Monthly Archives: December 2013

Sun Bowl at a glance: No. 17 UCLA vs. Virginia Tech

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No. 17 UCLA (9-3, 6-3 Pac-12) vs. Virginia Tech (8-4, 5-3 ACC)
Location: Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, Texas; Dec. 31, 11 a.m. PT
TV: CBS (Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson, Tracy Wolfson)
Radio: AM 570 (Chris Roberts, Matt Stevens, Wayne Cook)

Last meeting: This is the first meeting between Virginia Tech and UCLA.

Key storylines: Only seven UCLA teams have ever won 10 games in a season, the last one being the 2005 squad helmed by Drew Olson. Jim Mora has the Bruins on the right path with a second straight nine-win campaign despite a tougher schedule, but getting that double-digit milestone would make a nice selling point for the program. Continue reading “Sun Bowl at a glance: No. 17 UCLA vs. Virginia Tech” »

UCLA running backs all healthy for the first time

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At long last, UCLA will have a full stable of backs. Head coach Jim Mora said starter Jordon James, Paul Perkins, Damien Thigpen, Malcolm Jones and Steve Manfro should be 100 percent healthy heading into the Sun Bowl next Tuesday.

“They all looked really sharp out here today,” Mora said. “It’s probably been since training camp that we can say that. … It’s probably the first game that they’ve all been ready to go. So we’ll have to find a way to get them all reps.” Continue reading “UCLA running backs all healthy for the first time” »

Isaako Savaiinaea ready for larger role in Sun Bowl

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With inside linebacker Eric Kendricks sidelined following ankle surgery, UCLA will rely instead on true freshman Isaako Savaiinaea.

Replacing the team’s leading tackler won’t be easy, but Savaiinaea has some experience trying to fill the void. After playing nearly an entire half at Stanford on Oct. 19 after Kendricks left with injury, the Hawaii native got his first career start two weeks later in a win over Colorado. He had six solo tackles.

“It was night and day,” Savaiinaea said of the two outings. “There was a big difference (in) … my patience and my feet. I had a little happy feet at Stanford. Just calming that down. Technique. That was the main thing.”

Defensive lineman Brandon Tuliaupupu to transfer out

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After sitting out this season with a torn ACL, redshirt sophomore Brandon Tuliaupupu will transfer out of UCLA. The defensive lineman has already been removed from the team’s official roster. According to the Los Angeles Times, his likely destinations are Cal Poly, UC Davis or Sacramento State.

During spring practices, Tuliaupupu had split first-team reps at nose tackle with senior Seali’i Epenesa before injuring his knee. Once the season progressed, however, even Epenesa lost reps to true freshman Kenny Clark — who ended the season with two official starts, but was playing a de facto first-string role by the end of the season.

Redshirt freshman Eli Ankou is the only other nose tackle listed on the depth chart, though sophomore Ellis McCarthy can also play there. UCLA has a verbal commitment from 2014 tackle Ainuu Taua, rated the ninth-best prospect in California by Rivals.com.

Pac-12 links: Wilcox, Aliotti leaving Washington, Oregon

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— Oregon defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti will retire after 21 seasons (over three stints) with the Ducks. The 59-year-old spent the 1998 season at UCLA prior to his most recent stretch in Eugene.

— Washington defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox will join Steve Sarkisian at USC after the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.

— Forbes examines the importance of luck in the rise of Oregon football. Continue reading “Pac-12 links: Wilcox, Aliotti leaving Washington, Oregon” »