Plus 2: Bruin Defense Throttles ASU To Deliver UCLA's 6th Win In Neuheisel's 2nd Season in Westwood
by Nestor on Nov 21, 2009 4:52 PM PST
in Football
241 comments
Flashback to October 25 of this season when following a deflating loss against Arizona, we put up the following laying out how Rick Neuheisel had to deliver 6 wins this season:
All I can say at this point, I am going to wait and see whether the coaches can deliver 6 wins. I still think we have a shot of getting to 6 wins by taking care of business against Washington and Arizona State at home, and then executing our game play against (what I think will be an inspired Cougar bunch) Washington State in Pullman. If Rick Neuheisel wants to make a tangible case that UCLA football is headed towards right direction under his leadership, he needs to get us those three wins in 2009 and then build on it with at least 7 wins (and a victory over Southern Cal) in 2010. He has to get it done.
Well heading into that special game of the regular season (no reason to calling that game against the Trojies big, we will just call it special), it looks like Rick Neuheisel has gotten it done. His team delivered that 6th win (becoming bowl eligble), by slugging out Arizona State Sun Devils by a score of 23-13. Here is the box score. Well here is our official thank you coach for getting that done.
In his second season in Westwood, Neuheisel has now established tangible signs of improvement by winning 2 more games, and showing progress in number of different aspects of the team (not including his fantastic recruit effort to date). In other words Neuehisel now has "plus 2 factor" to pitch to more recruits and fire up the alumni/student base in Bruin Naiton. Not only that. During the three game win streak this November, Rick Neuheisel's program proved to rest of the world, despite the constant negativity and hit jobs from the traditional media, his players and coaches never gave up on each other.
Bruins kept fighting, scratching and clawing away, showing the relentless optimism and tenacity of their head coach in the face of skepticism from most of outside world not bleeding Bruin blue and gold. That is something everyone in this community and the greater Bruin family should be proud of towards the waning weeks of Neheisel's second season in Westwood. More on the game and thoughts on "Beat $C*" game week after the jump.
So the Bruins get it done on senior day riding the efforts of ATV, Akeem Ayers, Chane Moline, Reggie Carter and Brian Price. 17 of our 23 points came courtesy of explosive efforts of our inspired defense. Here is our box score. As mentioned in the second half thread, it was ATV setting the tone with his pick 6 and fumble recovery. Then it was Akeem Ayers and Brian Price teaming up to blow up the Sun Devil offense. Price and Ayers were nothing short of spectacular. What Price did was even more special made by the fact that it was probably his last game at the Rose Bowl.
On the offensive side, Bruins were able to move the ball against Arizona State's vaunted defense. However, just when it looked like they were getting in rhythm they kept coming just a little short because of self inflicted mistakes and penalties (as a team today we were penalized a whooping 11 times for 100 yards). Still we got a decent effort from Kevin Prince who did manage the game well, by picking up some tough and gutty yards on the ground. And it was Chane - the Train - Moline, who helped us eat the clocking by grinding out 84 yards in 25 carries. Not bad for his last game in the Rose Bowl.
Bruins now of course get ready for Petey's bunch who has had a week to lick their wounds after getting embarrassed and humiliated by the Trees a the Mosoleum. There is no doubt Chetey is going to have his boys fired up as he knows that if he somehow chokes against UCLA as the underdogs, his illegal (allegedly) empire officially crumble in the City of Angels.
This week is going to be fun getting ready to play the most scandalous and (allegedly) corrupt program in college athletics (and an underachieving bunch in recent seasons). There is no doubt the Bruins will have a great week practice building on the positive vibes from today and a 3-0 record in November. We still have a lot to work on. We have to clean up our mistakes on offense. We still can be more polished with our special teams and we will continue to come up with ways of being creative on defense (as we have seen some hints of it in last couple of weeks).
Of course will we have lot more on this in game as we get ready for an amazing game week. It is going to be fun. It is going to be emotional and it is going to blow up this place with anticipation. With that let's get the post game senior day victory party started. If you have quick thoughts, takes fire them up here. If you have detailed observations and reflections you want to share, please put them in fanposts. I will leave with this quick thought... BEAT $C*.
