportunities is different. To compare them just because it's year two is unfair. I think it's unfair to the program. They were at diff places. When I got the job at Colorado we were coming off an 11-1 season. When I got it at Washington, they were coming off 6-6 and didn't think it was on the right track. There were a lot of older players on that team that were available. This situation is different, and we've been hit by a unique injury bug at the quarterback position.
But it isn't as though we haven't made strides when you look at it from my vantage point. One thing that will keep us from it happening is if we start to believe it's not on the right track. Those of us in the trenches, I expect everyone to fall in line with that. But the leader of the ship has to tell you it's gonna land. That's all I know how to do."

On the team being 0-6 on ABC:
"We unfortunately haven't played our best football when given the opportunity on those national stages. Stay tuned."

1) Will we make a bowl game this year? We need to win three of these game. At Arizona , At Oregon St, Wahsington, At Washington St, Arizona St, At So Cal - Anonymous
No, I don't think so. They'll likely need to win four games to get to 4-5 in league, because I'm not sure 3-6 will cut it. 6-6 only makes them bowl-eligible, it does not guarantee anything. I think they beat Arizona, Arizona State and Washington State, but maybe pull off Washington. This team has the talent to finish 4-2. Not sure if they have the mindset.

2) Given this three game skid with more adversity on the horizon, do you see any commits wavering and is there any recruiting news you can share?
I don't think so, and here's why: Despite the fast start, there were still glaring weaknesses. Aside from a few who thought the team would go 12-0 after just three games, I think it was pretty clear that this team was quite average. Much-improved, but average. A recruit is going to realize that, I think.

3) Why is Sheldon Price STILL starting over Viney? Has anyone asked the coaches for a specific reason? Why did Damien Thigpen leapfrog Milton Knox in the depth chart? Knox looks like a much better player. - Anonymous.
Price is starting over Viney because I think the coaches like his size and think he'll grow into the role, but I'm not sure he's ready just yet. Thigpen leapfrogged Knox because of Knox's (like Viney's) one-game suspension, and Knox apparently hasn't done enough to earn it back.

4) Do you think having a stud Kicker and Punter has made our play calling and decision making on 3th and 4th down conservative? We are out there try to play a field position game while the USC's of the world are actually on the offensive trying to put up points...is this accurate? - Me
Does it play a part...yes. Is it a determining factor? No. The coaching staff coaches think the defense is a 10/10 and the offense is a 0/10, no faith whatsoever in gaining that extra yard or converting that crucial third down. What has the offense done to prove they can? Meanwhile, they think the defense will stop an opponent every time. I think, quite simply, the defense is wilting under that pressure and the offense is not being allowed to take those shots. But having Forbath and Locke certainly makes it an easier decision.

5) ATV has gotten burned a lot this year, Is he a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th round pick? - Rob
I say mid-4th to mid-5th round. Scout.com has him as their ninth-best cornerback.

6) Who is really impressing the coaches on the scout team? Both offense and defense? I've heard good things about the young guys. - Bruin44
I think Joseph Fauria and Todd Golper are two impact players in the future.

7) What's the injury status on Williams, Hasaik and Reggie Carter? - Jungleland
Williams, broken ankle, 4 weeks. Hasiak, minor sprain, day-to-day. Carter, sprained knee, healthy.

8) Why did Mike Leach not come to Westwood? - Alex18
Better food in Lubbock.

9) Do you think Forbath will come back next season for his last year? Or do you think this will be his last year and he'll leave early? - Anonymous
I could never imagine a kicker leaving early. I'm sure it's been done...but I can't imagine Forbath leaving.

10) I know Cal is in the running for Lache Seatrunk, so did having two 100 yd rushers make Cal look more impressive and hurt our chances?? They also throw the ball to their RB's and send backs to the leauge. - 909Bruin
I'm not so sure how close the Bruins were to landing Seastrunk anyway, but I know that running backs view UCLA as a destination as well. MoJo, Foster, Hicks, Abdul-Jabbar - UCLA has had some NFL guys, too.

RESULT: Cal 45, UCLA 26
RECORD: 3-3
WEEK 6 GPA: D

QUARTERBACK
Kevin Prince was better downfield but unable to guide UCLA to the end zone with any frequency.
D+

RUNNING BACKS
Johnathan Franklin was great on one 74-yard carry, but below average on his other 10 (27 total)
C

WIDE RECEIVERS
UCLA dropped too many passes, including catchable passes in the end zone.
D

OFFENSIVE LINE
Youth cannot be blamed any more - this group needs to be better in the red zone.
D+

DEFENSIVE LINE
Brilliant on one play, invisible the next. Forget getting upfield and just worry about containment.
D+

LINEBACKERS
Too much lunging, flailing and grasping at air. The tackling issue gets worse every week.
D-

DEFENSIVE BACKS
Alterraun Verner was burned deep twice and the defensive backs made Kevin Riley look better than he is.
F

SPECIAL TEAMS
Kai Forbath and Jeff Locke are about the only thing keeping Bruin fans from jumping ship.
A

COACHING
An admirable job by Norm Chow between the 20s, but the offense is much too vanilla in the red zone.
D-

UCLA's poor tackling at times has become the worst-kept secret in the Pac-10.
"We knew their secondary had trouble against Oregon wrapping up the runner," Cal running back Shane Vereen said. "We knew that coming in, and we knew we would have to run hard against that. We knew we had to keep running our feet and good things would happen."
Turned out, great things happened for the Bears.
Vereen had 154 yards and a touchdown and teammate Jahvid Best added 102 yards rushing and a score and 51 yards receiving and a score in Cal's 45-26 win on Saturday at the Rose Bowl.
This, after the Bruins allowed Oregon's LaMichael James to run all around them in a 24-10 loss on Oct. 10.
Early in the season, missed tackles were made up for by superior talent. But the team's 3-0 start has plummeted to 3-3 with increased competition, and the Bruins now are one of two winless teams in Pac-10 play.
"I think we've tackled well for a large portion of the season," UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel said. "Jahvid Best had eight yards on 17 carries, and 93 on the other. For a great portion of the game we're right where we need to be, making the plays, and then for whatever reason we get out of whack. We need to have that focus for the entire 60 minutes."
The defensive disappearing act has worn thin on its leaders.
Though quick to admit their own faults, several of the Bruins' more experienced defenders - senior linebackers Reggie Carter and Kyle Bosworth and senior defensive end Korey Bosworth among them - voiced their frustrations on Saturday night.
This is not a unit that lacks talent, they maintain.
They just lack consistency.
"We've got a lot of great players, we've got preseason all-Americans, past all-Americans, All-Pac-10 guys - we've got guys who can make plays individually and are great," Kyle Bosworth said. "I don't know if it's necessarily time for us to start kicking ass - this is something where you either want it or you don't. If you don't want it, we'll pull someone else up who does want it."
While UCLA knows it is certainly not too late to right the ship - the season is only half over - the team knows that Saturday's trip to Arizona has become absolutely critical.
"We really need to focus on getting this turned around, and I'm glad we've got an away game this week," Korey Bosworth said. "It's just going to be us. A lot of people are going to throw dirt on our grave, a lot of people are going to just give up on us. With this away game, it's really gonna come down to people in house. It's on our shoulders, and it's something we've got to do to turn around this program."

Williams Out
Since the loss of senior offensive lineman Micah Kia before the season, the unit has come out of games relatively unscathed.
Until Saturday.
Junior right guard Eddie Williams will miss at least four weeks after suffering a fractured ankle against the Bears. Freshman guard Stanley Hasiak is expected to move into the starting lineup at left guard, with sophomore Jeff Baca sliding into Williams' spot.

From Sunday night's conference call with Rick Neuheisel...

On the UCLA defense:
"I don't know that I can put my finger on it. We've certainly practiced it, and we've been very good at it. We have to get back and keep doing it. I don't see it as a lack of effort. It's just almost too aggressive in getting out of control. Tackling is one thing with aggression, but I think we're getting out of control."

On poor tackling:
"I think we've tackled well for a large portion of the season. Jahvid Best had eight yards on 17 carries, and 93 on the other. For a great portion of the game we're right where we need to be, making the plays, and then for whatever reason we get out of whack. We need to have that focus for the entire 60 minutes."

On the anger that's setting in:
"There's a lot of pride on this team and a lot of anguish over the fact we've struggled over the last month. But there's no lack of determination and no throwing in the towel."

On the team's morale:
"There are competitors and then there are people who are in when things are good. I think we have good competitors. No one said it was going to be easy. 3-0 was exciting, but it certainly didn't guarantee a smooth ride the rest of the season. It's time for us to just keep fighting. I just believe it to be a journey that is necessary and we're going to get there."

On the defense:
"I think our defense has had one bad half of football. The first half against Cal was not indicative of what our defense has been. It just wasn't the same. I thought they came out and played much better. I'm not pressing the panic button, even though there are a lot of naysayers who want me to."

On the team making strides this year or in the future:
"I'm talking about the journey that it is. I don't know when the end of it is. I know that where we're going is an exciting place. That doesn't mean people are going to be happy with how it's arrived at."

On Kevin Prince:
"He did a lot of good things, a much-improved performance from a week ago. For the most part I thought he was pretty good."

On the red-zone inefficiency:
"It's just about making plays. We give ourselves chances. Now we've got to make them. Unfortunately we haven't been good enough to be on all cylinders down there. I don't know. Maybe it's a case of pressing, that we're wanting it so badly we're forcing things. I just have a feeling that as long as we keep working at it, good things are coming."

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.

Thanks guys
JG

Here's what comes to mind after Cal's 19-point win over UCLA.
1) This defense is at times too fast for its own good. The Bruins frequently overpursued Cal running backs, leading to cut-back lanes and lapses in containment.
2) Taylor Embree is becoming UCLA's most reliable receiver, and Kevin Prince needs to go to him more often.
3) Kai Forbath is the best kicker in the country and that's not an overstatement.
4) UCLA's red-zone offense just doesn't have the kick it needs to compete in the Pac-10. This needs to be fixed, and quick.
5) All the talk throughout the week about getting the ball into the hands of its speedier youngsters equaled six total touches by Damien Thigpen, Morrell Presley and Randall Carroll combined.

Datone Jones fell to the ground clutching his knee and was down on the field for several minutes; his return is questionable.

UCLA opened up the playbook a little on its last drive, working in a flea flicker that elicited a pass interference.
Kai Forbath hit a 34-yard field goal, his fourth of the game, and UCLA cut the gap to 12 again with 3:05 left in the third.
Drive Time: 50 yards, 11 plays, 3:31

Cal kicker Giorgio Tavecchio's 24-yard field goal put Cal up by 15 again with 6:42 left in the third quarter.
The Bears again broke the big play, picking up gains of 40 yards and 12 yards against a reeling UCLA defense.
Drive Time: 9 plays, 68 yards, 4:52

Kai Forbath's third field goal of the game, a 46-yarder, put Cal up 12 with just less than 12 minutes to go in the third quarter.
Kevin Prince continues to look downfield with success, hitting passes for 26 and 15 yards on the drive.
Drive Time: 51 yards, 8 plays, 3:14

UCLA starting right guard Eddie Williams suffered a fractured left ankle and will be out for the game, and probably a few more, if not the rest of the year.
Stan Hasiak has moved in to the left guard spot while Jeff Baca moved over to right guard.

Kevin Prince was efficient if not spectacular in leading UCLA 60 yards downfield to set up a Kai Forbath 39-yard field goal. Prince connected on three-of-five passes, hitting Logan Paulsen twice, as UCLA drove for the points in 46 seconds.
Drive Time: 7 plays, 60 yards, 46 seconds

With 46 seconds left in the first half, Cal again exploited UCLA deep, as Kevin Riley hit Marvin Jones for a 24-yard touchdown pass right past Alterraun Verner, who was beat for the second time.
Drive Time: 80 yards, 7 plays, 2:05

Kai Forbath capped off an 5-play, 56-yard drive with his 14th field goal of the season, a 24-yard boot with 2:51 left in the second quarter.
The UCLA passing offense seems to be blossoming before our eyes, as Prince connected downfield again, this time a 49-yard pass to Logan Paulsen.
Drive Time: 5 plays, 56 yards, 2:08

Jahvid Best somehow, miraculously, incredibly, broke four tackles and evaded 10 tacklers and ran for a 93-yard touchdown a moment ago, putting Cal up 14 with 5:05 left in the second quarter.
It was Best's longest career run and third longest in Cal history.
Drive Time: 2 plays, 91 yards

One play after Jahvid Best burned UCLA, Johnathan Franklin burned Cal.
Franklin sprinted for a 74-yard touchdown run, the Bruins' longest in a long, long time, and Cal leads by one score with 9:23 left in the second.
Drive Time: 1 play, 74 yards, 8 seconds

Johnathan Franklin bullied through the middle of a wide-open line for a 7-yard touchdown run, capping a 4-play, 39-yard drive.
Kevin Prince found Taylor Embree with a perfect touch pass on a 29-yard gain to bring the Bruins down to the 7-yard line.
Drive Time: 4 plays, 39 yards, 1:53

One play after Kevin Prince had the ball swatted from his hands on an offensive line breakdown, Cal's Kevin Riley found a sprinting Marvin Jones over the top of the UCLA defense for a 43-yard touchdown pass.
Alterraun Verner was beat deep for the play, likely expecting safety help, but to no avail.
Drive Time: 1 play, 43 yards, 8 seconds

Shane Bereen took handoff left and evaded poor containment by Damien Holmes for a 42-yard touchdown run.
UCLA could not get off of blocks and was doomed early.
Drive Time: 7 plays, 80 yards, 2 minutes, 42 seconds

Hey all,

Check in throughout the day for live, in-game updates.

Looks like Reggie Carter is going to go, from what I've been told.

Stay tuned, folks.

Jerime Anderson has a strained left groin and will miss at least the first four practices, and is hoped to return on Wednesday. This is a flare-up of a nagging injury from last season.

Sorry I haven't been around much, I had to cover Lakers practice for the Daily News. I was able, though, to take advantage of the opportunity for you guys:

Here's what Jordan Farmar had to say about his alma mater this year:

On the UCLA team:
"I don't know much about the team right now. I know a couple of the younger guys - Malcolm Lee, Jerime Anderson, Mike Moser - and they're supposed to have some good young kids. I just know they're going to be alright because there going to play good defense and be well coached. That's where a lot of things happen in college basketball."

