Bruin Bites: UCLA-Houston Gameday Edition

by Nestor on Sep 3, 2011 7:05 AM PDT in Football

GAME DAY. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Game day is finally here. We are excited. The players are fired up. We will have our pre-game thread go up at 9 am PST. Before we get to that here are the quick headlines from the traditional media outlets today. Nothing here is earth-shattering but just in case you want to read them here are the teasers:

Peter Yoon, who in IMO is tied with Jon Gold as perhaps the best reporter covering UCLA, posted "Five things to watch" for today's game against Houston. The factors he listed should not be a surprise to anyone who has been following our program. I do like how Yoon brings attention to how our last year's season opener v. Kansas State. It will be imperative for the Bruin offense to get off to a good, solid start to set the tone for the rest of the season. Keep "the eyeball test" in mind.
Jon Gold posted a pretty informative back and forth with Houston Chronicle beat writer Sam Khan Jr. I found it interesting because Khan gives us a little peak into what the Cougar faithful (beat writers everywhere in the country except in Westwood tend to be homers). Khan thinks Bruins are not going to be able to run on Houston like last year because "the Cougars have upgraded their talent, size and depth on the defensive line and their linebacker depth is solid." Guess, we will see.
Here is Gold's Daily News game preview. The title is "UCLA gets a Case study," with quotes from Coach Rick Neuheisel, defensive coordinator Joe Tresey and Taylor Embree. Nothing earth shattering.
Down there in Texas, Houston Chronicle writer Jerome Solomon is calling this a "measuring stick" game for Houston, identifying the Bruins as the Cougars "toughest" and "most physically imposing" opponent all season.

Over at the ~~Los Angeles~~ Trojan Times, Chris Foster is trying his best to jinx the Bruins by talking up our Texas size win streak against the teams from Texas. Foster's game preview doesn't really have much that actually has to do with game itself. But that's not a surprise because he doesn't know anything about the game.

Foster also has a look at questions around UCLA team heading into this game here. Again, nothing new but more of aggregation of his concern trolling from the off-season and pre-season camp.

Speaking of trolls, Trogan hack Adam Maya from the OC Register has a superficial preview of today's game with a lazy Bleecher Report style photo slide show that doesn't require a lot of work.

Lastly, note we have updated our game watching thread with latest information on parties. Check in here if you are looking to hang out with UCLA alums, students and fans in your neighborhood today. Also, don't forget to get your pre-game guesses in before kickoff.

Enjoy the game day.

GO BRUINS.

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Comments

Gameday

Desmond Howard is rocking a seersucker. Corso looks sharp. Fowler’s tie look bad. Herbstreit needed to wear a tie with some gold instead of orange.

Formerly AllHailMightyBruins

by AHMB on Sep 3, 2011 7:15 AM PDT via mobile reply actions

Hehe

Not watching ESPN yet. But what an amazing game last night.

by Nestor on Sep 3, 2011 7:18 AM PDT up reply actions

Yeah it was.

I thought Griffin would look good, but not THAT good. That game should have been the marquee thurs night game. Espn doh!

Formerly AllHailMightyBruins

by AHMB on Sep 3, 2011 7:20 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions

tWWL showed its trogan tilt.

Man, that was a lot of shots of a “school” playing for nothing.

Go Bruins!

by uclaluv on Sep 3, 2011 7:45 AM PDT up reply actions

I don't bother with those honks anymore.

Ohio State blah blah blah Alabama blah blah blah, what ever game is their marquee game blah blah blah.

Watching “Swiss Family Robinson” til the BC v.NOrthwestern game comes on . . .

by orlandobruin on Sep 3, 2011 8:39 AM PDT up reply actions

It's After 9:00 am Here...

…and it’s only 80 degrees! And there is a breeze! This is (almost) epic.

(A big Bruin flag is waving at my house. Smiling!)

This is very exciting :-)

Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on Sep 3, 2011 7:18 AM PDT reply actions

12:30 game

What time are you all starting your pre-game beverages?

Formerly AllHailMightyBruins

by AHMB on Sep 3, 2011 8:07 AM PDT via mobile reply actions

Right after my Elder leaves. :-)

by LongtimeBru on Sep 3, 2011 8:24 AM PDT up reply actions

I hope I don't need them, just want 'em.

by LongtimeBru on Sep 3, 2011 8:25 AM PDT up reply actions

True story.....

Getting jitters thinking about last years start.

by Bruin'96 on Sep 3, 2011 9:42 AM PDT up reply actions

Game Day! Go Bruins!

by DoubleTroubleBruin on Sep 3, 2011 8:07 AM PDT via mobile reply actions

Baylor upset of TCU

Its clear that TCU, which had practiced in Fort Worth and was upset in Waco, had major cramping problems. The case can be made it cost TCU the game.

The commentators commentated (don’t you hate it when some ignoramus says commentator or commentate rather than commenter or comment) that TCU’s constant practicing in the extreme Fort Worth heat had a cumulative cramping effect.

If so, our limited number of practices in the heat should work to our advantage. No doubt, in the heat, we will have cramps but the cumulative effects of practicing over time in extreme heat will not be our problem, only Houston’s.