GO BRUINS.
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The fact that DirecTV got rid of Versus network
…was news to me. http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/article.jsp?assetId=P6220002
by Space_Monkey on Nov 21, 2009 5:08 PM PST up reply actions
man, if you call directv
they ralley on versus for about 2 minutes, same with versus if you actually get the channel. It is getting pretty nasty. Has been that way since September though.
Ridiculous
Two top-25 teams in a major rivalry game relegated to a channel nobody gets.
by gradstudentbruin on Nov 21, 2009 6:23 PM PST up reply actions
Now its time for the SC talk!!!!!!
BRING IT ON BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
all Beat $C* Weeks are special
but I think this one will be the most anticipated one in Bruin Nation in 10 years. We will be the underdogs (especially against Joe McKnight) but I don’t care. This is going to be awesome.
Been reading BN since around '04
Yup, haven’t been this pumped in a long time. Last time was after we beat SC 13-9…
"around '04"
Yeah, not sure of the exact date…
by Bruin'96 on Nov 21, 2009 7:17 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
I hope Mark May has a grief counselor
Formerly ryebreadraz
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Nov 21, 2009 5:27 PM PST up reply actions
Brett Musberger and Kirk Herbstreit
I am sure will also be sitting in that counselor’s waiting room.
Petition the BCS to take over Notre Dame's 9-win exemption
Of course, they would be the type to look ahead of the final 2 games.
Well said
We need a Blue Ribbon panel to determine whether to form a special commission to decide if an official investigation should be undertaken to find a dry eye in this community over the failure of the most corrupt athletic program in the history of western civilization to make it to the Rose Bowl. I know of a possible chair for the Blue Ribbon panel—he has lot of time on his hands and he is an experienced investigator—having spent like a ton of time looking for the real “killers” of his estranged wife and her innocent friend. That’s right folks, Nevada license plate manufacturer extraordinare O. Simpson (I forgot his middle initial) can chair this panel and find a dry eye in this house over this joyous turn of events. Good luck inmate Simpson!
just one thought for now
BEAT SC!!!!!!
"If you don't take out his battery, he's going to keep going all day."
by S Jay Bruin on Nov 21, 2009 5:14 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Big Game Week
Only one thing to say……BEAT $C!!!!!!!!!!!!
by CoronaBruin on Nov 21, 2009 5:30 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Going +2
is great.
What I like more is that we have won the games we were supposed to win, and at least one more.
We have been in all of our games and could have won some we lost. We’ve never given up in any game.
Despite what the MSM would like us to believe, this team and coaching staff have stayed together through thick and thin.
We are a young team. But for a rash of penalties by one of our seniors, many of the mistakes were made by younger players.
Even though people were complaining about CNC, he clearly knew what this team could handle. As we improved, he opened up the offense. We have been running plays we can run — I’ve never felt our O was out of control.
We are where we should be.
And, next weekend sc will learn that.
sjh
by Class of 66 on Nov 21, 2009 5:32 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Number 14
Although he has struggled at times this season, Kevin Prince has shown that he has the chops to be a top-flight QB. I remember a couple of other Bruin signal-callers who wore that jersey number and struggled their first season – and they turned out pretty good:
Tom Ramsey & Drew Olson
+1
Los Angeles Rams and the UCLA Bruins!!!!!
by Minnesota Bruinfan on Nov 21, 2009 6:23 PM PST up reply actions
Going bowling?
Here’s what I’ve got, let me know if I’m missing anything.
Possibilities:
- Beating USC (7 wins means probably the EagleBank Bowl in DC), OR
- Toledo beats Bowling Green on Friday (UCLA probably then goes to the New Mexico Bowl), OR
- Colorado State beats Wyoming on Friday (UCLA probably then goes to the Humanitarian Bowl in Boise), OR
- LA-Lafayette beats LA-Monroe tonight AND Troy beats Lafayette next week AND MTSU beats Monroe next week (though this assumes that the GMAC Bowl in Mobile takes us over a Louisiana team—pretty unlikely)
I just got back from the Rose Bowl
and the way I felt during the “Beat $C” chant led by Geoff Strand was one of the greatest feelings I’ve ever felt as a Bruin.