On what it's like to be a young team:
"My freshman year we had no seniors, my sophomore year Cedric Bozeman came back as a fifth year. It's possible. If you have good players who can play and follow through on what the team is trying to accomplish, it's all possible."

On his advice to UCLA:
"Just try to get better every day. Don't look at the big picture. We all know what the overall goal is. But if you try to do the best you can every day, it all piles up."

On playing for the Bruins:
"Being there puts the pressure on you and forces you to step up to the plate. You put that jersey on, you have those four letters across your chest, you don't want to let that tradition down. That prestigious university deserves to be at a certain level, especially on the basketball court."

1) Jon would you know if our QBs are given the authority to change plays at the LOS? If so, is that something that is being utliized? - Rico Bruin
I haven't seen many audibles this year, so unless a wideout is in a hot route, I'm not seeing it.

2) With the fall season of television in full swing... what are you watching when not covering the Mighty Bruins? - JonTheBruin
My favorite show is Friday Night Lights, and that returns soon, so I'm stoked. I also love Californication, Entourage and Curb Your Enthusiasm, which has been incredible this year. My guilty pleasure is Jeopardy, and I'm waiting to find out if I got on after my tryout. Cross your fingers. K, thanks.

3) Do you think derrick Coleman is better suited as a fullback? Honestly he is SLOW! - Sean
I wouldn't call him slow, but his breakaway speed is lacking. He hits the hole with a burst, but perhaps doesn't have that elusive fifth gear. They already have a pretty darn good fullback, so I can't envision a shift before the year is over.

4) Do you expect Nick Crissman to EVER compete for playing time? He was actually the most impressive show at the Fall Scrimmage. Or is he sure to get buried in the depth chart with Nottingham coming in, and KP and Brehaut already there? - Andrew
His injury set him back a bit, and the toughest part about being a backup QB is not getting that important 1-on-1 time with the coaches. I think he's on the road to being buried.

5) Your thoughts on the two qb sneaks against Oregon and the decision not to kick a field goal? - Jungleland
I would not have done a QB sneak with such an inexperienced offensive line, but I would not have kicked a field goal. Perhaps a bootleg or a toss on one of the plays, but not a QB sneak.

6) Has the coaching staff voiced any concerns over B Price's inability to play more than a couple of downs at a time. Have they asked him to get into better shape? - theuclan
Not to be rude but...have you faced double- and triple-teams? It ain't that easy. In 1-on-1 situations, I have no doubt he can play down after down.

7) Thanks for the great job on the Bruin beat so far. Live game chats were pretty fun in the past with Dohn. Any plans on starting this up again? - Diehardbruin
Absolutely. We just have to iron out the kinks and haven't had a chance to do so yet.

8) Can you comment on the progress of our younger linemen (e.g., Abele, etc)? Also, CRN seems to be satisfied with the running game but not the passing game. What exactly is missing from the passing game? We keep hearing that the receivers don't run good routes. Please clarify for us. - AV Hill
The younger linemen will come along, but good OL don't develop overnight. Su'a-Filo is a freak of nature - physically and mentally mature at 18. Most are not.
What's missing from the passing game is timing. Timing. Timing. Timing. Case in point, and I know this is like comparing apples to oranges, if that. Maybe apples to cucumbers. Anyway: In Sunday' night football, Indy played Tennessee. Peyton Manning had a 6-yard touchdown pass to Austin Collie and Manning DIDN'T EVEN LOOK UP UNTIL HE THREW THE BALL. Literally, Collie split the defense, and Manning' faked a handoff and just threw it. That has nothing to do with a good arm or anything. Sure, it was a great pass. But it was a great pass because of the absolute precise timing of the route. Sorry, guys, but you don't just create that. That comes from extra time after practice and in the film room, and it certainly doesn't come with a redshirt freshman who missed two games. I think it will come...in time.

9) What's the status on recruiting? Do you know who is a silent verbal? - Jeremy
Don't know any of the silent verbals, but this class is shaping up to be a pretty damn good one. One or two more impact linemen, and it's the most important UCLA class in years.

10) In getting the scoop on which school(s) a recruit might or might not be committing to, who are often the sources for the info: high school coach? college assistant coach? local sportswriter? youth coach from yesteryear? recruit's best friend? a hodgepodge of people? - Tim Warren
The answer is F) a hodgepodge of people. I'll take what I can get from anyone, as long as I can verify it.

Got this from a source...do with it what you will:

Peter Nonu South Hills High School CA 2011
Matt Goudis Chaminade College Prep School CA 2011
Andrew Albers Costa Mesa High School CA 2011
Ja'Wuan James North Gwinnett High School GA 2010

Matthew Lyons Dorsey High School CA 2011
Ryan Andrews Newport Harbor High School CA 2011
Trajuan Briggs Birmingham High School CA 2010
Chuckie Covington Bakersfield College CA 2010

Jared Baker Loyola High School CA 2011
Eric Kendricks Hoover High School CA 2010
Kaelin Clay Long Beach Polytechnic High School CA 2010
Davion Orphey Edison High School CA 2011

Anthony Jefferson Cathedral High School CA 2010
Cameron Palmer John Muir High School CA 2011
Emughedi Umodu South Hills High School CA 2010
Kenneth Stills La Costa Canyon High School CA 2010

Corey Waller Long Beach Polytechnic High School CA 2011
Sam Shirley Juanita High School WA 2011
Sean Parker Narbonne High School CA 2010
James Brock Crenshaw High School CA 2011

First of all, a belated happy birthday to John Wooden. Wanted to post this a day ago, but with the internet down, didn't have the chance.
Second of all...
Rick Reilly had this to say about the Wiz:
Reilly on Wooden

Opening thoughts:
"It was a week where we had to make some adjustments because of the weather. But you know what, we are excited about playing. We have to keep concentrating and make sure we play as well as we can and make the fur fly.:

On Johnathan Franklin and Reggie Carter:
"I think he'll play, but we'll have to make the determination of how much. Reggie Carter moved around real well in our workout, so we'll see how that all works out."

On Kevin Prince:
"I just think he's starting to settle in. I think he knows this job comes with pressure and you have to do well. Coach Chow is doing a nice job handling him and I think he's going out there and I don't think there's a cold wind in the quarterback room trying to make anyone uncomfortable. I think we all just want to play the position well; it's just a focal point of football. He has to understand that and take care of the ball."

On injuries hitting now instead of earlier this year:
"You can't control it, so you just adapt. You try to build your team for some depth and situations like this. While you might sit and lament, it doesn't do you any good. You havbe to go play. Every team has it, and there's no rhyme or reason."

On this game as a must-win:
"I like to think of every game as a must-win. You need to make them all that important. But as far as where are program is headed, are we derailed if we're not successful? No, I don't believe that."

On the coverage unit:
"It's about getting off blocks and getting down there with speed. Jeff Locke has been terrific in terms of getting the ball deeper into the end zone. But if you're getting the ball deeper, that means there's more space between the returner and the guys. So it's about getting off blocks and that's what has to happen."

On why this team can succeed:
"We work hard, we have a lot of new guys who've never played at this level, a lot of sophs who haven't had a chance to play for a year - this team should be very hungry."

On how the freshmen can contribute:
"I think (they) need to learn all the Ben Howland principles. Defense, how to move around how to do helpside, take a charge, rebound, box out, all the little things coach asks for. And of course, they need to play tough and listen to coach."

On lower expectations:
"It is probably good success for other programs and not UCLA. The way I deal with it is just leave it behind and try to make the most out of this season. I'm ready to take on the leader's role this year."

1) So what if we dont land barnes, zeigler, smith or mcullen... Do we have a backup plan? - MaltBaa
I don't know if you can really have a backup plan if none of those guys commit, though I expect at least one or two of them to. The Bruins have their sights set on other recruits, such as Vander Blue and Terrence Jones, but their clear focus is on Smith, Zeigler, etc.

2) How good and how tough is the security at UCLA's supposed weekday closed practices? What is the protocol for someone trying to get into Spaulding Field at the beginning or during practice? And, as importantly, how closely does UCLA monitor people watching practice from the east and south parking structures? - Westwood Bob
Well, there are no armed guards, but unwelcome visitors are quickly shoed away. Regarding the parking structures - I know there have been some paranoid theories before, but I don't know how real they are. Let's just say, UCLA does not practice in a bubble.

3) I know, kinda a strange question, but any info on why the UCLA band can't start with the 20th Century Fox Fanfare anymore? - Matt A
Sorry, can't tell you. If they come around today, I'll ask.

4) Do you know what are status is for the recruits that came for their officials a few weeks ago (mccallum, zeigler, smith)? are they close to making a decision, and if so, where do we stand? - Drew
I spoke to McCallum, and he's nowhere near committing to anywhere he said. From what I understand, Smith is close but has another official visit planned, and Tyler Lamb told me Zeigler wasn't really close to a decision.

5) How are things shaping up at LB next year? How is the development of Golper and Bowens going on the scout team? - BRUtus
With Akeem Ayers - UCLA's most athletic linebacker - returning, the unit should retain some of its star power. Sean Westgate has been very good on special teams. Haven't heard much about Golper and Bowens, but the scout defense is always pretty good.

6) I have a basketball question. Who do you think will be the starting five? Please give me your best guess. - Spencer
PG - Anderson. SG - Lee. SF - Honeycutt. PF - Dragovic. C - J'Mison Morgan.

7) Do you see a conflict between CRN and NC? Are they still working harmoniously together? - Mike04
I don't know about harmoniously, but I see them chatting at practice every day, and it seems civil.

8) How many hits does the website get now-a-days? dohn said he was getting a quarter or a half million hits every month or something like that. just ask the tech department. - Anonymous
I'm proud to report the Daily News had its biggest month ever in September by more than 1 million clicks. Luckily - and this is all on you - but there has been no dip since I took over.

9) Can you give us an update on the status of Josh Smith (basketball recruit)?
Why is UCLA admissions so much tougher than Cal's when they're both in the UC system? What is the rationale? Do the UCLA admissions folks feel like its stupid considering Cal usually ranks just ahead of UCLA in academics anyhow? - RodneyGuillory
All I know on Smith after five unanswered phone calls to his high school is that he's choosing between UCLA and Washington, but keeping his options open. Regarding the admissions: It comes from the higher-ups. That's all I know.

10) Is there any chance that CRN would use Brian Price on offence at the goal line, either to block or to score? - Lompocjr
Absolutely not. He is entirely too valuable to risk on offense, particularly when opposing defensive players would do whatever it took to get him out of the game.

Micah Kia is out for the season with a torn right ACL.
But his mind still works and his mouth is still firing.
Hopefully, we can run this I, Kia feature every week, if things work out.
Here's what he has to say before Week 6:

"Two in a row. Where to begin...it's definitely rough, and it's disheartening. But this is what makes a team. You have to be able to go through the fire. Oregon was a game I feel we could have won. Some obvious struggles on offense, an outstanding game on defense. Slight breakdown on special teams, but I feel like our special teams always does a great job.

It's hard to say what went wrong on the goal line. Being a part of the offensive line, it's extremely humiliating to not be able to punch it in. It's hard to pinpoint the problem because I know all of these guys personally and I know where their hearts are. I know it's not an effort issue. To actually pinpoint a specific problem is very hard. You can't blame the coaches, they obviously know what they're doing. I know these guys on a personal level, and I know this is what they live for. They couldn't have been trying any harder. I talked about finding the X-factor, and it's hard. Sooner or later, it's going to break, I feel. Until then we just have to keep fighting.

Moving on from here, this is where we'll be able to see how far along we've come as a team. Being able to keep up our intensity in practice will be a major point. Being able to keep that drive during practice in order to carry on into games, that will be very important this week. We've been fighting the elements, and that adds a little pressure, and I know Cal had their deal up there with weather.

For the younger kids, they finally get a taste of that bitterness after coming in with those three sweet victories. This will be a major growing point for the young team, and an opportunity for the leaders on this team to step up and pull the young kids through.

Last year, the doubt came when the older guys fell into a slump. It was obvious during practice - during games, guys still go all out - but if the effort and the physical and the high energy you need is not there during the week, you can't just flip a switch. I think things started to fall apart when the older guys realized that the season wasn't going the way they wanted it to. They lost faith. As a whole, nobody blatantly came out and said were in the dumps, it was more of a feeling you got. You could tell that kids hearts weren't in it. When the elders of the team fall into that slump, the younger guys - no matter the hard front they may put on, they still look up to the older guys - it's kind of a domino effect.

The older guys now will do a good job of pulling the younger guys through. Also, the younger guys now seem more willing to follow. Along with strong leaders, you need guys who are willing to check their egos at the door and be willing to follow. The roll of being able to go through humility, be able to put yourself in the back; 'I'm the guy that needs to follow, I'm the guy who needs to keep my mouth shut.' If we can get that chemistry within the team, we can really pull through and salvage this season. And this isn't a season that needs salvaging. I think the Pac-10 is still up for the taking.

I feel like we're taking shots. We're definitely taking a lot more shots downfield than we have is. We throw in a few screen plays here and there. As far as vanilla offense versus trick plays or going for the bigger shot, I feel like if vanilla works, that's what you stick with. As an offensive lineman, vanilla is my favorite flavor. If we can get five yards on a run off tackle every play, I'd do that for 100 yards. That's what I live for. I love the trenches. Give me two scoops of vanilla, I'll take it.

Against Cal, in a sense, yeah, it's going to be two teams fighting for their respect. I feel from a statistical standpoint, Cal has more to lose. Whether that plays to their advantage or disadvantage, I don't know. In our case we have almost nothing to lose. What it comes down to is being able to find out what team is going to pull together. We're in the exact same situation, and this is going to be a major turning point in both our seasons. I'm very interested to see how both teams react to this situation they're in right now.

Cal's a great team. I know a couple players on their team. A couple I played against in high school. These are a bunch of great guys, they're just like us. They're just trying to win and grow as a team. Same thing we're trying to go. In the media, a win or a loss may reflect to the general public who's doing better as a team, but that's not always necessarily true.

