Bruins Nation - UCLA 36, UC Berkeley 34 - Full Coverage of UCLA's Win at BerkeleyBlog Of The Bruins, By The Bruins, For The Bruinshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48017/bruinsnation_f.png2014-10-21T11:00:03-07:00http://www.bruinsnation.com/rss/stream/67660242014-10-21T11:00:03-07:002014-10-21T11:00:03-07:00Berkeley Post-Game Roundtable: Just Another Win
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<img alt="Control + foot in bounds = interception to end the game and send Berkeley home crying." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Nh3OKpAezZ_7zdfRdb93HirLgAM=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/42355040/20141018_ads_se9_064.JPG.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Control + foot in bounds = interception to end the game and send Berkeley home crying. | Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The writers and editors of Bruins Nation discuss the 2014 season's seventh game, a narrow victory over a Berkeley Bears squad coming off a 1-11 campaign in 2013 that featured not a single win over Division I-AA competition.</p> <p dir="ltr"><b><i>1. The Bruins entered the season as the trendy College Football Playoff pick following a 10-3 season, while the Berkeley Bears came into the season pegged to be a conference pushover following a 1-11 season - yet Mora's squad was barely able to escape Berkeley with a win - how did we end up here?</i></b></p>
<p><b>Bellerophon</b>: The fact we were playing down to the level of this Bears team is pretty sad. Berkeley is better than last year (which isn't hard to do given how pathetic they were last year) but this UCLA team has so much more talent across the board, it's inexcusable that this game was as close as it was - swap out Jim Mora and his staff with Jimbo Fisher and his staff and this is a 40+ point beat down. This season has fallen well short and that falls squarely on Mora and his coaching staff. Kudos to Sonny Dykes for getting a lot out of a weak team - but make no mistake, this shouldn't have been close.</p>
<p><b>IslandBruin2</b>: We ended up here by overstating how good UCLA would be, myself included. I believed the hype because I was comparing Mora's record to that of his predecessors, rather than to a top-level program. This may be partly talent, but I think it is mostly that our coaching staff does not put our players in the best possible position to succeed.</p>
<p><b>Tydides</b>: I won't say that I ever bought into the notion that we'd be a playoff team, but that's nevertheless what I was going to expect out of a coach that had such a big Fing circus made of his offseason shenanigans - first with himself then with his most prized assistant coach. Throw in the fact that he's also essentially getting elite coach money without elite coach results and he got the biggest offseason gift of all with Hundley coming back, and frankly I was not in the mood for excuses. We're here now because our coaches are better PR people than actual coaches. You don't last a quarter century in the NFL without having your Coach Speak(<sup>TM</sup>) down pat, and Mora has that in spades. It's just a shame that it doesn't translate to on the field results.</p>
<p><b>AHMB</b>: Watching our guys live for the first time this year, I'm even more convinced that we have the talent to be a special team. We're bigger, faster, stronger, and deeper than we have been in a very long time, but that talent isn't translating like it should. The game at Berkeley was a perfect snapshot of this team. We blew them out on a play by play basis. We generally moved the ball at ease and stonewalled their running game, but turnovers and lack of recognition of their passing game nearly turned what should have been a blowout win into a loss.</p>
<p><b><i>2. It wasn't a pretty victory, and much closer than it should be, given the relative strength of each program - but since we haven't won in Berkeley in 16 years, are we happy to just get the win, or disappointed it wasn't the blow out it should have been?</i></b></p>
<p><b>Bellerophon</b>: It was nice to finally pick up a win in the Bay Area, but given the fact that Berkeley had a mediocre guy in Jeff Tedford for most of that time, if we had a half-decent coach, we should have been beating up on the Bears for years, no matter what part of California we were playing - being "merely pleased to win" lets Chianti Dan off the hook for saddling us with a shit program for a decade plus.</p>
<p><b>IslandBruin2</b>: I am not happy to just get the win. I went to the Berkeley-Washington game, and saw this same Berkeley team get blown out by a team which had put in a game plan to counter the Bears' strength. What I saw on Saturday was a UCLA game plan that learned nothing from the Washington success. I saw a win which solidified UCLA's position as a middle-upper (not upper) team in the Pac-12, doomed to mediocrity without significant overhauls in philosophy (starting with the fact that DC position should not be on-the-job training at any program which aspires to national relevance).</p>