+1, +1, +1!!
I was pretty drained by the time we finally sealed the deal, but then the “Beat SC” chant got me going again. The players on the sideline were into it too.
Last weekend after the big Stanford win, the Wizard of Oz was on. Could only think of Cheatie when they sang Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead! I hope we bury that SOB.
Can it be Saturday already?
This is going to be a looooong week.
Formerly ryebreadraz
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Nov 21, 2009 6:07 PM PST reply actions
I'll probably be in that stadium
as soon as the gates open on Saturday. Patience and I are not friends.
Formerly ryebreadraz
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Nov 21, 2009 6:14 PM PST up reply actions
Anyone know the kickoff time?
If it’s an evening game, I’m on my own and I don’t think I’m up for South Central unaccompanied.
GO BRUINS!!!
by bruinchick on Nov 21, 2009 6:14 PM PST via mobile reply actions
mixed feelings here.
I’m geeked up about playing South Central next week.
But, I’m unhappy about how inept our offense looked again. Once again we settled for to many field goals. This is not a luxury we will have next week. I still like our chances, but if I were a Trojan I would be excited about playing us next week after watching that game.
A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment. John Wooden
I had no problem with our offensive play calling today
and being “concerned” about our offense is slightly misplaced today given we played the best defense in the conference. We got a victory today and at least for today … that matters a lot.
Not to mention
we had the edge in time of possession and racked up a decent amount of yardage, both on the ground and in the air. And, most importantly, we did not turn the ball over.
For the 1st time since ’98, we have the mental edge going into the SC game. We have a golden opportunity to swing the pendulum firmly in our direction heading into a new decade. I am extremely amped up for next week.
formerly godblesstyus95
The play calling was perfect today
We did to them what Oregon did to us: Got a lead on a team with serious offensive troubles, and played it conservatively. That’s a bad game plan for a team with even an average offense, but for a team with a terrible offense, it makes a world of sense.
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Nov 21, 2009 7:07 PM PST up reply actions
Are you out of your mind?
We were lucky to escape with a win. At least a couple times at the end of both the 1st half and the end of the game we made overly conservative play calls. We didn’t once go for the kill, not a single offensive TD.
by Seanny Rotten on Nov 21, 2009 7:24 PM PST up reply actions
We won...
the reality is that ASU is not offensively good enough to score very much unless you turn over the ball. There was no need in taking risks after building a two score lead against them. Ball control was fine against them…
it won’t be fine against SC or any of the better teams in conference, but it works fine against a team like ASU
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Nov 21, 2009 7:53 PM PST up reply actions
Play calling
Our offensive play calling has become – run, run, pass, kick. We do need to go for more touchdowns. I agree with Mexibruin and Seanny Rotten – we need to do more than kick fieldgoals especially against $c. We need to get the ball down the field, hold on to it and SCORE!
GO BRUINS – BEAT $c.
by Forever a Bruin on Nov 21, 2009 10:43 PM PST up reply actions
Why did you turn off the game after UCLA's first offensive possession?
Because as it turns out, that was the only one of the game that went “run, run, pass, kick.” Had you kept watching, you would have seen that UCLA ended up with a very well-balanced ledger of 36 rushes and 32 passes. However when you factor in that: six of those rushes came on scrambles by K. Prince, two more were kneel-downs, and that prior to those kneeldowns, we had run Moline on 10 consecutive plays to chew up clock w/ a 10 pt lead, then it appears that while the game was still in the balance, UCLA actually had a pass-dominant gameplan.
Now, you could be bothered that the passing calls weren’t more effective (only 50% completed), but the playcalling itself- which included multiple uses of the Wildcat, a flea-flicker, and a reverse- wasn’t really all that conservative.
by insomniacslounge on Nov 21, 2009 11:05 PM PST up reply actions
hard to say "mixed" but....
fact is our offense scored all of 6-points today. SIX. We won today… our defense had a huge game and helped us over a huge, HUGE bowl hump… but still the point remains: Next year’s challenge begins with a “T” and ends with an “N”.