I'd like to see us come out on top, but that's to be determined. Either way, regardless of win or lose, some games you can just fight to the teeth. A-holes and elbows, it can be like that all game. Both teams can do an excellent job, but what comes down to it, one team has to win and one has to lose. But a win or a loss doesn't reflect how a team has grown. A team can come along extremely well, and that shows what great leadership and effort both teams bring to the table. "

Opening thoughts:
"Young team this year, real young, but it's good. We know everybody from the AAU circuit and high sfchool ball. A lot of us have played on the same AAU teams. The chemistry coming in is good. We're all still trying to get used to Coach Howland hoops, so both classes will be learning at the same time. It's not like there are set people who know when coach is upset or when coach is happy. We're basically all learninga at the same time."

On Coach Howland basketball:
"The get-after-it-ess, a Drewism I guess, how he plays. It's hard to describe in words the kind of bball coach Howland plays. Tough defense, the offense is always good, real discipliuned basketball."

On Jrue Holliday's defection to the NBA:
"Jrue's one of my good friends I'll forvever think he's one of the best players I've played against. As far as him leaving, I'm glad he left, because he's my friend and it's good to see one of us make it. At the same time, we're gonna miss him."

On the team's potential with such a young team:
"I wouldn't come here if I didn't think that we had a chance of winning. I have confidence in my freshmen that they are going to step up to the plate. They want to impress Coach Howland, they want to play well for us. We want to play well for them. We want to play well for the seniors, obviously - this is their last year and they want to play well for themselves and us. It's positive energy inside and out."

On lowered expectations:
"This is good for us, it kind of knocks us down a little bit. I guess they were trying to put us on that pedestal after back-to-back-to-back Final Fours. When you get knocked down, the target kind of gets lifted off our backs. It's not us any more. It's good, because we're a sleeper team - we're a lot better than people give us credit for.
"Just because we're young doesn't mean we're not dangerous."

Opening thoughts:
It's definitely going to be a good team. We're real young - three seniors, no juniors, four sophomores and five freshmen. It gives a lot of opportunities for us young guys to come in and play. The seniors that we do have have been to three Final Fours - that's more experience than a lot of teams have. That alone will set us apart."

On the senior class:
All three of those guys are great leaders. Already they've taught us so much just being down here the past couple months."

On low expectations for the team this year:
"We want to prove all the people that don't think we can't make it to the Final Four wrong. That will make it that much more fun."

Yount Feature

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.
For coming closest last week, BE REAL will get to ask 10 questions also next week.

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.

Thanks guys
JG

Pretty sweet video up on the UCLA Sports website of the Hall of Fame speeches from the class of 2009. Take a look...
Hall of Famers

Westwood Bruin Touchdown Club
Friday Oct 9 -- 7 am
Coach Wayne Moses
Coach Todd Howard
UCLA Football Players:
#33 Derrick Coleman, TB
#10 Akeem Ayers, LB
#62 Eddie Williams, 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!

Hey all,
Sorry for the delay today, had some internet issues that were since resolved.

For winning the Week 4 contest by predicting 24-13 Stanford (real score: 24-16) for the final score, BE REAL was afforded 10 questions to a player of his choosing. He chose Kevin Craft. Here's what he had to say.

BE REAL: Quarterbacks seem to get most of the praise when the team wins and most of the blame when it loses. How do you handle both situations?
KEVIN CRAFT:
I think that's all part of playing the position. A lot is put on your shoulders as a quarterback. You accept a lot of responsibility by playing the position. You're responsible for a lot of the outcome of the game, especially when it comes with turnovers and things like that. You've got to take the good with the bad and you always assess yourself, not necessarily really listen to what everyone is telling you. At the end of the day, only the people in the quarterback room know what's really going on out there.

BE REAL: What are the biggest differences playing quarterback at your high school, then in junior college, and now at UCLA?
KEVIN CRAFT:
In high school, everybody that's in college now was the best player on the field at the time. You're able to out-athlete people, to use your own ability to get yourself out of trouble. Thinks are easy because you're just better than people athletically.
JC ball, there's some good athletes, but they're not always going to be in the right place in the right time.
In Division-I, you can kind of count on a guy being where he's supposed to be and making his fits. Everything in college is a lot faster, and there's a lot more mental aspect of the game. You can always get away with something because you're a good athlete.

BE REAL: Any favorite books you would recommend?
KEVIN CRAFT:
Ah, no. Not really.

BE REAL: What are some of your favorite subjects that you have taken in college?
KEVIN CRAFT:
I've always liked math. I've always been good at the maths and sciences. I'm a sociology major, so...

BE REAL: If you could not play quarterback at what other positions do you feel you would be comfortable?
KEVIN CRAFT:
It seems like every other guy on the field wants to play quarterback, and every quarterback wants to play receiver. When they have spare time, every quarterback runs all the routes and everyone wants to throw to them. I played receiver, safety, corner, returned kicks and punts in high school. I did everything.

BE REAL: You have absorbed some serious hits on the field-- do they all hurt as much as they appear?
KEVIN CRAFT:
You're in the game, there's a lot of adrenaline going. There are a lot of little things that when you're in the game you just kinda brush off. There were a couple times last year when I got hit and I had to check my teeth to see if they're all in there. I really thought they got knocked out. A lot of times, a couple of hours after the game is over and the adrenaline wears down and you're just like "Oh my gosh." You're flying on a plane in pain, and the next day you're real sore and you have to get out and run.

BE REAL: It seems most posters on this blog hate USC. What are your feelings about 'SC?
KEVIN CRAFT: I don't think any Bruin likes the Trojans. If we're playing them in badminton, I want to see us win. Our equipment people play them every year in tag football and from what I hear, we usually win it. So...I'mmmm just sayin...

BE REAL:
What positions on the football team would you not care to play?
KEVIN CRAFT: I know those guys in the trenches get beat up pretty good. I don't know if I could handle that. I wouldn't want to be a kicker either.

BE REAL: What are your plans after graduating?
KEVIN CRAFT:
I don't yet. I'm kind of waiting to see what happens. Hopefully I can get a shot and who knows. I think a lot of the seniors are on the same track and aren't sure what's going to happen.

Jon Gold just called to say they're having some internet issues at the practice field and he will update the UCLA blog as soon as he's able.

Sorry for any inconvenience and thanks for your patience,
Gene Warnick
Sports editor
L.A. Daily News

On getting more playing time:
"I'm still trying to find a groove, I guess. I've been doing a lot of standing around lately. I have to get back into it a little bit."

On what he offers the offense:
"I need to try to use the combination that I have - the size and speed. And I pride myself on catching the ball, being a receiving back. I can split out and turn it into a five-wide easily."

On his pass protection:
"I still need to get some more experience in that. I felt a little rocky out there Saturday. I'm coming. I need to get back into the groove, and try to establish myself again."

On his knee:
"I need some ice, keep it relaxed. Keep it warm when I'm out here, get some soft-tissue massages."

On Cal's Jahvid Best:
"He's probably, and not to knock them, the best of the three. Definitely. Earlier in the year they said he was the best back in college football. They pick you when you're up and when you're down, you're down. The last couple weeks he hasn't had great games, so you haven't heard too much about him. But I still know he's one of the best in the country and the best in the conference. I'm not going to take anything away from him just because his last two games weren't great."

On the Pac-10 having so many good running backs:
"A Pac-10 team is gonna have a great back. That's what you came here for, though. You're a guy, that's why you want to play. You didn't go to a smaller college, you came to UCLA because you want to play in these big games."

On facing Toby Gerhart and LaMichael James before Jahvid Best:
"Those were two different backs - Gerhart was big, powerful and James was quick. My dad was in the crowd - he's a longtime NFL coach - and he said that back was goooood. 'I haven't seen a guy like that in a while.' You watch the film, guys are there and then zoom."

On Jahvid Best:
"Best has got that outstanding speed. He's gotten a little bit bigger, and he brings a different dilemma. The tough thing Oregon did was they make you fit into their gaps. Hopefully here it's not the same."

On Tuesday's practice:
"It was fun out there today with the elements. It's not often you get these kind of conditions. The players enjoyed it. It sounds like we'll get more of it tomorrow. We get ourselves ready, and the mental preparation as well as physical preparation will be great if there's more inclement weather."

On the rain coming at a good time:
"I don't know what's good timing for this or what's not, but I know the kids enjoyed the weather. It was fun and it makes you bear down. Makes you really concentrate."

On Rahim Moore:
"Rahim is a very talented young man. Got off to a blazing start and had a little bit of adversity in the Stanford game. But I know he's eager to play a better game this week."

On the fact that the home team has win nine straight games in the series:
"Great series. It's an important game to both teams. None of those nine matter for this one. Both of us still have high hopes for a big season, so it's an important ball game."

On Reggie Carter's injury:
"A year ago, he did the same thing and had a whale of a ballgame. I trust Reggie. He's been through enough of this to be honest with us. He's getting all kinds of treatment. If I were a betting man - and I'm not - I'd say he'll play."

The rain did little to dampen UCLA's spirits - at least it did less than Saturday's 24-10 loss to Oregon - at Tuesday's practice.
With Kevin Prince behind center and Christian Ramirez receiving the bulk of the carries, the Bruin offense spent much of the day trying to nail down timing and coordination. The work-in-progress group showed moments of sheer brilliance, but it was more of the same in terms of consistency. In time, they hope.
Reggie Carter missed practice with a sprained knee, still listed as day-to-day. Aaron Hester was back out there for minimal participation, expected to be back against Arizona.
The highlight of practice was undoubtedly the exuberance shown during individual lineman drills, when Datone Jones and Nick Ekbatani squared off several times in one-on-one pass rush drills. The guys whooped and yelled as the two battled, with each guy winning his fair share.

I'll be back with words from Neuheisel, Carter, Chuck Bullough and Christian Ramirez.

Finally was able to speak with Mater Dei's Tyler Lamb, the No. 14 shooting guard in the country by Scout.com, and a solid UCLA verbal.

Here's Lamb's profile: LAMB

How was the official visit with recruits Trey Zeigler, Josh Smith and Ray McCallum?
"It was really fun - I really connected with the players. I knew some of them previously, and I feel like it's a good group of guys to play with."

With just a few weeks before basketball signing day, any chance you might pick another school?
"I'm solid on UCLA. I've always known I wanted to go there. When they offered me, it wasn't a question. I sat with my parents, and we all agreed on it. Once I gave me my word, that's what it was going to be."

How good can the team be with that kind of recruiting class?
"If we all go there, I think we'll be very good, very talented. The way Coach Howland coaches, I think we'll make a run for the championship."

Are you trying to get those guys to UCLA, too?
"Most definitely - I'm playing a big part in recruiting now. We talk a lot. Me and Trey, we've known each other since we were 10. I talk to them, I'm always in their ear. I want to play with them."

What was it like taking a visit with three other guys you know so well?
"It was very neat - us four going there, I guess it felt like we were part of the team already. It makes it seem like we're already there. We bonded with the team now, we all connected."

What do you like about Coach Ben Howland?
"When I watched him and how he put all their guards into the pros, how he got them all ready - that made everything easier for me."

If the pros aren't in your future, is there a backup plan?
"When I get to UCLA, I'd like to major in communications or business, but I don't want to go in with a closed mind. Decisions, you can always change."

Except your committment to UCLA?
(Laughing) Yeah, except that.

Practice is being played today under an ominous gray cloud, but that's not stopping anything. The light drizzle - so far - has not affected things much, and the turf allows for practicing without the worry of mud.

I'll check in after practice...

Thanks
Jon

Here's what Cal coach Jeff Tedford had to say this morning in the Pac-10 conference coach's call:

On running the Wildcat:
"It just gives you an extra blocker at the point of attack. Ultimately, it's your quarterback running the ball and it gives you a hat on a hat. They try to come up with schemes that let a guy go on the outside. It puts the ball in your best ballcarrier's hands, and a hat on a hat, and it's a matter of execution."

On why the Wildcat has become popular:
"There's only 11 players on a field. The guys who are out there, unless you turn receviers loose...there's ways to stop it. If you take one thing away, maybe you leave yourself sucpetible to something else. Thats the key. If people want to stay disciplined and not give up the big play, you run the risk of a big play over your head."

On working with QB Kevin Riley:
"We worked a little bit last week on doing some things to make sure he's confident and accurate. I don't want him thinking about it too much. We went back and talked and worked on a few things in his mechanics, and I think it's gone fairly well for him. But there are so many things when people are coming at you."

On the disappointment of two straight losses:
"That's what we've been talking about. While there was great disappointment, I don't think anyones discouraged. I think that's important. We have a good football team. It's not just going to happen though, you have to go out there and execute."

On the Pac-10:
"The Pac-10 is every single week, as you can see. You've got to bring your A-game. I think the kids are encouraged by being able to get back and play this week. You just want to focus on the things that you can control - execution, preparation, those kinds of things. We play al good football teams. They'll make their plays, hopefully we make our plays."

The October 24 UCLA football game at Arizona will kickoff at 3:30 pm PT/MT and will be televised in Los Angeles on FS Prime Ticket.

From the Pac-10 coach's conference call this morning...

On his defense handling the Wildcat formation:
"The quarterback is one of the more explosive guys in the country. It creates an extra gap in your run defense. Everyone has to be very aware of assignment football. It's a very challenging thing, especially when that guy is so explosive."

On the Wildcat formation:
"It really is recycled. This used to be the old wing-T. The quarterback was always a runner. The NFL covets a quarterback in such a way - the salary cap, the amount of value - they don't want to risk that. That's why Vince Young wanted to get out of the zone-read packages, and probably why he's not the starting quarterback any more. To find someone else to do that - Ronnie Brown seems to be the perfect guy."

On why Cal has struggled:
"They just played two really good teams. They played Oregon and when Jeremiah Masoli is hitting passes, they're very tough. And they playes SC, and USC is a very talented operation as well. Then offensively, theyre just a little out of sync."

On why the UCLA offense is struggling:
"I don't think there's any one thing. Usually there isn't. It's all of us getting on the same page and making sure the details, we're coaching the details. When you're coaching details, you have to be worried about proliferation. Whenever you're struggling, you usually dial back."

On how UCLA can rebound from two straight losses:
"What you do is focus on things you can control. That's what each of the coaches need to go out and do today - make sure they're doing exactly what we're coaching. It will work. It's not rocket science. We're not far away."