<p><b>Tydides</b>: I'm probably in the minority on this but I don't give a rats behind about the streak. The streak is merely a demonstration of our own incompetence because we've out-talented I would say a majority of the Berkeley teams we've lost to up there, so there's no extra credit in my mind for going out and doing the thing you were supposed to be doing all along. I'm not necessarily down on the win either, because this team is essentially toast relative to meeting its expectations anyway, so if the season is basically a failure waiting to happen, the rest of it, like breaking the streak, is gravy isn't it? There's a reason that there's no such thing as an F-.</p>
<p><b>AHMB</b>: I'm always happy to get the win, but I'm not satisfied with the way we've played. Again, we gifted them 4 touchdowns with turnovers (I count missed 4th down as a turnover). I'm not sure how anyone could be happy with the way we played. That said, this team could have easily gone into the tank after back to back losses to Utah and Oregon. When they made mistake after mistake against a bad Berkeley squad, they could have given up. There may not be much to be happy about, but the team fought back and won the game.</p>
<p><b><i>3. How does this team figure out how to stop playing down to their competition? If the Bruins took care of the ball, that's at least 20 fewer points for the Bears - and this game is completely different - are the players just not focused? And who is responsible for fixing that issue?</i></b></p>
<p><b>Bellerophon</b>: We've been our own worst enemy this whole season - the only team with better talent than us is Oregon, and that's debatable. We have simply shot ourselves in the foot at every opportunity, whether that has been turnovers or idiotic coaching decisions - the only thing that got in UCLA's way this season was UCLA.</p>
<p><b>IslandBruin2</b>: I don't know if we are missing leaders on the field. That is for somebody closer to the program. So that could be part of the problem. But most of the blame has to go to the coaching staff. They are not putting the players in a position to maximize their chances of success.</p>
<p><b>Tydides</b>: Two and a half years of experience, hell, at least a decade's worth of experiences tells us that this is what UCLA Football is. Perennially playing down to our opponents. Springing the occasional upset to keep people interested. Peppered with the not-so-occasional ridiculous blowout loss. We've had three coaches now with wildly different personalities, coaching philosophies, schemes, and monetary backing, and the result is the same. There's a "settle for less" mentality that exists throughout the AD like a cancer that has to be nuked into oblivion and surgically removed at the first opportunity. That's the constant here. The cancer's name is Doughnut Strap On Guerrero. What keeps the cancer in place to fester and metastasize? Our suck-ass, loser, my coach right or wrong segment of the fanbase. These people would be shunned like your crazy uncle at Thanksgiving in places like Tuscaloosa, Austin, or (insert SEC college town here), but here we embrace them and pretend that their attitude isn't antithetical to what UCLA actually stands for. Our commercials say we're optimists, but our fans behave like sheep.</p>
<p><b>AHMB</b>: Does this team play down to their competition or are they not as good as everyone thought? Look, there is a ton of talent on the team, but talent alone doesn't make a team good. We are very good individually, and we have guys all over the field that can win one on one matchups, but we're far from being a well oiled machine. That has to land on the coaching staff. They have to do better.</p>
<p><b><i>4. What positives do you see coming out of this game as the Bruins prepare to head to Colorado to take on a Buffaloes squad that can put up points?</i></b></p>
<p><b>Bellerophon</b>: It was a great feel-good story for <span>Marcus Rios</span>. Recovering from a serious, near-fatal fungal infection to not just survive, but return to the field and make the interception that sealed the win is a great deal, especially doing it in Northern California, where he's from (coming out of Elk Grove up by Sacramento) - hopefully it gives him confidence going forward. Otherwise, the offensive line looked solid and Perkins continues to be strong going forward.</p>
<p><b>IslandBruin2</b>: The biggest positive from this game is that I found another great bar near the Berkeley campus- this is essential as a UCLA supporter.</p>
<p><b>Tydides</b>: Gonna go with Bellerophon here. The stories were that his very survival was a coinflip at best. He figured to be lucky to be able to walk out of the hospital a healthy man. Contrast that with what we saw take place and the story basically writes itself. Unfortunately given what we've seen out of the team, I don't know that we can make any statements about CU. Maybe we'll see an inspired performance. Maybe Ulbrich will quit his job for the second time this year. Who the hell knows?</p>
<p><b>AHMB</b>: Remember when the Berkeley guy came onto my preview and touted their running game? The Bears ran 31 times for 56 yards. We played a base nickel with two high safeties the entire game and consistently beat them on the line of scrimmage. That's a very good sign in terms of effort and will, and I hope we can keep that up throughout the rest of the season.</p>
