Quotables: Kevin Prince
You seemed to have a bit of an edge in spring ball compared to last season. Getting a little cocky?
Kevin Prince: "It's not cockiness, it's more of just a self-confidence after going through a season and playing a significant amount. Going into last season, there were those doubts. I hadn't played for two years, it was my first time in a division one college situation. Now, knowing I can do it, knowing I can practice, knowing I can work hard, it brings a lot of self-confidence. I expect myself to do a lot better than last year. I don't expect to be the greatest in the nation, but one of my goals is to be one of the top QBs in the Pac-10, if not the top QB in the conference."
Do you feel the pressure to deliver - and deliver big - in year three?
KP: "Any new coaching staff, the third year is the one. We've improved so far - not drastically - but this third year is the make-or-break year. Being the third-year for coach Neuheisel and Coach Chow, I think it really will be a big season for us. We can't take any steps backward. We have to go forward, and it can't just be a little bit."
Talk about how Joseph Fauria affects you on the field:
KP: "We went to high school together, and it's nice to have someone who's on the same page all the time. I've been with Joe for so long now. It will be crucial for us to keep him healthy. He'll be a big target for us on the field, and he'll be a good presence. When it comes down to it, the game is on the line, he steps up."
What is your stake in the team this year, how much more responsible do you feel for the team's success?
KP: "It's much more than last year. Being a year older, being a year more experienced, now having down two rounds of spring practice, my third training camp - I feel much more in control of everything. Definitely more responsible for how the season goes. I'm not saying I'm going to help win us or lose us games, but I hope I'm going to be a guy people look up to."
Do you get the feeling like there's been a flip of roles with the defense, after it lost so many impact players?
KP: "We lost some big-time guys on defense, but I still feel like we have a solid defense. More than ever now, it's on us. We kind of relied on the defense to get us through the year. Now, we might rely on us. We accept that responsibility and relish it. It's exciting to have that responsibility."
For anyone who cares about seasonal UCLA Sports:
The USA TODAY/ESPN Baseball Top 25 Coaches' Poll through May 23, 2010 has UCLA (41-11) at #7.
ESPN's resident NCAA baseball bracketologist, Jeremy Mills, offered his latest projections featuring the Pac-10's Arizona State, as the #2 seed and UCLA as the # 6 seed.
Since losing 3 straight to AZ St in early May, UCLA has won 11 of 12, with 4 more games to go against Pepperdine (1) and Washington State.
Thanks for the interview with Kevin, Jon. He didn't express a great deal of confidence in himself or in the team. Perhaps he was just being conservative. I hope he gets a bit mote fired up as the season approaches.
"Now, knowing I can do it, knowing I can practice, knowing I can work hard, it brings a lot of self-confidence."
"I feel much more in control of everything"
"We accept that responsibility and relish it. It's exciting to have that responsibility."
What's wrong with that??
We have a brutal schedule this year. Even if we only win 6 games, that shows improvement to me. Last year we didn't have to play at KSU, at Texas, at Cal, at Autzen, at UW. These are tough games, not to mention Houston will be ranked when they come to town. They also have 9 returning starters from an offense that averaged more than 500 yards per game, and have a Heisman candidate at QB that threw for for nearly 5700 yards and 44 TDs last year. They also beat #5 OK St. in Stillwater last year. And then there's SC...... Bruins have the toughest schedule in the country this year.
It Sounds like Kevin Prince is almost as dumb as Jill Painter
James Earl said:
"It Sounds like Kevin Prince is almost as dumb as Jill Painter"
Or James Earl
What if Rick only wins 5 games next year, will that be improvement?
Wear twins sign with UCLA...
http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/052510aaa.html