On Kevin Prince:
"I've said many times that I think Kevin Prince has a lot of the measurables - tall enough, strong enough, good arm-strength. I think he has a lot of the intangibles - moxie, intelligence, leadership. I don't see any of that stuff missing. What he needs is experience. When you get off to a start and then get derailed - it probably wasnt surprising to see him struggle last week."

On Prince's improvement:
"He'll get better every week. Just as all players will if they maintain their confidence. There's no question he'll get better."

On why Prince went back in:
"We were going into two-minute and Kevin Prince had all the two-minute reps. (Prince was in) for the administration of the two-minute offense, and also because, 'I'm not giving up on you.'"

On Kevin Craft:
"Kevin Craft is in a position where he's going to have to be patient. I think he knows how much we care for him and think about him, but I think we've got to keep working on these young guys and keep building our program. If it gets to the point where Kevin Craft is clearly the guy who needs to be in the game for us to have success, than I'll make that decision. We thought he was clearly the guy for Kansas State. It's a difficult place for him to be, I understand that, but I admire him for his patience."

On the coaching so far:
"We can do better as a coaching staff. I do not want to shirk responsibility from us. It's too easy to say, 'Well, we're just too young.' We have enough to be successful. We've proven we can be successful. We need to play within ourselves and be efficient."

On whether the team can come back from a 14-point deficit:
"It's more difficult, that's not the recipe I'd pick. But I'm not going to say we can't do that. Against Stanford, we got one of them done and were in a position to come back and tie the game, we just didn't make the plays. In game 2, we got down there after a great punt return, and again, didn't make the plays. At the end of the day, you have to execute."

On the young players still needing work:
"Sometimes we move along scheme-wise and try to take what we see are opportunities, but are we ready to execute that stuff? Sometimes when you've had more experience, you can point to a time earlier in a guy's career. Now, we don't have that luxury. At the end of the day, it's always about execution."

On Sheldon Price and Aaron Hester:
"Sheldon did some really good things in the game. I know he wishes he'd gotten the guy down, because he had certain position to get him down, he's getting better. It's nice to have competition. Aaron Hester will probably be ready to start participating a week from now, and I know Courtney Viney is chomping at the bit to get back there."

On the locker room at halftime:
"It wasn't a ghost town. There was some frustration in it because we thought that we played well. But as a young team, we have to understand we have to play 60 minutes. We can't come in at halftime and be frustrated. When everybody wants something so badly and it doesn't seem to happen, there is a level of frustration."

On the decision to play Richard Brehaut:
"I've been pretty clear that I want to keep looking to get Richard in the game. Kevin was not at his best. We weren't moving the ball. Sometimes just a change of pace is a good thing. It looked to me like a great spot to get Richard the chance. I'm not trying to create this controversy. I know it's a favorite of your profession, but no, Kevin Prince is the guy we chose, and we'll get Kevin Prince the chance to play this week. But I still want to keep Richard on the come."

Opening thoughts:
"We are obviously disappointed that the game Saturday went as it did. It's been now too long since we tasted victory, not since the 19th of Sept. There's only one real formula for changing that, and that's to buckle down and play as hard as possible. I know that will be the entire focus, the entire effort. I talked to the players yesterday, and I know that they are fully in accord with that plan, coaches as well.
It's full steam ahead."

On this week's opponent, Cal:
"Cal finds itself kind of in the same situation. It's been that long since they tasted victory. So you have two hungry teams. We certainly understand how good a football team they are, despite recent woes. They are an explosive ballclub."

On what UCLA needs to improve on:
"It'd be a long list - it's not always just one thing. We need to get consistent play from our quarterback. Kevin, now being back in and having some more game experience under his belt, we'll get more. We need to make sure that when we call plays that they're blocked correctly. We can't miss assignments and watch them come back and haunt us. We've got to make sure that we're coaching great fundamentals and remembering all the while that we're young.

On being more creative with the offense:
"While it may be a great idea, as the old coach said to the young coach, its only, 'How'd you do.' The play may have drawn up beautifully, but if it didn't work, maybe the less sexy idea might have been the better one."

On the wide receivers working to get open:
"We're going to keep trying to look at all our combinations and get guys to make plays. We certainly are longing for more plays downfield. I think there are enough places to throw the ball. Oregon had a good plan in terms of just a three-man rush. Quarterbacks have to be able to see that, and realize that sometimes you have to make the plays with your legs."

On the defense deserving a win:
"Once side of the ball can't win the game, everybody's got to work together. There were spots when we were doing great, and there were spots when we were doing terrible. We probably could've won the game if we didn't give up the plays we gave up. We didn't come through on those plays, those particular few."

On overlooking the small plays:
"The game was a big-play game, and a lot of people overlook the 3rd-and-1s. I don't think we overlooked those plays at all."

On the four minutes of misery:
"I've never seen that in football in my life. We're up 3-0, 26 seconds later, we're down 14-3. Such a swing of momentum so fast. That damages morale real quick."

On the locker room being silent at halftime;
"It was the same way pregame. We were focused. We had been emphasizing focus all game, do you job, so people were thinking. I know people were excited at the opportunity to win the game, but I think people were locked into their jobs. No one even wanted to come in for halftime, everyone just wanted to finish the game right there."

On the four minutes of misery:
"I think that's about as weird, as abnormal, as rare as possible. Twenty-six seconds, two touchdowns, it's crazy."

On staying committed to 2009:
"I think we have enough seniors on this team to rally the troops. Offense didn't do exactly what they were supposed to do, score points when opportunities arose. We've just got to score. We've got guys who are hurting, and we have seniors who need to keep our heads on straight."

On instilling a sense of urgency:
"You instill it by example. All I can do is tell someone to do something and then I'll show them how to do it. They can choose within themselves to follow what's right or...not, basically."

On the young players contributing:
"Prince's first game back, he was a little rusty. Richard did pretty well. Thigpen ran the ball well; I think we're fine. I think that everybody's capable. They definitely are capable of making big plays and keep on making big plays. It's about getting them experience - and I think our guys will be fine if we practice hard enough in key scenarios."

On Kevin Prince:
"In practice he looked good. I think he did well - maybe there was something here and there he needed to edge up on. He looked like the starting quarterback."

On four minutes of misery:
"That's crazy. I was like, 'That's a fluke.' But we have to respond to things like that. We can't keep making some mistakes."

On the overall game:
"We're obviously very disappointed. Thought we did OK in the first half, thought we were going to come out pretty good in the second half, made what I thought were some decent adjustments, and it went south' on us. Then it's tough to play when you're behind."

On whether starting Kevin Prince was the right move in hindsight:
"I don't have hindsight. He gives us the best chance to win."

On Richard Brehaut coming in:
"The head guy does a lot of that kind of stuff, just talk to him. Kevin was struggling. What he do? Throw a pick, have a fumble. We needed to make something happen."

On younger players earning more playing time:
"Damien certainly deserved a chance to play, and I thought we used some of the other guys too much last week - Terrence and Taylor played way too many plays."

On going younger:
"We're trying to get our younger, exciting players some chances to make some exciting plays. You're in that midst of are they ready to do this or do you go your comfort zone. You've got to keep looking for that combination of efficient and explosive."

On the play of the offensive line:
"There were some good things in the offensive line. I don't feel frustrated by our running game, I feel frustrated that I don't have a passing game to go with it so that it can take some pressure off."

On being more creative at the goal-line:
"That's an idea, but then you're dealing with a lot of first-year players. Yeah, I'd love to have every idea known to man, but can we execute them?"

On the defense:
"I feel like with that kind of defensive effort, we deserved to win. They get those 14 points because of mistakes I made. The defense did a great job. If I started throwing better, even at the end of the game, we're still in the ballgame."

On the team's resolve:
"We discussed this before as a team, the way the season went last year, when you're backed up into a corner, there's only two things you can do: you can go and hide or you can come out swinging. This is a team that's going to come out swinging. We're going to find a way to put this thing back together."

On making big plays:
"You don't really focus on making big plays. You take what they give you, and eventually big plays happen. What you saw today was our inability to make just regular plays. I take responsibility for that. It was my inability to get the ball to the right people. Oregon didn't have to worry about us going downfield, I couldn't get a first down. Those things will happen once we get back on track, once I start playing well. Those things will happen. We'll make the short players, and the big ones will come."

You've got to hand it to Kevin Prince: the kid can handle pressure.
Perhaps not from a blitzing linebacker quite yet, perhaps not from a 21-3 deficit quite yet, but from a throng of media hounds, UCLA's redshirt freshman quarterback was contrite and sorrowful following Oregon's 24-10 win at the Rose Bowl on Saturday afternoon.
In his first game action since Week 2, when he suffered a fractured jaw at Tennessee with minutes left to play, Prince struggled mightily. The Crespi of Encino product misfired on his first two passes and things did not get much better, as he finished 13-of-25 for just 81 yards, fumbling once and throwing an interception that was returned for a touchdown.
After throwing consecutive passes into the hands of Duck defenders late in the third quarter, neither of which was intercepted, Prince was relieved for freshman quarterback Richard Brehaut.
He would have made the same decision.
"I wasn't making plays," Prince said. "They were going to try to calm me down, get me back feeling confident. And give Richard a shot, that's only fair. I understood their decision completely. I wasn't able to move the ball, and we just weren't clicking as an offense. As a coach, you have to try something new."
After Oregon's 21-point explosion in four minutes to start the third quarter, perhaps it was a bit too little, a bit too late.
With Prince under center, the UCLA offense simply ran out of gas at times, managing nine drives of less than six plays, none leading to points.
Even when the Bruins did move the ball, as in a 6 minute, 29 second, 12-play drive in the first quarter, they could not score points, four plays within the Oregon 2-yard line coming up fruitless.
"There are little things that I'm just not getting done," Prince said. "Making the right reads on third downs that stall drives, missing a corner, missing an easy wide-open play for a first down. Little things, you can't do. You can't do that and win games. I feel like I rushed things, tried to make things happen, and I wasn't going through the right progressions."
Prince, though, isn't ready to throw in the towel.
He's not about to call 2009 a rebuilding year, not after UCLA did not even call 2008 one, even mired in a 4-8 finish.
"I think it's always been about now," Prince said. "Coach Neuheisel made it clear last year that we weren't going to label it a rebuilding year. That's disrespectful to the seniors, to the guys who have been working their whole careers here at UCLA. It's always been about now for us. That should be a wakeup call to myself. I can't sit here and make those mistakes and keep on playing. I need to start improving now."

Bumps and Bruises
Redshirt freshman running back Johnathan Franklin was lost midway through the second quarter with a left ankle sprain. ... Sophomore Glenn Love went down with a right ankle sprain. ... Senior linebacker Reggie Carter was hobbled by a left MCL sprain, but returned to the game. ... Redshirt freshman running back Milton Knox was not in attendance, suffering from an undisclosed illness.

News and Notes
Kai Forbath's 52-yard field goal in the second quarter was his eighth career 50-yard kick, extending his UCLA record. ... Oregon redshirt freshman Kenyon Barner's 100-yard return in the third quarter was the first against the Bruins since 2003. ... The attendance mark of 77,819 was a Rose Bowl season-high.

As football sequences go, this was the Battle of Waterloo, the Hindenberg crash and the Titanic sinking all rolled into one.
Oregon redshirt freshman kick returner Kenjon Barner landed the first blow against UCLA, a 100-yard kick return on the first play of the third quarter.
Next, on the Bruins' first play from scrimmage of the second half, Ducks cornerback Talmadge Jackson III jumped a Kevin Prince pass and returned the interception 32 yards for the touchdown.
Then, less than four minutes later, Oregon wideout Jeff Maehl broke a handful of tackles on his way to a 20-yard touchdown reception.
All told, the Ducks scored 21 points in a four-minute span to open the second half en route to a 24-10 win over UCLA on Saturday afternoon at the Rose Bowl.
Head coach Rick Neuheisel was left nearly speechless - no small task for the man - only managing, "It was a flurry."
Bruins quarterback Kevin Prince had a little more to say.
"It all happened so fast," said Prince, who was pulled in the fourth quarter after returning to game action for the first time since Week 2. "I was just thinking about T.V. viewers who left the room for a second, and all of a sudden it's 21-3. How does that happen? It's unheard of."
Funny thing is - well, funny for Oregon - the Bruins didn't think things could get much worse than a first-quarter sequence that saw the team fail to score on four straight plays from within the 2-yard line, then allow Duck running back LaMichael James to break several tackles in a 49-yard run from the Oregon 1-yard line.
UCLA's inability to score from the precipice of the end zone had the team reeling after the game.
"We're just letting plays slip away from us," senior wide receiver Terrence Austin said. "When we need to make that first down, we drop a ball or we miss a read or miss a drop. That stuff adds up. We had the game in control, but we let it slip away."
After the Ducks went on their four-minute outburst, the Bruins could not regain that control.
UCLA responded to the 21-point swing with drives of three, four and three plays, respectively, gaining a total of 20 yards.
Sophomore linebacker Akeem Ayers offset the offensive utility with a scoring play of his own, an interception of Oregon quarterback Nate Costa in the Ducks' end zone, but the Bruins continued to struggle.
After holding onto the ball for nearly 20 minutes in the first half, UCLA had possession for just more than five minutes in the third quarter.
"We show flashes of everyone making plays, we just have to capitalize on them," sophomore wide receiver Taylor Embree said. "We drive the ball, and we show so many of those flashes - our motto isn't about one big play - but every once in a while, we need it. But we still have to focus on those little plays."
Against the Ducks, the Bruins lacked long and short.
With redshirt freshman running back Johnathan Franklin sidelined for the second half with a left ankle sprain, UCLA's corps of backups - junior Christian Ramirez, sophomore Derrick Coleman and freshman Damien Thigpen - managed just 28 yards on 10 rushes.
Meanwhile, Oregon ran up and down the field on the Bruins.
James gained 152 yards on 20 carries, including the 49-yard gain at the goal line. Barner added 50 yards on four carries, including a 48-yard run.
Neither long gain was a backbreaker - James' burst leading to zero points, Barner's setting up a 33-yard field goal - but both were crucial in the momentum of the game.
"There were spots where we were doing great, but there were spots when we did terrible," sophomore safety Tony Dye said. "We probably could have won the game if we didn't give up some of the plays we gave up."