<p><b><i>5. It's been a long time since the Bruins played in a Rose Bowl game (1999) but even longer since our Berkeley brethren saw Pasadena (1959) - who is more likely to get their team back to the top of the conference and a spot in the Rose Bowl - Sonny Dykes at Berkeley or Jim Mora at UCLA?</i></b></p>
<p><b>Bellerophon</b>: Neither. I don't think Berkeley will ever play in the Rose Bowl game again. Their program hasn't been relevant since the 1950s and while Dykes will get them back to respectability, they will be lucky to make the Holiday Bowl in any given year, considering how strong the conference is. UCLA will return to the Rose Bowl game at some point, but I doubt Mora will be the one to get us there. I certainly hope he does, but seeing how he hasn't been able to win a big game yet, it's hard to believe he'll be the guy to get us there. Now, if he turns it around and wins out this year and gets UCLA in the conference title game, I'd give him a 50/50 shot at it.</p>
<p><b>IslandBruin2</b>: Mora. This does not mean that he will, just that he is more likely than Dykes.</p>
<p><b>Tydides</b>: Wow, I was all ready to say us for sure, but can a team that can never beat an elite in conference squad ever get to the Rose Bowl? That would seem to be a disqualifier but then I look at Berkeley, and they just seem destined to never smell roses again. 1959? Berkeley played in the Rose Bowl. Over three years AFTER THAT, President John F. Kennedy said "we choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard". I think of that quote sometimes when I think of the masochistic exercise that is Bruin football. I guess I'll still say us. The P12 sucks almost across the board at basketball now, so maybe the same will happen in football in 8-9 years and Mora will go to 1-24 against Stanford/Oregon to send us to the Granddaddy.</p>
<p><b>AHMB</b>: Mora.</p>
<p><b><i>6. The extra point - fire away:</i></b></p>
<p><b>Bellerophon</b>: If UCLA wants to show that it's still for-real this year, they need a big road win by 14+ points against Colorado this weekend. We've looked mentally soft all year long and except for the win against Arizona State, we have not looked like the dominant team we should have given the talent on the roster. This weekend will be an interesting litmus test for this program under Mora.</p>
<p><b>IslandBruin2</b>: It is going to be harder to be a UCLA fan for football and basketball going forward at Berkeley games. With the push to recycleable grocery bags in Alameda County, I won't be able to wear a paper bag over my head. Please- we need Doughnut to go, so that we can be proud of our team in public. And complete side note- I ran into a couple of our water polo team members at the game, who informed me when asked that they had taken down Berkeley (ranked #2 at the time) 13-8 that morning. When the water polo team and the soccer team (UCLA 3, UCB 0) have better margins of victory than the football team, you have to wonder.</p>
<p><b>Tydides</b>: Hundley deserves better than this. The rest of the players including Rios deserve better than this. I don't know if these coaches are capable of turning this around, and I'm actually pretty doubtful, but it's just a damn shame if they can't and/or won't. I haven't worked out the permutations from where we are, but I don't think it's out of line to say that the path to Levi's Stadium looks narrow and that I don't think we control our destiny in getting there. Seeing the attempts at lowering expectations makes me sick, especially when you know these idiots were the first ones on board in August when the national media was talking about how good we were gonna be. In the light of 2 losses, suddenly it was all unrealistic. How convenient. Get lost, sunshine pumpers.</p>
<p><b>AHMB</b>: Every week, this team shows flashes of how good it can be. Seven weeks into the season, I can't help but think they've missed a great opportunity to be special. Yet after the game, I still found myself tallying up the ways we could make the Pac-12 championship game. Am I an optimist? Undoubtedly. Am I delusional? Probably.</p>
<p>That's it for this week folks. Fire away in the comment thread with your thoughts on the Berkeley win as we figure out where UCLA football goes from here as the team gets ready for an showdown with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ralphiereport.com/">Colorado Buffaloes</a> this Saturday.</p>
<p>GO BRUINS</p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruin_football/2014/10/21/7025809/ucla-football-bruin-nations-berkeley-post-game-roundtable-discussionBellerophon2014-10-20T19:43:33-07:002014-10-20T19:43:33-07:00Pereira Tells Berkeley Fans to Stop Whining on Rios' INT<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="/rss/stream/6766024">Pereira Tells Berkeley Fans to Stop Whining on Rios'&nbsp;INT</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>Cal fans flooded <a href="https://twitter.com/MikePereira">@MikePereira</a>'s feed after that crucial <a href="https://twitter.com/UCLAFootball">@UCLAFootball</a> INT. Here's Mike on why the refs got it right.