GO BRUIN BLUE
I Have A Feeling....
That this next week is going to be a fun and exciting week!
BEAT SC!!!!!
Los Angeles Rams and the UCLA Bruins!!!!!
by Minnesota Bruinfan on Nov 21, 2009 6:24 PM PST reply actions
On Senior Day
It was the seniors (ATV, Bosworth Brothers, Chane) who stepped up today and delivered us the win. Great to see form some great Bruins!
As For This Next Week....
Anyone want to take a stab at what the line might be like?
Los Angeles Rams and the UCLA Bruins!!!!!
by Minnesota Bruinfan on Nov 21, 2009 7:01 PM PST reply actions
Wonder where that KAL team has been all year
another wasted season by Tedford…
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Nov 21, 2009 7:06 PM PST reply actions
'Zona Now Ahead Of Oregon 17-14
Quackeroos look like they’re in desperation mode right about now. Still, a LONG, long way to go in this one.
Also see that Stanford has narrowed the gap to 3 points against Cal which now leads 31-28.
Los Angeles Rams and the UCLA Bruins!!!!!
by Minnesota Bruinfan on Nov 21, 2009 7:23 PM PST reply actions
Can't Believe He Didn't See That Guy
Thing of it was, I THOUGHT Stanford was the best team in the Pac 10. But that big win against ’SC last weekend may have depleted them emotionally.
Los Angeles Rams and the UCLA Bruins!!!!!
by Minnesota Bruinfan on Nov 21, 2009 7:46 PM PST up reply actions
What Happened To That Vaunted Oregon Offense?
Los Angeles Rams and the UCLA Bruins!!!!!
by Minnesota Bruinfan on Nov 21, 2009 7:51 PM PST up reply actions
Arizona
or the winner of the Civil War (Oregon v. Oregon St.) will be Pac10 representative in RB.
Only Arizona controls its own destiny (provided they hold on).
formerly godblesstyus95
Are you sure
I thought if Oregon lost both, then OSU goes if it wins out and Zona wins out…
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Nov 21, 2009 7:54 PM PST up reply actions
Looks Like I Might Have Spoken Too Soon
Quacks TD slices ’Zona’s lead to 24-21.
Oregon desperately needed that one.
Los Angeles Rams and the UCLA Bruins!!!!!
by Minnesota Bruinfan on Nov 21, 2009 7:57 PM PST reply actions
So, what's worse for $UC?
Arizona or Oregon?
Troy will fall...again, again, and AGAIN!
SC is out of it
there is no scenario they get to the rose bowl now.
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Nov 21, 2009 8:09 PM PST up reply actions
It is a matter of which bowl, now
Best case for SC is likely an Arizona win. If SC were to win out, it would set up a multi-team tie for 2nd place with Arizona, Stanford, and the Ducks/OSU loser.
24-all in Tuscon
Ducks catch a big break when tehir FG attempt bounces off of, and then over the crossbar for the tying score.
Orgeon gonna tie it?
Troy will fall...again, again, and AGAIN!
Oregon Ties It Up
Line drive FG attempt hits the crossbar – and bounces over.
Shoot, wish that would have happened for us back in ‘89 against ’SC. I’ll never forget how the belly of that ball hit the crossbar – and bounced back out toward the field. I was like ARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Los Angeles Rams and the UCLA Bruins!!!!!
by Minnesota Bruinfan on Nov 21, 2009 8:10 PM PST reply actions
If anyone calls CRN conservative
they need to see Tedford who had a three point lead on the Stanford 10 and takes a knee on 3rd down to set up a field goal. Doesn’t even go for the endzone with stanford poor pass defense to win the game…
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Nov 21, 2009 8:10 PM PST reply actions
Stanford
just goes to show that $UC* is beatable. They will fall again.
Troy will fall...again, again, and AGAIN!