A few comments before closing shop for the night:

1) Oregon's 24-10 win was a heck of a lot closer than people think...and a heck of a lot farther than people think. Yes, the Ducks scored 21 points in four minutes. UCLA was pretty good the other 56. But Oregon also exploited much of what ails the Bruins, particularly picking on the team's younger players.
2) Tackling remains a concern for the defense, but for completely different reasons than last week. Against Stanford, the Bruins did not wrap up Toby Gerhart. Against Oregon, the Bruins did not swarm LaMichael James.
3) UCLA needs to get some more burst from its offensive line on the goal-line and in the red zone. These are the plays when will and grit and anger can outweight talent and size.
4) Kevin Prince was extremely contrite after the game and that cannot be taught. He is not a finished product - he knows he's not a finished product - but he has certain intangibles that a winning quarterback has.

Things I'll explore during the week: Kickoff/Punt coverage, Jeff Locke's incredible foot, Kai Forbath's more incredible foot, late-game urgency, offensive consistency, offensive call to youth.

A quick note: My mom is in town for the first time in a while, and we're heading out for the night, so I'll be back tomorrow with a lot of quotes, and a quick chat with Chris Ward. Thanks for tuning in,
JG

Down two scores, UCLA is going with Richard Brehaut at quarterback with 14 minutes to play.
Kevin Prince doies not appear to be injured...

Morgan Flint's 33-yard field goal may have put Oregon up 24-10, but Kenjon Barner should be given credit on that series.
Barner had a 48-yard run on 1st and 10 from the Ducks 43-yard line, stiff-arming Sheldon Price for at least 12 yards.

Drive Time: 8 plays, 64 yards, 3:07

Akeem Ayers is one man-beast.
After the UCLA defensive line chased Nate Costa from the pocket in the back of the end zone, Ayers leapt, grabbed the Costa pass and dragged his back foot right before his left foot went out of bounds. The Rose Bowl wakes up.

Oh, and Jeff Locke just might be UCLA's best player, by the way.

Drive Time: 1 play, 2 yards, 4 seconds

Looks like the ankle injury that bothered Johnathan Franklin in the first half is keeping him sidelined, as Damien Thigpen and Derrick Coleman have manned the running back spot for the Bruins in the second half.

A listless Bruins squad is getting piled on now, as Oregon has scored 21 consecutive points in less than 4 minutes, after a scoreless first half.
Jeff Maehl capped off an 8-play, 50-yard drive with a 20-yard touchdown catch from Nate Costa.

Drive Time: 8 plays, 50 yards, 2:33

Two plays, 14 points.

Oregon just went up 14-3 on a Talmadge Jackson 32-yard INT TD return.

Drive Time: 1 play, 32 yards, 12 seconds

That was quick.

Oregon made it 7-3 on a Kenjon Barner 100-yard kickoff return on the first play of the second half.

Drive Time: 100-yard kickoff return, 13 seconds

Well, um. That was...fun?

UCLA leads Oregon 3-0 after a half of extremely dull football, with one big play - Duck running back LaMichael James' 49-yard run from the 1-yard line - and a bunch of little ones.
The Bruins are averaging a paltry 3.2 yards per play, but lead on the strength of Kai Forbath's leg, Jeff Locke's leg and the UCLA defense. The battle of poor field position has had Oregon starting at the UCLA 1-yard line twice and UCLA starting at the Oregon 1-yard line once.

Not exactly a display of modern offense.

Kai Forbath just nailed a 52-yard field goal to put UCLA up 3-0 with just under six minutes left in the game.
The Bruins moved from the Oregon 1-yard line with plodding precision, gaining, in order:
0, 6, 4, 7, 2, 4, 5, 0, 6, 10, 0, 12, 3, 4, 0 yards. Talk about taking small bites.

Drive Time: 65 yards, 16 plays, 7:55

Looks like Jeremiah Masoli is not even in uniform today for Oregon.
Neither is safety TJ Ward.

Just got this text from Chris Ward...

11:53 AM: "Committed to UCLA this morning."

I'll talk to him today for you guys...

Here's his bio:

Chris Ward

Hey folks,

The weather couldn't be much better at the Rose Bowl this morning, with a bit of a breeze and a thin layer of fog that should burn off.

Check in throughout the games, and if there are any questions, feel free to fire away.

Thanks
JG

Here are a couple interesting stories that NZBruin sent - thanks, dude.

On the Ducks

Upset Special?

Here's a list of who's planned to attend UCLA/Oregon. Just got it.

Andrew Albers Costa Mesa High School
Roger Jones Compton High School
Dietrich Riley Saint Francis High School
Davon Dunn Abraham Lincoln Prep High School
Jordan Payton Oaks Christian High School
Anthony Jefferson Cathedral High School
Devon Blackmon Summit High School
Kaelin Clay Long Beach Polytechnic High School
Tony Jefferson Eastlake High School
Kenneth Stills La Costa Canyon High School
Wade Yandall Carson High School
Josiah Marshall Compton High School
Gregory Townsend Beverly Hills High School
Tony Washington Los Osos High School
Hayes Pullard Crenshaw High School
Kody Innes Saguaro High School
Christopher Ward Mater Dei High School
Shaquille Richardson Los Alamitos High School
Silvarius Ajawara Tesoro High School
Malcolm Jones Oaks Christian High School
DeAnthony Thomas Crenshaw High School
Paul Richardson Junipero Serra High School
Joshua Shirley Henry J. Kaiser High School

By Jon Gold
Staff Writer

Less than a year later, UCLA is hoping to get in week five what it took a whole season to accomplish last year.
After a 24-16 loss at Stanford last week, the Bruins have a second shot at win No. 4, which would match last year's total.
They wanted it last week.
They need it this week against No. 13 Oregon.
"Mentally, we're just hungry to win," sophomore offensive tackle Mike Harris said. "That loss, it hurt, it hurt real bad. This week, we're focused on Oregon and hungrier for more wins. Nobody wants to feel that pain of losing again."
It won't come easy.
Though the Ducks will be without a several key contributors, they are riding four straight wins after a 19-8 loss to Boise State to start the season. Shifty quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, who ran for 170 yards against the Bruins in a 31-24 Oregon win last year, is doubtful for the game. In his place, Nate Costa, the Ducks' would-be starter last year before a season-ending knee injury.
Either quarterback will be a handful.
If the Bruins can get their hands on him, which they struggled mightily with last week against Stanford.
"A tackle is a tackle, just get the man down, regardless of how it is," middle linebacker Reggie Carter said. "Everyone wants that perfect hit, that big hit. But you practice tackling and you thud up - and it's never like that in a game. Guys are moving, a lot of open space. I can care less where guys hit him, in the face, in the feet -you get him down, you've done your job."
It will be on a host of others to do theirs, as well.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Kevin Prince returns after a two-game, three-week layoff following a broken jaw suffered at Tennessee in Week 2. Prince has looked markedly better as the week of practice wore on, his confidence and timing improving by the day. Though the coaching staff has been coy about its decision, all signs point to Prince.
The rest of the offense has a bit of catching up to do, too.
UCLA converted just 2-of-10 first downs and rushed for only 95 yards, as the Bruins had drives of three, four, five and six plays all result in punts. Drive after drive stalled for UCLA near the promised land, as the Bruins settled for three Kai Forbath field goals and one Johnathan Franklin 1-yard touchdown run.
In the end, missed opportunities killed the Bruins - and they haven't forgotten.
"It was very painful - we still think about it," defensive end Korey Bosworth said. "The bad thing about football is you're not going to get over that pain until next Saturday. It sticks with you all week. We have guys who can't sleep because they're thinking of it. It wasn't thinking we couldn't have prevented. That makes it weigh even heavier."
Perhaps last season, mired in a down-up-down, 4-8 campaign, a loss could be shaken off.
Not this year.
Not for a team that started 3-0.
Not for a team that wants No. 4 so much.
"You're on a losing roll and it's like, 'OK, we lost, move on to next week,'" sophomore safety Tony Dye said. "It's on a personal level now. We really wanted that fourth win. That four is still in the board in our locker room. We gotta get that fourth win. It's almost a personal angle. We gotta get that fourth win. I mean, that's where we ended last year. We gotta get that four.
"It's haunting us."

Josh Smith picking between UCLA and UDub:

Seattle Times

Here's a Fox Sports' Jeff Goodman's Pac-10 hoops preview:

The Pac is Back

Good Q&A between Ted Miller and Chuck Bullough:

Q&A

Malcolm Jones lay in bed Wednesday night, UCLA-Stanford-UCLA-Stanford, the decision pounding his mind like a hammer, the weight of the recruiting world on his shoulders.
And then, it was gone.
"I was in my room thinking about it, thinking about what I liked and don't like about each school, and I just decided UCLA was the place for me," said the Oaks Christian running back, rated a five-star prospect by Scout.com and the No. 6 running back nationally. "I went straight to my parents and told them, and they were excited about it, too."
They should be - he's staying close to home.
After months of debate, of jockeying and of cajoling, Jones settled on the Bruins, informing them of his decision on Thursday morning.
Ultimately, in a battle between two academic institutions with rising programs, the closer one won out.
"It's a good football program, a good school, and I felt really, really comfortable," said Jones, who was selected for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, along with teammate Cassius Marsh. "I liked how it's in SoCal. I love being down here. I like the weather. I like everything about it.
"And my parents can come see me play."
Play, and play early, he expects.
Though Jones will enter a backfield crowded like a London phonebooth - a junior, a sophomore, two redshirt freshmen and one true freshman - he said he anticipates to compete for playing time early.
"This is a team that's up-and-coming," Jones said. "They need big playmakers. It's a big opportunity for me to help UCLA get back on top. That was a big part of my decision, knowing they don't have one dominant back yet is another opportunity to show how good I am and get opportunities as a freshman."
If his first year in Westwood is anything like his last year at Oaks Christian, he just might get those opportunities.
Jones has 870 rushing yards and 10 total touchdowns for the 4-0 Lions, ranked first in the state and third in the nation by Maxpreps.com. His success is nothing new.
As a freshman: California State Freshman of the Year.
As a sophomore: 2,315 total yards, 29 touchdowns, state sophomore of the year.
As a junior: 1,844 yards, 32 touchdowns (playing mostly first-halves), runner-up state junior of the year.
But now, Jones owns another role.
Recruiter.
He said he is about to become UCLA's biggest salesman.
"I hope that me committing can get a lot of big-time names to come to UCLA, to not be afraid of losing," Jones said. "I have to start looking and seeing who's looking at UCLA and try to convince them, too."
He is, after all, in it for the long haul.
There will be no flip-flopping coming that one fateful day, Feb. 3. National Signing Day.
"No, not at all," Jones maintains. "It's set for me. It's set in stone."

I spoke briefly with Chris Ward on the heels of the commitment of Malcolm Jones. Here's what Ward had to say:

On skipping his Cal visit after tweaking his knee:
"The coaches didn't think it was a great idea to have me walking around Cal. It's not a bad injury, I just tweaked it a bit. I'll be good to go Monday. This week is a bye week, so I'll be good Monday."

On Malcolm Jones' verbal swaying his decision, and what it would be like to block for him:
"It plays a factor, but it's not going to totally make my decision. It does play a little role thought. Oh my God, that would be awesome.

On UCLA getting another huge recruiting class:
"That'd be such a momentum changer. It would put UCLA even more on the map than it already is."

On the recruiting game slowing down:
"It slows down a little bit. I'm not really focusing on college that much. I want my team to win. I'm not all focused on college right now."

On having experienced coaches help with recruiting:
"You can tell when we go on for advice that they've done this a million times before. Their advice makes a hard decision a little easier."

On his final decision still narrowed to UCLA and Cal.
"It's on those two. They both have great academics, so that's not going to be a problem. I'm not really sure on (my future), but I'm kind of into marketing. But I know that these schools with their coaches have the potential to put anybody in the NFL."

On having the band end practice today:
"It was a good practice today. Having the band at the end is something we did last year, and the guys liked it. This is college, this is the time of your life when you can do it. It's a cool thing. It is distracting, but it's worth it."

On Oregon:
"This is going to be a good team. A team that's going to be hungry, looking for a good road win, a signature road win. There are a lot of those kids who are from Southern California, and it's going to be a homecoming for some of them."

On Nate Costa being Oregon's starter:
"I haven't heard Coach Kelly calling and telling me that's what they're going to do. We'll prepare for Oregon, regardless of who is taking snaps. And we'll know whoever's taking snaps is a darn good player."

On Kevin Prince:
"I thought he was good today. The quarterback situation will be a fun one as we get everybody up to speed. I thought he was better today, no question."

"Kevin (Craft) knows everything," Neuheisel said. "The only way to get all three up there, to see which is the recipe for success, is to get them all caught up. We have all the confidence in Kevin Craft. We know he can go out there and play good football."

On appearing on Rome is Burning:
"A thousand shows that guy's had. I was honored. I was just behind Jim Everett for who they wanted on that show. It's always nice to talk about UCLA football on a national broadcast."

When the UCLA band showed up to serenade the Bruins at the tail end of practice, an already excitable team got more energetic. While special teams coach Frank Gansz was no big fan of the surprise appearance, the players were.

Damien Thigpen took a nicely blocked return to the house and seems to have gained the confidence of the staff to at least give him some serious consideration for major time. Alterraun Verner appears to have kicked the flu that he said might have kept him out for the game.
Kevin Prince was noticably more confident in his throws, something which Rick Neuheisel even mentioned.

I'll be back with some Neuheisel quotes - don't forget, players are off-limits on Thursday - and a chat with a major UCLA recruit.

Thanks
Jon

A mutual friend set up a quick interview with Oregon redshirt freshman running back/punt returner Kenjon Barner, from up the road in Riverside...Here are his thoughts:

On what Oregon expects out of UCLA this year:
"Were expecting them to come out and compete. Thats a good football team. They're a much better team than last year. Theyre focused this year. They want to come out and compete. Even in the Stanford game, they competed. Last year, i don't think they really competed."

On Oregon's response after a Week 1 loss to Boise State:
"Our response has been great. We haven't lost a game. Our focus has been much better, our attention to detail. Everything has kind of come together after that loss. We knew after the loss what we'd have do to."