<br /><a href="https://t.co/hAyc0VQkPO">https://t.co/hAyc0VQkPO</a></p>— @TheBuzzer (@TheBuzzerOnFOX) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheBuzzerOnFOX/status/523636069195993088">October 19, 2014</a></p></div>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/2014/10/20/7025425/pereira-tells-berkeley-fans-to-stop-whining-on-rios-intBellerophon2014-10-20T15:17:22-07:002014-10-20T15:17:22-07:00Spaulding: Rios Speaks about His Pick & Recovery
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<figcaption>Thearon W. Henderson</figcaption>
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<p>UCLA wraps up the Cal game and starts work on Colorado.</p> <p>The press conferences after practice today focused mainly on the UC Berkeley win.</p>
<p><span>Marcus Rios</span> briefly spoke to the media about Saturday's game and his interception:</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/DpecatPefFQ" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p>Video courtesy of <a href="http://www.ocregister.com/ucla/rios-639055-video-winning.html" target="_blank">Ryan Kartje of the OC Register</a>. If your room is dusty, beware. Your eyes may water.</p>
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<li><span>He only watched the pick once but he saw it everywhere on the internet and found out he was #5 play on SportsCenter. He got a lot of texts and voice mails after the game, and was happy about the support.</span></li>
<li><span>As for the game, UC Berkeley thought he was in press coverage, and UCLA was in man, so he had the option to stay on top, which he did. He felt that they were going to take a shot deep (or run a draw, but he had his man covered.) When he saw the ball in the air he knew he had to get it to stop them from winning.</span></li>
<li><span>Coach Mora had never given out a game ball, and it meant a lot to him to get the first one ever. He thanks teammates, staff and coaches for supporting him.</span></li>
<li><span>This is the healthiest he's ever been at UCLA, and his first real game experience. He acknowledges that he made a lot of mistakes but he'll keep getting better.</span></li>
<li><span>When he was in the hospital, he specifically requested a room that overlooked Spaulding. He would wake up at 6am so that he could watch practice, giving him motivation to get better and return to football.</span></li>
<li><span>He had about 12 family members at the game who left very happy.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span>Ishmael Adams</span> spoke to the media:</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/cP0jrVLiYxg" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p>Video Courtesy of <a href="http://www.ocregister.com/ucla/kicks-639058-secondary-squib.html" target="_blank">Ryan Kartje at the OC Register</a>.</p>
<p>Some of the things Adams had to say, amid the background noise of construction:</p>
<ul>
<li><span>There were some places where the team missed putting points on the board but overall they played great as a team. As Mora says, they believe in their technique and they're in the position to make the plays they need to play.</span></li>
<li> <span>As for Marcus Rios' pick, he was very happy for him to make that play, and yes, it was a catch. </span>He was happy that Marcus got the game ball. Adams then goes on to say that what Coach Mora said rings true - for all the struggles they go through as a team, he has been through the most and he kept pushing through the struggles and wanted to be out there with his teammates, and he respects him a lot for it. </li>
<li><span>He thought <span>Jared Goff</span> did a great job of extending plays, running with his eyes down the field and it makes it hard for the secondary to adjust. It was fun playing against him.</span></li>
<li>He was annoyed by the squibbed kickoffs but he takes it as the ultimate sign of respect. He feels sooner or later one of his teammates will take one back. He was happy when <span>Mossi Johnson</span> had a good return, along with <span>Jayon Brown</span>. He laughed when he said Johnson was tackled by the kicker, the indignity. </li>
<li>He felt like the defense improved, and even in the short yardage fields they want to come out with the least amount of points possible. He felt there were at least two plays near the end of the game that he missed that would have gotten the team off the field faster but at the end of the day the W is the most important thing.</li>
<li>When asked about how it changes how he plays when the defensive line is getting pressure, he says that they cover to create sacks, no matter how long it takes.</li>
</ul>
<p>Looking ahead to Saturday, UCLA and Colorado will honor <span>David Quessenberry</span>, Scott Quessenberry's older brother as he battles cancer:</p>
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<p>San Jose State, Navy, Colorado and UCLA will all wear DQ decals on their helmets this weekend to honor <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidQberry">@DavidQberry</a>'s cancer battle.</p>