We’ll see if those ESPN commentators were right about always practicing in the heat.

by peggysue69 on Sep 3, 2011 8:27 AM PDT via mobile reply actions

Houston Paper says Houston will

use group substitutions to beat the heat and cramping. Plus, they’ve been practicing in it all summer.

As BruinGilr83 noted, it’s actually a bit nicer, today, than it has been all summer. A good omen.

This will be a tough game in this heat but I really think we are ready to play well.

I want to fly my flag on this, my next to last football weekend in Houston.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Sep 3, 2011 8:45 AM PDT up reply actions

Bruin Abroad

Anyone know if there’s a way to watch a feed of the game online? Game starts at 3:30 am here, but if I can find one I’m totally staying up for it!

by LBruin on Sep 3, 2011 8:41 AM PDT reply actions

I'd like to know that, too

Anywhere on the internet showing the game? I’m up in Seattle…not diddly squat going on…and I don’t have cable…

by BruinInSeattle on Sep 3, 2011 9:42 AM PDT up reply actions

Already pumped up

Feels like Christmas. Can’t wait for Datone Jones to introduce himself to Case Keenum.

12:30 can’t get here soon enough!

by insomniacslounge on Sep 3, 2011 8:51 AM PDT reply actions

Persa out

I picked NW. Damn.

Formerly AllHailMightyBruins

by AHMB on Sep 3, 2011 8:53 AM PDT via mobile reply actions

Mark Cuban better pick us

Otherwise my stellar opinion of him drops to the gutter

Formerly AllHailMightyBruins

by AHMB on Sep 3, 2011 8:55 AM PDT via mobile reply actions

Way to go Mark

Corso and Herbie too

Formerly AllHailMightyBruins

by AHMB on Sep 3, 2011 8:58 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions

I love Mark Cuban

OT: It won’t happen, but I’m still wishing the buys the Dodgers

@joshschlichter

by Josh Schlichter on Sep 3, 2011 8:59 AM PDT up reply actions

That's a horrible idea.

Says the giants fan.

Formerly AllHailMightyBruins

by AHMB on Sep 3, 2011 9:03 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs

lol

by Nestor on Sep 3, 2011 9:05 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions

Rec'd by your fellow Giants fan.

But Cuban, show up on “Shark Tank” more because that’s totally your medium. Love him on that show.

by freesia39 on Sep 3, 2011 9:15 AM PDT up reply actions

Then McCourt FTW!

@joshschlichter

by Josh Schlichter on Sep 3, 2011 10:22 AM PDT up reply actions

Cheers

Here’s hoping for a good season.

by ovillarr13 on Sep 3, 2011 8:59 AM PDT reply actions

Am Getting Pumped Already!!!

College Gameday crew seems to like our chances so hope to hell they know what they’re talking about.

Los Angeles Rams and the UCLA Bruins!!!!!

by Minnesota Bruinfan on Sep 3, 2011 9:12 AM PDT reply actions

Exactly!

I had to take a picture of the screen. When is the last time all three people picked us? I LOVE IT!

GO BRUINS!!!!

"The entire world that bleeds blue and gold ... they have been dying for this." - Coach Rick Neuheisel

by uclafan11 on Sep 3, 2011 9:55 AM PDT up reply actions

TJ Simmers

Speaking of horrible reporters, couldn’t a letter writing campaign or something else be started to kick this guy off the LA Times? He’s a joke — everything he writes is for effect and without factual content. He just tries to piss Bruins off. I stopped reading the LA Times because of him. Anyway…just a rant.

by BruinInSeattle on Sep 3, 2011 9:39 AM PDT reply actions

After a brief haitus he is back to his old form of BS.... Ultimate troll writer for ratings.

by Bruin'96 on Sep 3, 2011 9:43 AM PDT up reply actions

There are so many reasons to stop reading LAT

Even my Trogans relatives stopped reading it.

by KnudsenRockne on Sep 3, 2011 10:05 AM PDT up reply actions

My Alma Mater Rolling Right Along...

Iowa up 17-0 on Tennessee Tech.

Los Angeles Rams and the UCLA Bruins!!!!!

by Minnesota Bruinfan on Sep 3, 2011 10:10 AM PDT reply actions

Another TD Iowa

Hawks now rolling up 27-0 before the half.

Los Angeles Rams and the UCLA Bruins!!!!!

by Minnesota Bruinfan on Sep 3, 2011 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions

Glad to see your boys rolling

They should have a very good team this year.

Except you’re going to get stuck with the new Cy-Hawk trophy. Sorry about that.

greg in denver, U.C.L.A. guy for life - BruinsNation.com

by gbruin on Sep 3, 2011 10:52 AM PDT up reply actions

Thanks!

Yeah, that new trophy is uh, well, unsightly…

Hard to tell how Iowa will do this year. The schedule LOOKS favorable. But even in very good years, they ALWAYS manage to lose a game (or two) that they should have won and in down years always manage to win a game or two they should have lost. Coker has to have a good year as I still think Vandenberg is a little green around the gills behind the center.

Los Angeles Rams and the UCLA Bruins!!!!!

by Minnesota Bruinfan on Sep 3, 2011 11:01 AM PDT up reply actions