On how far the team has come since then:
"It definitely was a wake-up call. 'Whoa, the season's here, time to get ready.' It changed a lot of us as players, and it brought us closer together. How we practice, we have to practice every day like were preparing for the national championship. That loss helped developed the mindset."

On now being ranked No. 13 heading to the Rose Bowl:
"One you could be the highest team in the nation, next week not ranked at all. We expected to rebound as a team. We expected to better than what we showed after that loss."

1) When they overturned our fumble recovery call, why did the ref's not call intentional grounding on that? That was horrible. - VB
You're asking the wrong guy. That was either IG or a fumble, but it was not simply an errant pass.

2) With thigpen doing such a good job with the snaps that he took, why did they take him out? - UCLAfanboy
It takes a hell of a lot more than three carries to be an every-down back. Thigpen will get his time, but Franklin has earned No. 1 carries.

3) In the 4th, when we needed 2 scores, why did we not employ the no-huddle, exclusively? VB and I were beside ourselves with how S-L-O-W the offense moved in between plays. Even when the offense set, Craft would tick off 3 or 4 more seconds. - UB (Ultimate Bruin)
To be honest, I'm not sure. Craft works well in the no-huddle, but there did not seem to be too much urgency. That improves with the season, though.

4) Did Stan Hasaik get any playing time against Stanford? If not, what does he have to go to get more playing time? - Jungleland
Hasiak got some PT, but the coaches have been impressed with Baca and Williams. Hasiak is a true freshman. He'll get his time.

5) The 2 minute offense at the end of the half seemed to work well. Plays were being made and we were able to have a legitimate drive. Why did they not continue that in the 2nd half? - Anonymous
A two-minute offense is only effective in doses. Teams who run the hurry-up offense exclusively tire out their defenses, not to mention their offenses. UCLA needs a regular offense before it moves to the hurry-up.

6) Seems like there's a lot of recruiting noise around, for both FB and BB - when will we hear about it here? I know the Dohnster had years to build his contacts, but things seem slow here lately. - Spedjones
Well, I'm doing my best spedjones. I'll try even harder just for you, buddy.

7) Besides ATV. Reggie Carter, and Brian Price, who do you feel is the best player on the team right now and why? - Spencer Stueve
This might sound ridiculous, but I think the best pro prospect besides those is Joseph Fauria. He's a beast in practice, and he gets faster, he'll be incredible. Xavier Su'a-filo has been great. Johnathan Franklin I think has surprised everyone.

8) Clearly our offense sputtered this weekend. Maybe it was the offensive line, maybe it was a general lack of focus, I really don't know. Now to address the controversial Kevin Craft. Firstly, I do not think he is a bad quarterback. I do think he lacks the arm strength for the deep ball, but he's usually around average, well this year. However, I do believe that Kevin Prince is a better leader and motivator than Craft. The offense seems more alive with he's under center. Do you think that this is an accurate assessment and will his return be enough to move the ball against Oregon? - Tristan
A very good assessment, but I don't that they need to worry about moving the ball. The team has moved the ball at times. Consistency remains the troubling issue, and that is to be expected in a young unit. I think fans are jumping the gun a little bit with this 3-1 start and have forgotten that the team is a work in progress.

9) How does ATV feel about being called ATV? Has the nickname been around or is it something recent? - Anonymous
To be honest, I have no idea, I've never asked him. I don't think I was the first one to call him it.

10) Is Chris Ward looking to choose a college based more on academics or athletics? Is he angling to get to the business world or NFL? - Anonymous
He's a very bright young man, and I'm sure academics are playing a huge roll - we're talking UCLA and Cal here. Those are incredible schools. I would be shocked if such a recruit isn't dreaming NFL.

Happy Birthday Coach John Wooden - Oct. 14

Legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden will celebrate his 99th birthday next Wednesday, October 14.
"A Game Plan for Life," a new book by Coach Wooden and Don Yaeger will be released on that day.

In celebration of Coach's 99th birthday, a website has been set up for fans to enter their birthday wishes.

To go to the site - Coach John Wooden, Happy Birthday - go to:

Happy Birthday

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.
For coming closest last week, Be Real will get to ask 10 questions also next week.

1) Rahim Moore's "late hit" call was very ticky tack. Nevertheless, it shifted the momentum of the game early on in Stanford's favor. What is your take on that call? - VB
I'm not so sure it was a late hit, seeing as how Moore appeared to be in motion before the ball was five yards past him. I'm not positive of the rule...but I would not have called it. In the press box, that was the common reaction.

2) Also, are you enjoying the bromantic attention you seem to be getting from some of the blog readers? - Reformed Droog
Yes, particularly from you, my friend. No, it's definitely humbling and I appreciate any kind words I receive. I also appreciate the unkind words. Even though the tears on my pillow would suggest otherwise.

3) Jon, any news from the basketball recruiting weekend? - Luca10
Ray McCallum is going to take a while to commit. Same with Trey Zeigler. Josh Smith appears to be a UCLA lean, but it's too early to tell for sure. Tyler Lamb is calling me later today.

4) Are the other quarterback so far behind in the playbooks that they couldn't manage a game better than Kevin Craft? Nick Crissman has been in the program for 2 years and was said to be recovered from his shoulder injury. - Anonymous
I don't think Kevin Craft is a poor game manager. He doesn't have the greatest arm in the world, but he's not too bad. This team was awful last year. Don't forget that. Crissman is still a work in progress, and Brehaut needs more work.

5) I don't recall hearing Randall Carroll's name called at all during the Stanford game. How close is he to getting significant playing time? - Jungleland
Carroll is still behind the top three or four, and I doubt he'll make major noise, at least until Chow opens things up a little.

6) Any insights regarding Malcom Jones? He says he is close to pulling the trigger. - AV Hill
Well...Malcolm no longer in the middle

7) When does Aaron Hester expect to play again? Also, who do you anticipate starting in the secondary this weekend? - Sunset Bruin
Hester already started jogging, and might be back for Cal, though it's a little wait-and-see. Price is starting opposite Verner, Neuheisel confirmed.

8) Are the Stanford fans pathetic or what? It seems like their stadium should have been rockin' a bit more for the #1 P10 team. - UB
I wouldn't call them pathetic, but there were many empty seats. I think it takes a little more than a 4-1 start to get the fans out in droves.

9) I still find it crazy that Demetri Papadakis is playing football at UCLA instead of USC. I've seen his dad & Petros at a couple practices already. You included Demetri in one of your scrimmage recaps back in August. I know he's a preferred walk-on -- but what do the coaches think about his ability/potential? - Circlejerk
I don't know that he has the speed to be any more than a valuable practice contributor. He was good in the scrimmage against other valuable practice contributors. I'm not sure he'd have the same success against Brian Price and Reggie Carter.

10) I note that I had the closest score in your UCLA-Stanford contest, having stated it would be 24-13 Stanford. Do I get to ask the 10 questions of a Bruin this week? - BE REAL
Hmm, guys, what do you think? Should it be closest to or right on the spot? Any thoughts?

From UCLA:

UCLA senior forward James Keefe suffered an injury to his left shoulder on Tuesday night. The results of his MRI were negative, however, there was some instability to the joint. Keefe is slated to be out for 4-6 weeks while going through rehabilitation.

"We are very relieved that the injury isn't going to be a long-term one," UCLA Head Coach Ben Howland said. "Everything looks to be intact and we are very happy for him and for the team."

This isn't the first injury that Keefe has sustained to his left shoulder. On Aug. 10, 2007, Keefe had surgery to repair a torn labrum in the same shoulder that forced him to miss the first 12 games of the 2007-08 season.

Keefe is one of three seniors on the Bruins' 2009-10 roster and averaged 3.0 points and 3.4 rebounds per game last year. UCLA opens the season on Nov. 16 with a home contest against Cal State Fullerton, which is a little less than six weeks away.

BREAKING NEWS:
I have it on good word that Oaks Christian running back Malcolm Jones will announce his commitment to UCLA later today. I will get on the horn with him and coach Bill Redell as soon as possible.

Westwood Bruin Touchdown Club
Friday Oct 9 -- 7 am
Coach Chuck Bullough
Coach Bob Palcic
UCLA Football Players:
#23 Jonathan Franklin, TB
#65 Mike Harris, OL
#54 Kyle Bosworth, LB
or #55 Korey Bosworth, DE (hopefully both)
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!

On Wednesday's practice:
"Another good practice. Good enthusiasm, good energy, great looks by the scout team. That's what you need when you're preparing for a big-time opponent."

On Kevin Prince:
"Kevin Prince is getting back into form. We got good news in terms that he's cleared to play. I just want to make sure he's got his timing and his confidence. That's what I had to see. It's not all the way there."

On Oregon possibly missing Jeremiah Masoli:
"We're not sure whether they have him. I was told he was in uniform today. I know he's a valiant competitor, and I know that he'll be ready to play. Just watch last year's game. He went for about 170 yards and we looked like we were bouncing off him."

On Damien Thigpen:
"I thought he earned a few more chances with the way he played at Stanford. We're trying to keep that running back position as competitive as we can. When you get guys with hot hands it's hard to take them out of the game. Johnathan has been very consistent and deserves to be the starting running back."

On working extensively on tackling this week:
"If you're Jack Nicklaus, you go out and hit 7-irons. If you're a defensive player, you go out and tackle. It's got to be a skill that you're constantly honing. And there are two types to address - wrap and squeeze, and the swarming. Running to the ball, getting there, making sure you're not getting him down by yourself."

On the need for better tackling against Oregon:
"We were beaten at the point of attack at times. We have to do a great job of getting off blcosk, so that we can be in position to make a tackle. That's the key."

If Wednesday's practice was any indication of how UCLA will attack Oregon's runners on Saturday, the Ducks might not be quacking for very long.
The Bruins are an angry bunch after their first loss, and tackling drills reinforced their desire to improve what was a dramatic weakness against Stanford. UCLA coaches had to temper down the defense after a few big hits, but they could not have been too unhappy about the energy.
The Bruins talked about their sadness after the Cardinal loss and the desire to atone for their sins against Oregon, specifically Reggie Carter.
Kevin Prince looked a full day better than yesterday, and it appears that he only really needs to shake off some rustiness, rather than any lingering effects from missing three weeks.
Damien Thigpen looked great in practice, and Rick Neuheisel said after practice that he's earned some more chances after his performance against Stanford.

I'll be back with some quotables throughout the night.

Thanks
JG

On where he was before the hit:
"Well, before the hit, I was in Tennessee...now I'm back in LA. No, really, I was starting to rush things and starting to try to force things. Part of that was the incredible atmostphere we were in. I hadn't been in that situation in a while. Coming back out here, I was more relaxed."

On his absence being a good thing:
"It's good for a little time. I don't want to sit out for a season - I've already done that, and it wouldn't do much good. Three weeks is a little longer than I'd want to sit out. It helps to sit back and watch someone else do it. I learned so much from watching Kevin last year, and just talking to him and getting advice. It was good to sit back and see what I could improve on. Watch Kevin do things I couldn't do."

On sliding or avoiding contact next time:
"I'd love to tell you that I'd slide, but we'll see. That's not my mentality."

On being back with the team:
"It's great to be back out here with the guys. The more you stay away - living at home for three weeks - I didn't get to see the guys that much. It's human nature to lose contact a little back. It's great to get back here and start playing football again."

Every week, we'll keep going with your final standings for UCLA:

An attentive reader sent this to me, and I thought you'd enjoy it, like I did:

Darren Collison Singing Single Ladies

Check out my story in the Daily News:

Chew on this

Kevin Prince has received medical clearance to play in Saturday's game
versus Oregon.

Sophomore safety Rahim Moore, who leads the country with five interceptions, said he was playing it safe on Saturday after suffering a minor concussion.
"I would rather sit out two quarters than sit out two years," Moore said. "I played it safe, stayed on the sidelines, cheered my team on."
The concussion might not have even happened had it not been for the sun.
"Before that play, the sun was all in my eyes," Moore said. "One eye was closed, but I knew they were about to run four verts, it's why I was deep. I knew the play was coming, but when I saw the guy lift his hand up, I couldn't even see the ball. I thought I'd be on the safe side and hit him. I knew I was late, but I didn't know. Next time, that ball's going to be mine. ... If I see it."

AND...

On his current condition:
"I actually feel the same as if it never happened. When it happened, I kinda blacked out a little bit. Once I went back to the sideline, everything came back fine. I was in class today, more focused than I've ever been."

On Tuesday's practice:
"Pleased with the effort - this is the first time we've come to practice after being unsuccessful. I love the way we rallied and fought band scratched, and I think now we have to polish. There's a lot of cleaning up to do to be a better football team on Saturday."

On Kevin Prince's return:
"I thought he was pretty good. He still gets a little bit long in his stride and his accuracy diminishes a little bit. But I like Kevin. We'll wait and see what the x-rays say tomorrow, but I think he's ready to play."

On Prince regaining the trust of the offense:
"I don't think it ever went away. It was a different injury. It's not like he was isolated having to be peddle on a bike or doing arm rehab. All he's been able to do is just stand there, he runs around, he's been doing all the signaling, he's been right with the guys. He just couldn't talk, which I think they thought was refreshing."

As the Westwood air got colder, UCLA seemed to get hotter, the intensity rising throughout Tuesday's practice.
Perhaps it was the return of Kevin Prince, perhaps it was the feeling of anger following their first loss, but the Bruins were at full-bore, and it reached a crescendo with a lively two-minute drill.
Prince looked a little off in his first practice off, but only in terms of his timing, and that takes a couple days. He connected with Chane Moline on a nice check-down and hit Terrence Austin a couple times. He seemed relieved after practice to have just played, and Rick Neuheisel said he has voiced his eagerness to get back on the field several times.

Stay tuned for the quotes and perhaps a surprise visit.

Thanks
JG

Micah Kia is out for the season with a torn right ACL.
But his mind still works and is mouth is still firing.
Hopefully, we can run this I, Kia feature every Tuesday, if things work out.
Here's what he has to say before Week 5:

The Stanford loss is disappointing, needless to say. We have to bounce back. Stanford was a really good team, well--rounded, they capitalized on our missed opportunities. One thing you can do is use it as fuel for this next week.