— Jimmy Durkin (@Jimmy_Durkin) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jimmy_Durkin/status/524290856053112832">October 20, 2014</a>
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<p>In case you're wondering why those schools:</p>
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<p>Quessenberry is a San Jose State alum and has brothers who play for Navy and UCLA. Colorado's coaching staff coached him at SJSU.</p>
— Jimmy Durkin (@Jimmy_Durkin) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jimmy_Durkin/status/524291057614606336">October 20, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
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<p>It just so works out that <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/Jimmy_Durkin/status/524291294286577664">UCLA is playing Colorado, and Navy is playing SJSU</a> this weekend.</p>
<p>Go Bruins.</p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruin_football/2014/10/20/7024065/spaulding-roundup-ishmael-adams-and-marcus-rios-speak-and-honoring!x!2014-10-20T12:30:02-07:002014-10-20T12:30:02-07:00The "Eye Test": Bruins Break UC Berkeley Streak
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<figcaption>Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Grading out the finer details of UCLA's 36-34 victory over the UC Berkeley Golden Bears in the UCLA Bruins' first win in Berkeley since 1998 to see if UCLA football is meeting expectations.</p> <p>The Bruins won a road game 36-34 against UC Berkeley for the first time since 1998. They moved to 5-2 (2-2 in the Pac-12) after losing back to back games to Utah and Oregon to essentially eliminate themselves from contention for a spot in the College Football Playoff.</p>
<p>Just to be upfront with everyone, I tried to re-watch this game and could not muster the energy to finish it. So, I'm going off of my initial impression of the game. This leaves me more at risk of misremembering things, but this was probably the most "meh" game of the season. My energy level spiked once in 4 quarters and that was after the <span>Marcus Rios</span> interception.</p>
<p><b><i>1.) Is our defense prepared for each and every team we play?</i></b></p>
<p>The defense probably had their best game of the season in this game, despite the point total.</p>
<p>California has put up an average of <i>482.5 yards per game (22nd in the NCAA)</i> including this matchup, their offense averages <i>6.1 yards per play (26th in the NCAA)</i>, converts <i>45.56% of their 3rd downs (22nd in the NCAA)</i>, put up <i>380 yards passing per game (3rd in the NCAA)</i>, <i>14 yards per completion (20th in the NCAA)</i> and <i>8.9 yards per attempt (12th in the NCAA)</i>.</p>
<p>That's only counting games against FBS opponents, which takes away all stats from a 55-14 victory they had over Sacramento State.</p>
<p>Anyway you slice it, that is one hell of an offense.</p>
<p>UCLA's defense shut them down.</p>
<p>366 total yards (more than 100 below their season average, Jim Mora might not care about yards, but they do matter).</p>
<p>5.01 yards per play (which would be in the 80s/90s nationally).</p>
<p>5-14 on 3rd down conversions (35% is very bad).</p>
<p>310 passing yards on 42 attempts and 26 completions, which are all well under Cal's averages.</p>
<p>20 of the points can be directly attributed to Cal starting 3 drives inside UCLA's 32-yard line due to the offense turning the ball over (an 18-yard TD drive, a 20-yard TD drive and a 32-yard TD drive)</p>
<p>The defense can still play better (especially limiting explosive plays, which Cal had 3 of), but they had a good game in this one. <b>B+ (3.3)</b></p>
<p><b><i>2.) Do we call offensive plays to catch our opponents off guard?</i></b></p>
<p>I liked the game that Noel Mazzone called in this one. UC Berkeley's defense is and will continue to be appallingly bad, but UCLA did what they were supposed to do against a bad defense and put up a ton of yards.</p>
<p>Not finishing drives was frustrating.</p>
<p>Punting on a 4th and 3 from the Berkeley 44-yard line, that's a go-for-it down.</p>
<p>Probable TD pass dropped by <span>Devin Fuller</span> on a 3rd and 7 from the Berkeley 19-yard line, 3 points instead of 7.</p>
<p>Going for it on 4th and 3 from the Berkeley 34-yard line was the right decision, especially against a bad defense. Perkins picked up 12 yards and UCLA scored a TD on that drive.</p>
<p>Going for it on 4th and 1 from the Berkeley 46-yard line was the right decision. Doing a QB sneak from under center was the right decision. Brett Hundley happened to not get it. If that exact play were repeated 10 times, UCLA converts at least 8 of them. <i>Process over results when making judgements.</i></p>
<p>Kicking a FG on 4th and Goal from the 6-yard line while up 3 points was probably the right decision. But after a 67-yard kickoff return from <span>Mossi Johnson</span>, UCLA's offense has to put up a TD on that drive. Would have been a back breaker for Berkeley after they scored to make it a 3-point game. Right back to a 10-point lead would have been a big boost. A 24-yard FG was not.</p>
<p>That is a lot of points left on the board for an offense that basically had their way with UC Berkeley, passing and running the ball. Offense gets a <b>B (3.0)</b>.</p>
