Tag Archives: Foster Farms Bowl

UCLA offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone present at practices

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UCLA offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone is still questionable to coach in the Foster Farms Bowl on Saturday, but his health seems to have improved since his hospitalization last week.

Mazzone is currently in San Francisco with the rest of the team and has been present at the Bruins’ practices.

“He’s not feeling great, but you know Noel — he coaches ball,” head coach Jim Mora said Tuesday. “He loves that game environment. I don’t know. I believe he’ll be at the game. I’m not quite sure what his role will be yet.

“The important thing here — that’s a serious medical condition that he has — is we make sure that he’s safe.”

The 58-year-old Mazzone had been hospitalized with a blood clot in his lung, according to Bruin Report Online, but reappeared at UCLA’s practice last Thursday. Mora declined to go into the specifics of UCLA’s contingency plan if Mazzone cannot coach, but expressed confidence that the Bruins will be prepared to face Nebraska even if his assistant has to remain at the hotel.

“I think that’s one of the benefits of having a staff that’s been together, that’s had continuity,” Mora said. “It allows you to be able to adjust quickly when things like this happen.”

UCLA OC Noel Mazzone still uncertain for Foster Farms Bowl

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After being hospitalized earlier this week, UCLA offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone’s status remains uncertain for the Bruins’ season finale in the Foster Farms Bowl.

Head coach Jim Mora said that Mazzone, 58, is “doing OK,” though he probably shouldn’t have pushed himself to attend Thursday’s practice. The assistant coach has a doctor’s appointment on Monday morning that will help determine his availability, and may be able to travel up to the Bay Area by car after that.

“We’ll have to play it by ear,” Mora said. “The most important thing right now is just his health. That’s a serious deal that he has. Probably pushed it a little bit, which is typical. I don’t think there’s any setbacks. We’ve just got to make sure we’re really careful with that.”

If Mazzone can’t call plays against Nebraska in the 6:15 p.m. kickoff on Dec. 26, Mora said the effort will be “a collaboration” between the coaching staff. One possibility would be for Mazzone to sit up in the Levi’s Stadium press box in Santa Clara rather than on the sidelines — an option that might shield him from some of the emotion of the game.

“It’s kind of touch and go right now,” Mora said. “My gut feeling is that he will be able to.”

Nebraska coach Mike Riley praises UCLA QB Josh Rosen

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Nebraska coach Mike Riley hasn’t had a chance to scout UCLA in depth yet, but knew the reputation of at least one player: Josh Rosen.

Riley will be coaching against the Bruins and their “outstanding freshman quarterback” — as he said of Rosen on Monday — on Dec. 26 in the Foster Farms Bowl in Santa Clara. The former Oregon State coach recently talked to Washington’s Chris Petersen, who said of Rosen: “That guy is for real.”

Riley’s Nebraska tenure started off with a loss thanks to another freshman quarterback in BYU’s Tanner Mangum. Relieving injured starter Taysom Hill, Mangum ended his debut appearance with a 42-yard Hail Mary, giving the Cougars a 33-28 win in Lincoln, Neb.

Mangum finished the regular season with 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions, completing 62.1 percent of his passes for 3,062 yards. Rosen heads into his first bowl game with 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions to go with 3,350 yards on 59.5 percent passing.

UCLA to play Nebraska in Foster Farms Bowl

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UCLA will end its season a day after Christmas.

The Bruins (8-4) have been officially picked to play in the Foster Farms Bowl at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, with a 6:15 p.m. kickoff on Dec. 26 set against Nebraska (5-7). This will be UCLA’s third meeting with the Cornhuskers in four years, after sweeping a home-and-home series in 2012 and 2013.

Bowl officials have been high on the Bruins due to the school’s strong alumni presence in the Bay Area, as well as the close proximity that would allow fans in Los Angeles to drive up on the day of the game.

The matchup also pits fourth-year UCLA coach Jim Mora against Mike Riley for the second time. Riley handed Mora his first loss in the college ranks in 2012, when Oregon State defeated the Bruins, 27-20, at the Rose Bowl to open Pac-12 play.