Today's practice is really important. Really just letting the loss go. Well, don't forget it - I know a lot of coaches say hold onto that feeling misery. The older guys know we don't want to slip down into that rut we were in.

All of our weapons are more than capable of getting the job done. I like the fact that we utilize as many weapons as we can. But I'd like to see the team come out with a little more fire in the first half, a little more explosion. We got that momentum going on in the second half, a little too late. It can't be a building up during the game. It has to be right away. That energy has to be there from the start.

It's something that clicks. It's not something that everybody has. There's something, an x-factor, that will come along, that will spark the team as a unit. It's hard to get that feeling. It's hard to just create that. If it's not real, nobody respects it. But once you experience the feeling, then you know, then you become familiar with it and you can return to it. That X-factor is hard to find, and it's something the boys need to bring out of each other.

Kevin Prince, as far as a young quarterback goes, I see a lot of potential. I see a lot of great leadership qualities. Comparing him to my favorite QB, Pat Cowan, is that ability to control the huddle. The quarterback could be completely wrong, but if he puts his hand in your facemask and says, 'No, I'm right, we're doing this,' then that's how it is. That's the kind of person Pat was, and I see that little spark in Prince. He's got a long way to go, but he's got the qualities in him, the fire in him, the patience to deal with everything that goes with being a QB.

As far as defense goes, I have the utmost faith in them. I believe they'll make the corrections. I've never worried about the defense, and I feel I still don't have to. The leadership on the defense will come out. They saw the mistakes they made, and they'll be able to move on without a problem.

This is one thing that us as players know, is to stay away from all the talk. All the guys on the chat boards, that's what they do, they chat. They talk. They get these big ideas. That's fine - they see it from an outside perspective. But in order to keep moving forward, something like a loss this early in the season should not matter at all to the players. You embrace the feeling of pain, and you use it as fuel, but the outside perspective? The players shouldn't care less.

Ray McCallum is one of the best point guards in the country, a 5-star recruit from Scout.com, and perhaps a future Bruin. He visited Westwood this weekend, along with Adidas National Team teammates Josh Smith and Trey Ziegler, and Mater Dei's Tyler Lamb was also in town.

I chatted with McCallum this weekend, and here's what he had to say after his visit

On his official visit this weekend:
"It was good - I've been to campus once, the summer going in junior year, so being back was real nice. I like the campus a lot. It's clean, kind of new to me - a good and fun place to be. Going into Pauley Pavilion, you get that whole feeling. That whole school is jamming."

On potentially choosing UCLA:
"They win. I'm all about winning, and they win. You always know you'll be in the NCAA tournament, you'll always compete for NCAA champ. It's a basketball school - they love basketball at this school."

On his biggest desire in recruiting:
"Most important thing I'm looking for is coming in and playing right away. I want to be in as a freshman and make an impact. Not be a role player or a team guy, I want to make my name known as a freshman."

On UCLA's NBA track record:
"It's real attractive right there. I want to be good enough and go to a school where I can bring my game to the next level. That's what they do over there. They've brought a lot of guards to the NBA the last few years. You go there and do their things, and it seems like they get you to the next level."

On the potential recruiting class with Josh Smith, Trey Ziegler, Harrison Barnes, etc.
"It tells you that they're trying to bring in the best of the best. I'm trying to go to a place I can play with the best guys in the country. You know if you go there you're going to have great players with you , great players to play with."

On scheduling his official visit with Trey Ziegler and Josh Smith:
"All three of us are real close. We've all played on the Adidas National Team for two years - we've all known each other. I had a lot of fun hanging out with those guys. They're good guys and good players, and it's always great to play with people you know."

On UCLA making the Final Four three straight times from 2006-2008:
"That right there tells you (Howland) must be doing something well. He keeps getting the right players in there. He's doing his job - the coaching staff, they're all good. They're going to do everything to try and make me play better."

On making his college decision:
"Right now I'm showing all these schools the same amount of love. My last visit is the first weekend of November. I don't know when I'm going to sign, early or late. I just think when the time is right, I 'll know."

Check out my notebook from today's Daily News:

Chicken Little?

Oregon QB Jeremiah Masoli missed practice again...
Massoli out again

On the running game:
"Other than the penalties, the running game is a lot better, but that should open up the passing game, and I think the balance that needs to come needs to happen fast."

On not having a 'workhorse' running back:
"I don't mind the guys coming into the game being three different guys. You have to have a main guy. I think Franklin is our best running back right now. He did everything well. His balance, the way he hits the hole, how he bounces outside. It seemed like Milton Knox got some opportunities when I thought Franklin deserves to get the ball on a regular basis."

On Kevin Craft:
One thing people lose sight of, just about every young quarterback, when guys come in and play in the Pac-10 at a young age, they throw a ton of interceptions. Because they were big-time recruits, supposed to be good, they gave them the benefit of the doubt. Kevin Craft played on a much worse team as a new player to the program, and he struggled big time, and I don't think it's fair. I don't know if he's been given the opportunity. I wonder if the team opened up a little more, what would happen.
"Sometimes I think Craft is living with this perception that he's this guy who doesn't have enough talent. I don't think that's true. I think he has, and I think he's proven he's better this year."

On Kevin Prince:
"I think Kevin Prince does have the stronger arm and the bigger upside, fits the profile of a big time college QB. But I think fans need to understand now that we lose a little bit of rhythm that Craft got in to. I think Kevin Prince has got it. I think they trust him as a real smart young man. But he still needs the experience of playing in games. If he's able to come back for the Oregon game, it's a pretty tough test to start out with."

On resting Prince one more week:
"I don't think they do that. If he proves to them that he's healthy and ready to go, that he shows them he's capable of making the throws, and they still believe he's there better QB, then he's the guy who plays. They made the decision to make him the starter because they thought he was the better QB. If he goes out and looks bad, you make the decision based on that. Sometimes taking a step away from the game, being able to watch, you can grow a lot by doing that. He's taken a step back, and some quarterbacks actually get better with that. If he took that mindset, he might come back in a feel better about what he's doing."

On the Stanford loss:
"I know it's not as bad as people think.. The fanatic out there tends to overreact sometime, and I'm all for it. That's why people get so passionate. But from my eyes, I still see improvement. I see we're a lot better. And I see Stanford's a lot better too."

On Stanford:
"Playing them nowadays on the road is tough. Particularly with them occupying the ball for so long in the first three quarters. I thought the penalties on offense and the penalty on Rahim Moore - normally he stays back and intercepts that pass - those plays really allowed Stanford to get them rolling."

On the UCLA offense scoring more points:
"UCLA needs to score more points to win in the Pac-10. Our defense is a good defense, but there are too many good offenses back there. A good defense in the Pac-10 gives up 21, 25 points. You have to counter that by being able to score. Some games you have to throw 30 points to win."

On the UCLA offense against Stanford:
"Johnathan Franklin to me looks like he's only beginning to be as good as he's going to be. You have to have your QBs prove they're not going to throw interceptions. I thought Kevin Craft did an admirable job in the game, but it was all short stuff. At some point you have to stretch the defense. If I could say one thing about playcalling - you don't know there were opportunities or if they were afraid."

On having a go-to-guy at wideout:
"I don't know if they have that guy. I don't think they have one of the wide receivers who's saying, 'I'm way better than anyone else right now.' Part of that is allowing three or four receivers to get out in a route. When Craft sees a one on one matchup, he has to throw that 20-30 yard post. Not just hitches. There was a moment when I saw KC use a hand signal and move to a hitch. That's great, but if you have man-to-man matchup, take a shot. I'd like to see the quarterbacks take more opportunities to do that."

Yo guys,

I have some crazy stuff planned for today. I just got off the phone with Ray McCallum of Detroit Country Day, the No. 7 point guard in the country by Scout.com, and I'm expecting to hear from Josh Smith, Tyler Lamb and Trey Ziegler. If I get all four, we'll pretty much call is Super Tuesday.

I also spoke with former UCLA quarterback Wayne Cook of KLAC yesterday, and just got to formatting the interview.

I'll find some links to post, too, and it should be a very full day.

Join me throughout the day, and keep firing questions away for the Q&A.

Thanks
Jon

1) Any Basketball commits this weekend? - Mike
Not that I've heard, but I'm talking to Ray McCallum tomorrow, Tyler Lamb tonight ( I think) and I've left messages with Trey Zeigler and Josh Smith.

2) Do you believe poor clock management and our team's lack of urgency in the 4th quarter played a huge role in why we ended up losing? - VB
I don't know if it was so much the lack of urgency as the inability to connect downfield. I'm a huge proponent of West Coast, short-pass offenses. But in pressure situations, there needs to be a commitment to the mid-range pass, and everything was too short and dinky.

3) DO YOU LIKE YOUR NEW JOB? Can I have your email address? - Bruinbeatch
Umm, I'm flattered, but it's time to lay off Dohn. He was incredible at this. I genuinely think I've done half the job he has, but I'll get better with time and contacts. It takes time to catch up to all the recruiting business. Regarding my job...it's freaking amazing. I love it. I have incredible editors who allow me a ton of freedom and are just...easy...to work with. I can't think of a better word. It's just easy. Now, the job is a killer, but it's been awesome. And my email address is jon.gold@dailynews.com. Feel free to email me ANY time.

4) Did you think the UCLA play calling was too conservative? If so, why play Craft if you are going to limit him? - Boo
Let me preface my answer with this: I am not a head coach, or an offensive coordinator, for a Division-1 football team, nor have I ever been. I am a reporter who happened to play football and knows something about the game. That being said... "conservative" is not the right word. The Bruins had their chances downfield. Stanford locked up the wideouts deep and were begging UCLA to throw the short pass. A good quarterback takes what he can get, but is mindful to take chances downfield. With an offensive line that was having difficulty with perfect protection, I don't fault Craft for going short.

5) Who do you think is the smartest player on the team? - MJDlite
Alterraun Verner is very, very smart. Logan Paulsen might be the brightest football mind I've met at 22. Taylor Embree and Micah Kia are very well-spoken. I gotta think most are pretty intelligent.

6) Who on this team would you say are going to for sure be drafted in the NFL? Who are on closer on the borderline? - Tien
This year, I expect Verner, Carter, the Bosworths and Logan Paulsen to be drafted. Austin, Paulsen and the Bosworths all have the same issue - size - so it will be interesting to see how they end up. Then there's Brian Price...and we'll find that out later.

7) I can only remember 2 or 3 blitzes the entire game. 90% of the time our defense was lining up with 4 guys in the box against an offense that we knew was going to be run happy. What is your take on the logic behind that defensive scheme (including almost zero pass rushes)? - Reformed Droog
Blitzing is not designed against the run, but against the pass. The Bruins schemed for the run, missed some tackles, were out of position a lot, and were exploited in the passing game. I don't think it had to do with not enough blitzing.

8) Any criticisms of Neuheisel over this past weekend? Over the season? - Anonymous
My only criticism is that there absolutely needs - needs - to be more of an effort to get the ball in the hands of Thigpen, Carroll and Presley. I know they're young. I know they're inexperienced. I get it. But they're talented. They can get up field. The Bruins need to get up field. Pretty simple.

9) I won't have to ask as soon as I learn to lip read but does Neuheisel interject himself into the play calling as much as it seems? - Johnny Angel
Neuheisel said today that play-calling was Chow's gig, and that he'll chime in every so often when he feels the need.

10) How is Rahim Moore feeling? Will he play against Oregon? What is the Bullough's backup plan if both Moore and ATV are out? How will the deal with a spread offense? - Anonymous
Moore appears to be fine, but Neuheisel said tomorrow will tell. I expect him to play. If Moore is out, Glenn Love is in. If ATV is out, Viney is in.

ESPN's Ted Miller is reporting that Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Massoli sat out practice on Monday...

No Massoli?

On the difference between Stanford's offense and Oregon's offense:
"Both offenses are very efficient offenses. They're certainly different in the style in which they play. You're moving into one who takes every snap in the gun and leaving one that puts seven offensive linemen in the game at different times. That's opposite ends of the spectrum. We have to be ready for all of them."

On handling Jeremiah Massoli:
"Tackle better. This is an offense because a quarterback is a viable running threat, you can have someone assigned, but that guy has to get him down. Last year, we didn't get him down. He just spun out of our arm ... He hasn't just done this against us. He's done it against a lot of teams. You've got a good a plan for him."

On using the speedy freshman recruits more often:
"We explore that all the time. Part of it, yeah, they go out there and they're not sure. Part of it is, we've got to force the issue. When Damien Thigpen went in the game, he was a breath of fresh air. He gave us a jolt. We need to get that from Randall Carroll and some of the other youngsters."
=
On Kevin Prince's return:
"We'll see how Kevin's is doing. We'll give him a chance to get him back in there with the ones. I've listed him at 'or', because I'm not sure. I'd love to see him be right where he was when he left off. If that's the case, then yeah, Kevin's in there. If there's rustiness, and things worry us, then we'll have to make that decision, too."

On what Kevin Prince provides:
"I think the reasons we chose Kevin Prince in the begin are still the reason. He's got a big arm, he can put the ball at all portions of the field. We need to keep working on some of that downfield throwing. He gives us a chance to do that."

On Kevin Prince being able to return smoothly:
"It's very difficult if you've not been able to do anything. If you're just sitting around, which was the case when I tried to get back. It takes a while to get your legs back. That hasn't been the case with Kevin Prince. He's been able to throw, run, do everything quarterbacks do. H just hasn't been able to talk, which may be what quarterbacks do best."

On Christian Ramirez:
"We'd love to get Christian Ramirez going full speed. But I do believe we've got talented backs in Johnathan Franklin and Derrick Coleman and Milton Knox and Damien Thigpen. I'm waiting to see if Christian gets that little burst still. Right now he doesn't look full speed to me. I know he's feeling better, I just seen that burst yet."

Opening thoughts:
"I love everything about this job. I love the planning. I love the strategy involved. I love the interaction with young people. I love recruiting. I like alumni. I even like emails from disgruntled alumni
I just don't like losing. The key is getting rid of that feeling as quickly as humanly poss. Were on to the next game; it's a great test for us. It's fun to think about playing the No. 13 team in the country in the rose bowl. We had a good game with us a year ago. They got us in the end. But our guys are going to respond in the exact right way. Every time we've asked them too, including being down 24-6 in this last game and battling back with a chance to tie it. I still feel good about our program. We're still relentlessly positive. We've just got to get better on both sides of the ball."