<p><b><i>3.) Do our players look like they know what they should be doing at all times?</i></b></p>
<p>This section is going to be much shorter than normal, because I don't get to add the breakdown element on the 2nd watching of the game.</p>
<p>One thing that stands out was UC Berkeley scoring a short rushing TD on a play where <span>Owamagbe Odighizuwa</span> and <span>Ellis McCarthy</span> were not in position at the snap. When your defensive tackles (where they were on the play) are standing up at the snap, they are going to get moved and sealed off with ease. High school linemen could have given Berkeley enough space to score on that play, all they had to do was lean and the gap was there.</p>
<p>The offensive line looked much better, albeit against a non-existent pass rush. Connor McDermott had some spots where he looked stiff and rusty, but that was the best game UCLA has had a tackle play this season. <span>Malcolm Bunche</span> looked much better at guard, especially run blocking. He also had some rough spots that I remember, one play that got a running back blown up in the backfield.</p>
<p><span>Myles Jack</span> is still playing in his own world at times on defense. The 39-yard pass early in the game was 100% on Jack peeking in the backfield and guessing run instead of playing man-coverage like he was supposed to. He was once again great in pass coverage aside from that, breaking up 2 passes and affecting several more. With a player like Myles, you have to take some bad with the good. Focus-based mistakes should not happen though and he was once again close to getting unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on a few plays.</p>
<p>8 tackles for loss (5 more for no gain or 1 yard) by UCLA's defense and 3 sacks. This was so nice to see.</p>
<p><i>As always, the penalties are taken on a play-by-play basis:</i></p>
<p>1. Pass interference on <span>Priest Willis</span>. Kind of a ticky-tack penalty, but I agree with the call. UCLA still got a stop on this drive, so not a damaging foul at the end of the day.</p>
<p>2. Holding on Jordan Payton. Unnecessary hold as <span>Tyler Scott</span> (we'll get to that later) was already on his way to a nice gain on first down regardless. Turned a 2nd and short or potential 1st down into a first and 20.</p>
<p>3. Pass interference on <span>Ishmael Adams</span> that was declined because UC Berkeley's high-level WR <span>Chris Harper</span> made a ridiculous one-handed catch anyway.</p>
<p>4. Kick catch interference on Priest Willis (I believe that's who was flagged, could also have been another player) Instead of Berkeley starting on the 31-yard line, they start around midfield. Undisciplined penalty.</p>
<p>5. Pass interference on Fabian Moreau. Not an egregious penalty, but I don't remember being upset about it being thrown. Was an incompletion on a 3rd and 9 and turned into a 1st down at the 22-yard line.</p>
<p>6. Two different pass interference/holding call on UCLA's defense on another TD pass. Didn't matter because <span>Trevor Davis</span> made a ridiculous grab for a TD. It must be nice to have players capable of making those type of catches.</p>
<p>7. An offsides penalty on a 3rd and 10 that was declined due to Berkeley getting the first down anyway. Still a dumb foul.</p>
<p>8. Holding on a punt by Deon Hollins. Ended up being less than a 1-yard penalty because the punt was downed inside the 1. But imagine if that had gone in the endzone (something Hollins had no way of knowing when he committed this foul) and instead of getting the ball at the 20, UCLA starts at the 20. Process over results on stuff like this.</p>
<p>9. Defensive holding on <span>Anthony Jefferson</span> gives UC Berkeley a free 1st down on their drive to take the lead over UCLA.</p>
<p>10. The refs also missed a blatant horse-collar tackle when <span>Devin Lucien</span> chased down a player on <span>Brett Hundley's</span> interception. Just kind of a luck deal.</p>
<p>11. I would also like to note that UCLA has had several defensive backs come dangerously close to getting thrown out of games for targeting. <span>Tahaan Goodman</span> and <span>Jaleel Wadood</span> both got lucky in this game. Goodman because he missed while diving with his head down at someone's head and Wadood because the officials ruled that <span>Chris Harper</span> wasn't defenseless while falling on the ground not attempting to fight for more yards.</p>
<p>Some good, some bad. Lots of penalties. 3 turnovers. Same UCLA team that has been there all season. <b>C (2.0)</b></p>
<p><b><i>4.) Do our players play for 60 G-D minutes every game?</i></b></p>
<p>Energy level looked pretty mediocre throughout this one. The players played hard but it was just kind of a bare minimum type of deal. This feels like a <b>C+ (2.3)</b> type of deal.</p>
<p><b><i>5.) Do our players execute?</i></b></p>
<p>The line seemed to do a better job of picking up blitzes against Berkeley's defense. Run blocking was solid outside of a few outliers.</p>