Damn
Troy will fall...again, again, and AGAIN!
by Bruins102NCAA on Nov 21, 2009 8:12 PM PST up reply actions
that's crazy
Troy will fall...again, again, and AGAIN!
by Bruins102NCAA on Nov 21, 2009 8:12 PM PST up reply actions
If Arizona loses out, they would fall into a tie w/us, if we we win next week
Worst the Ducks can do is 6-3 in conference
OMG!
Some run by ’Zona. Back up 31-24.
Wonder if that might take all the wind out of Oregon’s sail?
Los Angeles Rams and the UCLA Bruins!!!!!
by Minnesota Bruinfan on Nov 21, 2009 8:13 PM PST reply actions
Silverlake
$UC* out of it? Music to my ears
Troy will fall...again, again, and AGAIN!
Id say it takes a win over oregon for them to do so
The rose bowl will be their to lose if they win out today
Stanford's loss complicates things some
While head to head, the asskicking laid down at the coliseum last week favors Stanford, if we get a 3+ team tie at 6-3 involving ’Furd and $c, things can get screwed up (as Texas and Texas Tech can attest to).
Had ’Furd won tonight, then $c could have done no better than the Sun Bowl
I'm getting used to $UC* losing
It’s been a long time but it is finally here. I knew this moment would arrive and I told myself I wasn’t going to cry but it’s hard right now not to
Troy will fall...again, again, and AGAIN!
What's going on here?
Furd humiliates just$c, and I figure Furd will roll through the rest of the conference without a problem.
Oregon humiliates just$c and I figure the same thing.
Or maybe just$c isn’t that good. We’ll find out very soon.
The Humanitarian
will find $UC* fans are so humane as he is made out to be in the press
Troy will fall...again, again, and AGAIN!
by Bruins102NCAA on Nov 21, 2009 8:22 PM PST up reply actions
aren't so
Troy will fall...again, again, and AGAIN!
by Bruins102NCAA on Nov 21, 2009 8:22 PM PST up reply actions
Random thoughts ...
UCLA tailgate … hadn’t been out to a home game this season, was like heaven being around so many fellow Bruins after a long while.
Like someone mentioned a couple weeks ago, I love the Pac-10 logo being featured more prominently (namely on the Rose Bowl field).
Parity … Gotta love the Pac-10 right now. Barring Wazzu, the Pac-10 is just as competitive as the SEC. Don’t let the vocal fanbases and high attendances (not that we don’t have either) fool you. Seeing Florida and Alabama playing FIU and Chattanooga respectively, THIS late in the season sickened me.
Go Bruins!
Is it impossible to get tickets to USC-UCLA game at this point?
Hi everyone,
Great win for the Bruins… predicated on a great defensive effort but I will definitely take it!
I am in the process of moving back to Southern California from NYC and will be back there next week in time for the USC-UCLA game… how hard is it to get tickets to the game at this time? Thanks in advance for your help!
Go Bruins!
Stubhub
Direct link to the UCLA/$c game here.
Tickets there are starting at $59 (+10% service fee and shipping)
what's going on in AZ?
Troy will fall...again, again, and AGAIN!
Thank you
Troy will fall...again, again, and AGAIN!
by Bruins102NCAA on Nov 21, 2009 8:26 PM PST up reply actions
Good games tonight
Troy will fall...again, again, and AGAIN!
I got the feed now :)
Thanks to all when I didn’t
Troy will fall...again, again, and AGAIN!
Wow
Thought that snap was bad on the XP try. They got it though.
Los Angeles Rams and the UCLA Bruins!!!!!
by Minnesota Bruinfan on Nov 21, 2009 8:34 PM PST reply actions
Arizona students had started jumping onto the field before the TD
As a friend just IM’ed to me: “CELEBRATION FAIL”
OT has to favor Oregon
But they are away so, I’m not so sure
Troy will fall...again, again, and AGAIN!
Yes It Was!
Los Angeles Rams and the UCLA Bruins!!!!!
by Minnesota Bruinfan on Nov 21, 2009 8:43 PM PST up reply actions
TD 'Zona!
Think this game more or less exemplifies just how CRAZY the Pac 10 has been this year.
