At a glance: No. 21 UCLA vs. Nevada

No. 21 UCLA (0-0) vs. Nevada (0-0)
Location: Rose Bowl, 7 p.m. PT
TV: Pac-12 Networks (Kevin Calabro, Yogi Roth, Jill Savage)
Radio: 570 AM (Chris Roberts, Matt Stevens, Wayne Cook)

Last meeting: This is the first-ever meeting between UCLA and Nevada.
2012 records: Bruins (9-5, 6-3 Pac-12); Wolf Pack (7-6, 4-4 MWC)

Key storylines: Nevada enters life post-Chris Ault, the legendary coach who pioneered the pistol offense. Returning starters and staff members — including offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich — will help maintain continuity, but new head coach Brian Polian must prove that he’s capable of being more than just an assistant. Continue reading “At a glance: No. 21 UCLA vs. Nevada” »

Jim Mora says to give his UCLA depth chart ‘zero credence’

When he wants to be, Jim Mora is as good an interview subject as any head football coach in the country: candid, witty, opinionated. There’s a reason that his transition from the NFL to college was bridged by a stint in the broadcast studio.

Then there’s the self-admitted “paranoid” side, the part that makes him loath to do anything that he doesn’t deem necessary. Take the tentative depth chart he released Monday night, one that goes four or five players deep at certain positions.

“Here’s how much credence I would put in the depth chart,” Mora said Tuesday afternoon, squeezing his right thumb against his index finger. “None.” Continue reading “Jim Mora says to give his UCLA depth chart ‘zero credence’” »

Linebacker Anthony Barr: ‘You can’t keep me off the field’


Linebacker Anthony Barr returned to practice this week from an undisclosed head injury, saying Tuesday that he’s felt 100 percent for “some time now.”

Although he did not disclose the exact nature of his injury beyond being “dinged up,” it’s something he thinks football players probably go through often — even if it goes unspoken. “Players don’t like to talk about that stuff,” Barr said.

After sustaining the injury last week, the All-American linebacker vomited on the sideline before being led out of the facility. Still, he said he never doubted that his status for Saturday’s season opener against Nevada: “You’re not gonna keep me off the field.”

Pac-12 links: Quarterback battles and recruiting hostesses

» Mike Riley finally named junior Sean Mannion his starting quarterback over senior Cody Vaz. Offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf said Mannion won’t need to look over his shoulder.

» Oregon announced its two-deep yesterday. Starting at defensive end is Tony Washington, whose father died of a heart attack exactly four years ago. He was 48.

» An upcoming book on college football called “The System” alleges that Lane Kiffin paid hostesses to help close the deal with recruits — the subject of an NCAA investigation in 2009. Reporters Armen Keteyian and Jeff Benedict got Lacey Pearl Earps, the most infamous of the hostesses, to speak on record for the first time. It’s far from the best tidbit in what Y! Sports columnist Dan Wetzel called “the best book on the sport written in years.” Continue reading “Pac-12 links: Quarterback battles and recruiting hostesses” »