<p>Tackling wasn't a noticeable problem. Ka'imi Fairbairn made 3 FGs and looked as good as always kicking off. Matt Mengel had a nice game punting, as he has for most of the season. Serviceable as a last second fill-in this season.</p>
<p>Brett Hundley's interception was a poor decision, the first fumble was a result of trying to do too much and the 2nd fumble (recovered by UCLA) was the result of getting crushed by his own player.</p>
<p>I do not like calling out individual players. <span>Tyler Scott</span> is a player that could be on scholarship at a lower level of competition. I'm sure that he'd start on some Sun Belt or MAC teams and be a solid player. As far as I know, he's a human being that represents UCLA well off the field and in practice.</p>
<p>He is not capable of performing at WR in the Pac-12. It is clear.</p>
<p>He had a forced fumble in this game. Unfortunately, it was because he hit Brett Hundley in the open field while turning around after not being able to block anyone. He missed a block that resulted in a TFL. He does not get separation on routes. He has size at 6'3", 220. But he does not play like a player that size. Gets re-routed far too easily.</p>
<p>Mossi Johnson balled out. Why was he not getting 90% of the reps at the inside Y spot with Duarte unable to play?</p>
<p>Alex Van Dyke's redshirt is burned, why is <span>Logan Sweet</span> ahead of him in terms of reps?</p>
<p>Why is <span>Kenny Walker</span> not getting playing time? I get that he dropped passes, but I (and any rational human being) will take a 60-yard TD and three drops over whatever Sweet and Scott have provided this season.</p>
<p>Why not fit the speed of <span>Ahmaad Harris</span>, <span>Craig Lee</span> or <span>Roosevelt Davis</span> into the mix for a play instead of try to have Devin Fuller break a play on that Tavon Austin-style tap pass?</p>
<p>Use the tools you have.</p>
<p>This isn't exclusive to the execution part of the game, but I needed to vent that somewhere.</p>
<p>Give the team a <b>C (2.0)</b> for this. It would change if I were to rewatch every play because I'm sure I would find some noteworthy positives and negatives.</p>
<p><b><i>6.) Do we have leaders on the field?</i></b></p>
<p>I'll shout out Marcus Rios here for playing a good game even before the interception to seal the win, though I'm still not 100% confident that foot was down with possession while in bounds. Was nowhere near enough evidence to overturn the call on the field, whether it was ruled a catch or incompletion.</p>
<p>Rios' story is inspiring. One of those things that makes sports rewarding to follow. Could be dead right now and instead he makes a game-saving interception.</p>
<p>He was a bright spot.</p>
<p>The rest of the team was just kind of there. Brett Hundley played fine, but nothing exceptional. <span>Paul Perkins</span> had a nice game, but got banged up. Offensive line played well.</p>
<p>Myles Jack had ups and downs. <span>Eric Kendricks</span> was just okay. The secondary was overmatched talent-wise (it is just true, Berkeley's WRs are ridiculous) and played well for the most part, but not enough to warrant overwhelming praise.</p>
<p>This was an incredibly boring game despite the ending. The game thread reflected this and so did the general mood. That isn't something you can put on leadership, but UCLA won this game because they are better than UC Berkeley. Once again playing down to the level of the opponent and getting away with it. <b>C+ (2.3)</b></p>
<p> </p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;"><b>Final Grade Card for the <a href="https://www.addictedtoquack.com/" class="sbn-auto-link" style="color: #c8181d !important; text-decoration: none !important; background-color: transparent;">UC Berkeley Golden Bears</a></b></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;"><br style="line-height: 0.75em;"></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;">1.) Is our defense prepared for each and every team we play? <b>B+ (3.3)</b></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;">2.) Do we call offensive plays to catch our opponents off guard? <b>B (3.0)</b></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;">3.) Do our players look like they know what they should be doing at all times? <b>C (2.0)</b></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;">4.) Do our players play for 60 G-D minutes every game? <b>C+ (2.3)</b></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;">5.) Do our players execute? <b>C (2.0)</b></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;">6.) Do we have leaders on the field?<b> C+ (2.3)</b></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;"><b>UC Berkeley GPA: C+ (2.5)</b></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;">For reference, the GPA in UCLA's previous loss to Oregon was a <b>D+ (1.3)</b> and the loss a week before to Utah was a <b>C-/D+ (1.6) </b>and seemed like the low-point of 2014. The win over Arizona State was a <b>B+ (3.4)</b>, which was the high mark of 2014. The wins over Texas <b>C (2.2)</b>, Memphis <b>C (2.2)</b> and Virginia <b>C+ (2.5)</b> all saw UCLA look exceptionally mediocre, similar to this game.