On the Stanford loss being a momentary setback or symptomatic of what ails UCLA:
"I think momentary setback. You have to give credit to Stanford. They played very, very well. They had one turnover in the game in the first drive that we turned into points. A couple of things that could have been plays for us that didn't turn out that way. They made their big plays. The flea flicker and another big deep ball that got them down inside the 10. In terms of what ails us, we'd like, to get chunks of big yardage too, we just haven't had the ability to get that done. That's one thing that does ail us, and we have to keep looking for chances for some chunks of yardage."

On not converting long plays against Stanford:
"It isn't that we haven't called it. Sometimes when you call things, different things pop up within the defense. We did have the op against Kansas State and we hit it for a touchdown. Part of it is wanting to stay within the comfort zone of players who are on the field. Some of it is bad luck in terms of timing."

On not hitting the deep pass:
"It's a combination of things. Sometimes protection is not quite holding up long enough to hit the ball downfield. Sometimes it's a pressure that you have to throw the ball hot rather than get the ball down the filed. Sometimes it's a quarterback seeing something else and taking something that isn't as big as a play as you might have had. We need to keep bringing focus to it.
"I feel that we've got the best play-caller in the business in the standpoint of calling his spots. I'm not going to second guess him. You don't have to go back very far to see plays that are very explosive."

On the Wildcat formation with Christian Ramirez for one play:
"We jumped offsides, were trying to figure out exactly why. Because it was new for Christian, and didn't know if there wasn't some unsettling, we just decided it wasn't prudent to go back to it."

On his role in the play-calling:
"I just follow along and keep reminding about situations. I look on the list and try to give up ideas that haven't been thought of. Again, its timing. You don't want to be so vocal that you're interrupting the rhythm of the play callers. We saw a lot more nickel, which means a lot more Two High, which means you have to be a lot more underneath. The chances were diminished when you get that. It isn't lost on us that we haven't been a downfield offense. Especially as we keep bringing in more speed."

On the deep pass:
"You have to be able to stretch the field both horizontally and vertically. Everybody just wants to see deep balls. Long throws in the air, it's exciting. It's a big play. It's like a play at the plate loves to see it and see what's going to happen to happen with the ball in the air. But you have to have the ability to make them play the entire field before you start seeing the heave and hoes."

On the sky is falling mentality after one loss:
"If we can find a way to win this weekend, it will be, 'Look, here come the Bruins.' It's a great time of year, and we can't wallow in the pity of a defeat. We have to focus on the task at hand which is to get ready for the No. 13 team in the country and be excited about it. Use all the stuff that churns competitive people into a positive and get it done.
"Look at Oregon. They took one on the chin in the opening game and you would've thought the sky has fallen with all the stuff that'd gone on with the program. Four weeks later, they're the No. 13 team in the country."

The UCLA vs. Cal game will be televised on ABC, with kickoff scheduled for 12:30.
It will be UCLA's third straight week on ABC (Oct. 3 at Stanford, Oct. 10 vs. Oregon, Oct. 17 vs. California).

Mater Dei offensive lineman Chris Ward had to postpone his official visit to Cal this weekend because of a knee injury suffered in the Monarchs' game Thursday night.
He does not believe the injury is serious, possibly just an aggravation of an existing injury.
The cancellation of the trip will likely postpone his college commitment until closer to signing day, though.
I'll try to talk to him today and get some info out of him.

Saw this on The Receptionist's Twitter:

"Feelin sick rt now, possibilty I might have the flu, so pray for me to have a speedy recovery bcuz I'm tryin to play this week!"

That would be a huge loss for Oregon...

I've got answers...

So I did a little more thinking on the Q&A, and it just naturally makes sense to me to answer throughout the week, perhaps a set per day.

Fire away, and if there are enough questions by tomorrow, you'll get the dish sooner than later.

Thanks guys
JG

On Stanford converting third downs:
"They converted when they needed a play. A couple big runs, a couple big passes. We had a couple busted coverages. We focused a lot on the running, he's their workhorse. It's not that we didn't plan for the passing - they converted and they hurt us."

On having a back like Gerhart in the red zone:
"It's absolutely nicer when you have a back like that, a bigger back, a more powerful back. we have some guys who can do that, but it seemed like today, we just couldn't. We hjave a multitude of backs, but when we get in the red zone we need to score. We didnt, and he powered through."

On Stanford's offense:
"They have a good offensive line and a good back, and that's a tandem that's hard to go against. We practiced against the plays they showed us. We just haeve to go back and make sure were tackling and doing things correctly."

On penalties:
"Penalties hurt us bad...again. We were off the field and then we got a penalty. The guys were in position to make plays, they just have to make them."

On having too many 3-and-outs:
"It's really frustrating...it kills us. That and not scoring in the red zone. I don't know man. These are things we have to step up in practice. "

On what the offense needs:
"Our scout team needs to be more aggressive for us. Consistency in practice - sometimes what we do in a game is what we've done in practice."

On the play calls:
"I'm always hungry for the ball, but I can't question the play-calling of a Norm Chow. Every play we call I believe in, and that's just the way it goes sometimes."

On the defensive backs performance against Toby Gerhart:
"They ran a lot of play action and we had been focusing on the run so much, we got out of position. We had deep responsibilty, but we cheated up a bit. Toby's a great back, so we had to cheat up to give up some respect. Then they got us a little bit on play action."

On playing off-coverage instead of press:
"They didn't want us getting so focused on the press that we would lose our responsibilty in the run game. I'm probably more comfortable pressing because that's one of the strengths of my game. But off-coverage, I'm gradually getting better, trying to work on it. No team can beat us running hitches all day. You can gain five, six yeards here or there, but you can't beat us with that."

On missing crucial plays:
"We just have to buckle down and make the play, make the stop. We were there. We had a couple third downs where we could have stopped them. We were there. We just didn't make the plays."

Gamer

Good Luck

Moore Problems

Hey guys,

I'm out of Palo Alto in about one hour, so I'll try to post some stuff when I land, but I'll definitely have a TON of stuff tomorrow.

Thanks for checking in
Jon

The Bruins had just about their first reason to smile on a 73-yard drive to close the gap to 11. Damien Thigpen had three carries for 28 yards, and Johnathan Franklin had a 1-yard touchdown run.
Drive Time: 10 plays, 73 yards, 4:49

With the game effectively out of reach, UCLA has put freshman running back Damien Thigpen in the game, and he has been very effective on his first three plays, gaining 28 yards on three carries so far. He simply ran by three Stanford defenders on his first carry.

Stanford went up 24-6 on a Nate Whitaker 29-yard field goal. Toby Gerhart continued his assault on the Vruins, as he's racked up 115 yards on 25 carries with three scores. Gerhart had two nice receptions on the drive for 24 yards as the Cardinal marched down the field.

Drive time: 10 plays, 52 yards, 5:55

Stanford put together a magnificent 75-yard drive without a third down, the Bruin backbreaker coming on a 46-yard pass from Andrew Luck to Ryan Whalen on a flea flicker.
Toby Gerhart bullied his way into the end zone for his third touchdown of the game to complete the drive.

Drive Time: 6 plays, 75 yards, 3:40

UCLA safety Rahim Moore suffered a concussion on his big hit of Stanford's Coby Fleener and is out for the rest of the game.

UCLA trails STanford 14-6 at the half, the difference bettwen two offensise that have performed vastly different in the red zone. Stanford was able to punch in a pair of touchdowns by Toby Gerhart, while UCLA settled for a pair of Kai Forbath field goals, unable to convert key plays deep in Stanford territory.

The Bruins defensive line alternates between huge push and complete ineffectiveness, as Brian Price and Datone Jones have come up with huge individual plays while the rest of the D-Line can't break through.

Something to ask about: After Johnathan Franklin picked up six yards to give UCLA a 2nd-and-4 at the Stanford 11-yard line, Norm Chow called two straight passes, even though Franklin had been running well.

Any questions, folks?

UCLA put together a beautiful two-minute drill, with Craft completing 6-of-6 passes for 50 yards. Nelson Rosario came up big, with two catches for 28 yards on the drive.
Kai Forbath capped it off with a 34-yard field goal.

Drive Time: 7 plays, 58 yards, 1:07

Stanford went up by 11 on another Toby Gerhart touchdown run. Gerhart busted up the middle for a 10-yard score, after the Cardinal were given new life following a Rahim Moore personal foul penalty and subsequent shoulder injury.
Gerhart also had a 20-yard run, and Andrew Luck found Chris Owusu for a 20-yard gain on the drive.

Drive Time: 10 plays, 83 yards, 5:03

Stanford responded to UCLA's field goal with a scoring drive of their own, capped off by a Toby Gerhart five-yard touchdown run.
Gerhart picked up a pair of great kickout blocks on the play, with fullback Owen Marecic pounding Alterraun Verner and Ryan Whalen blocking Kyle Bosworth.
The big play, though came on a 40-yard connection from Andrew Luck to Whalen right passed the fingers of Sheldon Price.

Drive Time: 11 plays, 80 yards, 5:40

UCLA got on the board first after Akeem Ayers gave the offense the ball at the Stanford 45-yard line. Ayers forced and recovered a Chris Owusu fumble, and the drive resulted in a 29-yard field goal by Kai Forbath.
Kevin Craft kept the drive going with a phenomenal 31-yard pass to Terrence Austin, picking up a perfect block from Derrick Coleman out of the backfield.

Drive Time: 9 plays, 45 yards, 2:59

Here's my preview feature for today:

UCLA on top...for how long?

Wanted to start an in-game Q&A today because we still haven't figured out how to restart the in-game chats.

Fire away, and I'll wait until I get a couple and then respond, and so on.

Thanks
Jon

Hey guys,

Stanford Stadium is still nearly empty an hour before game time, but there appears to be a decent crowd based on the traffic.

Until we get the in-game chat figured out, I'm going to go with an in-game Q&A, so I'll set that up in a few, and you all can get rolling.

Stay tuned for updates throughout the game...

Thanks
JG

NBC on the arrival of Neuheisel and this season's success:

The "other" team in town

USC-Cal.
UCLA-Stanford.
It's on.

One Big Day

Hey folks,

Travel day for me, so I'll be gone for most of the day, but hopefully I can load some stuff up for you. I'm expecting to hear from a big recruit today, and possibly from a former UCLA All-American.

There are several good stories on the UCLA-Stanford game out there, so I'll toss those up, too.

Thanks for reading,
JG

On Thursday's practice:
"We're very much looking forward to the game. We have to get our guys nailing down the finer points of the plan. They're well aware this is going to be a physical test. So far, they've met them."

On only traveling 64 players in the Pac-10
"That stinks, it absolutely stinks. It's the rule, but it's not a good rule. I understand the economics, and we're all team players, but you get players to come to your school, and they ought to be able to go on trips. We're having to leave good football players behind. It's probably a necessary rule, but it's a poor choice in my mind."

On going into the game under the radar:
"We had a spirited game with them a year ago, and I think it'd be a mistake for us to think we're sneaking in. We have to go in there and understand that they're going to be a proud football team, one that's expecting to win. We have to go in there and do all the work up until game time to expect the same."

On avoiding an injury bug that so plagued them last season:
"It keeps some consistency in our lineups. I'm knocking on wood that we're healthy now. We're going to play a very physical game, and let's hope we can come out of it healthy."

On getting one road game out of the way before Stanford:
"There's no more spookiness about the road, it's now about playing well. We now have to work, charge, keep grinding so that we can earn the right to be a better team."

UCLA is planning on hosting the following four this weekend:

Josh Smith

Ray McCallum

Trey Zeigler

Tyler Lamb

In ten minutes, a poll will go up regarding the final score of the UCLA-Stanford game on Saturday.
Read the poll, vote, and comment with your predicted final score. Users must not be anonymous to be eligible for the, um, prize. I'll need an email address, or at least confirmation that the winner does in fact get the prize.
What's the prize?
The winner will get to offer 10 questions that I'll ask a player of their choosing at practice, within boundaries. Nothing too personal, but questions such as favorite pregame meal or best hype-up song should be fine. I won't ask about personal relationships or recruiting to an active player, though, so keep that in mind.

If this works, it can be a running feature...
Let me know your thoughts,
JG

ESPN blogger says Stanford's home-field advantage too much for UCLA...

21-17 Stanford

Here's my feature today on Stanford's Chris Owusu, who has returned three kickoffs for touchdowns this year...

Owusu

On a potential 4-0 start:
"I'm sure if we do win, people will start talking a little bit better about us, but I'd rather them not. So far, they've been talking bad about us, and we've been doing well. Keep treating us like dirt, and we'll just keep playing football."

On losing a game in the last 10 seconds:
"It sits with you, it sits with you a while. I know it happened to me when I was a freshman against Notre Dame. I guess you kind of use that as fuel to feed your fire, but it's a new year, and regardless of how mad you are, you still have to come out and play the game."

On Toby Gerhart:
"I'm happy he's getting pub. He's the best back in the Pac-10. The greatest. I hope that everybody believes that. I'm looking forward to playing him this week to show what I can do against the greatest back ever."

On the Craft-to-Harkey touchdown:
"We had to score. There wasn't anything but a few seconds left. We called an empty formation, and there was a little confusion on their part. We didn't have anyone open, but we practice a scramble drill, and Harkey realized what was going on."

On the Stanford win last year:
"Obviously it was a nice win, and I don't want to demean that. But this is another year, another time. We never look beyond the next game, we never look back to far. This is coach-speak, I know. But it's the truth. We don't talk about anything else."

On the importance of a 3-0 start:
"It plays a big role in giving the younger guys confidence going into the game. Knowing that we have to keep the streak going and keep our momentum flowing is going to give us that little boost that the team needs."

On possibly moving to 4-0:
"Our main goal isn't to protect our record; we can't take no chances on other teams losing or hoping this or that happens. We've got to keep the ball in our court, keep winning. So far, Stanford's on the top, and we have to take what is ours, not leave our fate in other people's hands."

On the UCLA running game matching up with Stanford's:
"There's been a lot of talk about that, but I think up guys up front are ready. We're ready to prove ourselves, get the respect we deserve."