Los Angeles Rams and the UCLA Bruins!!!!!
by Minnesota Bruinfan on Nov 21, 2009 8:51 PM PST reply actions
If I was stoops
i go for two there to win the game. Your offense is better than your defense, so why not try to wrap it up there with one shot from the 3 yard line?
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Nov 21, 2009 8:53 PM PST reply actions
Yeah
They run the risk of the O being tired and having to score again
Troy will fall...again, again, and AGAIN!
It's senility
Troy will fall...again, again, and AGAIN!
by Bruins102NCAA on Nov 21, 2009 8:56 PM PST up reply actions
You can't possibly still be listening to that idiot
Please, Bruins, you may be saving lives with this. Turn the sound down.
I have nothing but love for Brent.
Flashback to February 1995. UCLA basketball was on ABC putting the finishing touches on Duke, and Brent proclaimed to the viewers something to the effect of, “this team will be cutting down the nets in Seattle.” This of course sent the man to next to him, Dick Vitale, into hysterics, who went about naming every ACC and Big 12 team, plus Arkansas as teams that had just as good of a chance. Brent stuck to his guns and said the Bruins were the best team in the land.
Also a couple of years ago, I found myself in the ridiculously small men’s room on the lower level of Pauley that only has two urinals. As I stood at one, Brent was at the other. Once you’ve shared urinal space, there’s a certain brotherhood that goes with it. (Although I kick myself that I resisted the urge to say, “you are peeing LIVE at Pauley Pavilion.”)
by insomniacslounge on Nov 21, 2009 9:31 PM PST up reply actions
Well, you're right of course.
When you’ve shared a urinal, that creates a bond that even crappy reporting can’t break.
OR inside the 5
Troy will fall...again, again, and AGAIN!
Just like that
Troy will fall...again, again, and AGAIN!
James short of endzone
Troy will fall...again, again, and AGAIN!
Masoli STOPPED
Troy will fall...again, again, and AGAIN!
OR wins
Troy will fall...again, again, and AGAIN!
Zona eliminated
still the only Pac 10 team never to go to Rose Bowl.
Winner of the Civil War goes.
formerly godblesstyus95
Good golly, that was awesome
I love that Oregon sent all of those students back into the stands!
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahaah!!!!
by insomniacslounge on Nov 21, 2009 9:00 PM PST reply actions
So....
if we beat SC, and Arizona also beats SC, we finish tied with them?
That would be epic after the last few years.
GO BRUINS!!!
Correct. And it would be a straight 2 team tie
Meaning that we would finish ahead of them, due to the tiebreaker
Would love that
Would love that… That is so damaging to them I doubt anyone would fear them ever again
Troy will fall...again, again, and AGAIN!
by Bruins102NCAA on Nov 21, 2009 9:02 PM PST up reply actions
If it is a 2-team tie (just us and them).
With Cal’s win tonight, I don’t believe that another team could finish 4-5 in Pac-10 play (creating a multi-team tiebreak).
correct
Ducks/OSU winner in 1st
Ducks (if losing Civil War) in 2nd
Beavers (if losing civil war) tied with Stanford for 3rd
Arizona and Cal could join the above in 3rd, or finish 4th/5th dependent on the next game for each
UCLA and USC would tie for 6th
Could be a 4-way tie for 2nd place in the Pac-10
If Oregon beats the Beavers, Cal beats UW in Seattle, and either Arizona or USC win out.
All of the Pac-10 bowl tie-ins but the Rose Bowl, and whatever the 6th place team gets, would be in play for the teams in that group.
Man
All these scenarios are just crazy!
Los Angeles Rams and the UCLA Bruins!!!!!
by Minnesota Bruinfan on Nov 21, 2009 9:27 PM PST up reply actions
Interesting point made on ABC
I didn’t think about. One of the best stats of the game? Zero. As in, interceptions on Prince.
Cool.
GO BRUINS!!!
Bruins are definitely on the rise.
As a fan of PAC-10 football in general, I will say this; Neuheisel has your boys in great position to be a top tier team next season. Southern Cal is more vulnerable then any other time in the last 10 years. If the Bruins jump out to a BIG lead it might very well be the final nail in the SC mystique with recruits. Bank on this….. Neuheisel will be receiving a ton of praise from the main stream media this time next season. BANK ON IT!
by BackdoorBarkley on Nov 21, 2009 9:45 PM PST reply actions
What a great win for the team, the program, and the fans.
Any word on Kevin Prince’s injury? Hoping it’s not a deep muscle injury like what Masoli had (albeit back rather than leg). Those seem to get worse a day or two later.
I think I finally figured it out.
If UCLA doesn’t beat USC (and USC doesn’t somehow sneak into a BCS spot), UCLA needs to have four of these things happen to make a bowl game:
1. Bowling Green lose to Toledo (unlikely)
2. Wyoming lose to Colorado State (unlikely)
3. LA-Monroe lose to Middle Tennessee State (likely)
4. LA-Lafayette lose to Troy (likely)
5. UConn lose to both Syracuse and South Florida (unlikely)
6. Kansas lose to Missouri (likely)
7. Marshall lose to UTEP AND SMU lose to Tulane (unlikely)
As you can tell, I’ve had an eventful Saturday night.
although, all that really needs to happen is this:
TCU makes a BCS game (very, very likely)
Then the Humanitarian Bowl, New Mexico Bowl, or Armed Forces Bowl will need another team. If Wyoming doesn’t win it’s last game, two of those games will need teams. It’s highly unlikely that one of those games would pass up a UCLA team that’s playing good football.
Also, the EagleBank Bowl and GMAC bowl are tied in with the ACC, who won’t have enough teams. So they can pick whoever they want as well (although, the GMAC generally will pick a MAC team, since they have more teams than slots as well).
So basically, it’s a total crapshoot depending on who the bowls pick, and I have to guess that UCLA is a pretty attractive at large selection for any bowl.
Has there ever been a player better than Detlef Schrempf?
by bucknellbruin on Nov 21, 2009 11:52 PM PST up reply actions
You're forgetting an important part.
Bowls have to select all 7-win teams before selecting a 6-6 team for an at-large spot. (My list is solely if we don’t beat USC. If we beat USC, we’re basically assured of a bowl spot—I would guess EagleBank because it’s the highest payout.)
New Mexico
Thinking about making our first Bowl road trip if it happens and is also fairly close…. Cross your fingers.
2001 season
It seems very much like the 2001 season in reverse. UCLA was the ranked team heading into the showdown but had a series of losses while usc had momentum heading into that game. Unfortunately UCLA got shut out that day and lost a bunch of top recruits to the Ubiquitously Sordid Criminals and their meteoric rise.
Now the tables have turned. UCLA has won 3 in a row and they were embarrassed soundly at home. Their only saving grace is that they have 2 weeks to prepare for the matchup while CRN only has one. And we all know Petey is a coaching genius, so there’s no way he can lose with a 2 week preparation, right? We shall see….
oh btw, plaschke's back on the ucla bandwagon again
whichever way the wind blows, Bill is soon to follow.
what a tool.
by insomniacslounge on Nov 21, 2009 11:47 PM PST reply actions
Tough game
Let’s put our giddiness aside—this will be a tough game. We are playing a team with better talent. And we are still recovering from the Coach Dorrall’s yearly recruiting failures.
But we have better and more honorable coaches. And, given that football is a game of emotion, we probably have the edge here. But as Coach Wooden has explained—it is not the better team that wins but the one that plays better. We better play better. I think we will.
Price leaving?
Stop scaring me by saying that this was most likely Brian Price’s last game in the Rose bowl..Didn’t he say that he wanted to stay in school and get his degree?
Drat
I usually challenge Nestor, and demand that he cite his inside info and all that when he makes statements like this. Alas, at the end of the day, Nestor has generally been correct on calls like this. It may be that his inside source is just tea leaves or a coin flip, but he’s been right too often in the past.
I think the thing to do is to fix the NFL labor business so that there’s no incentive for him to come out early. That should be easy enough to do.
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