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;">UCLA can probably have a similar game against Colorado this upcoming week and get by with a victory. At some point, the Bruins are going to have to show up and play a full game on both sides of the ball or there are 2-3 more losses on the schedule.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;">Go Bruins!</p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruins_california_bears/2014/10/20/7018853/the-eye-test-ucla-breaks-streak-against-uc-berkeley-excites-no-oneIE Angel2014-10-19T17:50:45-07:002014-10-19T17:50:45-07:00Marcus Rios Gets 1st Game Ball Given By Mora<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="/rss/stream/6766024">Marcus Rios Gets 1st Game Ball Given By&nbsp;Mora</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p></p></div>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/2014/10/19/7009873/marcus-rios-gets-1st-game-ball-given-by-moraJoe Piechowski2014-10-19T12:02:51-07:002014-10-19T12:02:51-07:00Top 25: UCLA Re-enters AP Poll at #25
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/eC8yuf0P0a4iBHkzhrtU4kgfAOs=/0x60:4000x2727/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/42249268/20141018_tcb_se9_011.JPG.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>UCLA's victory over UC Berkeley puts the Bruins back in the AP Top 25.</p> <p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Yesterday's win was certainly a sloppy one, but it turned out to be good enough to put the Bruins back into the AP Poll at #25.</p>
<p>In other news, Alabama moved into the #4 spot in both polls and Oregon jumped to #6 in the AP Poll and #7 in the Coaches Poll.</p>
<p>Here are both polls with first-place votes in parentheses:</p>
<table border="1" dir="ltr" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<colgroup> <col width="25"> <col width="100"> <col width="50"> <col width="25"> <col width="100"> <col width="50"> <col width="25"> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">AP</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center;">Points</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center;">LW</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">Coaches</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">Points</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center;">LW</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1]">1</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Mississippi St. (43)</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">1480</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1]" style="text-align: center; ">1</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Mississippi St. (36)</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">1520</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,2]">2</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Florida State (14)</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">1433</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">2</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Florida State (22)</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">1493</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,3]">3</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Ole Miss (3)</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">1404</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">3</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Ole Miss (4)</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">1447</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,4]">4</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Alabama</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">1235</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">7</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Alabama</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">1293</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,5]">5</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Auburn</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">1231</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">6</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Michigan State</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">1243</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,6]">6</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Oregon</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">1142</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">9</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Auburn</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">1210</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,7]">7</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Notre Dame</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">1133</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">5</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Oregon</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">1133</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,8]">8</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Michigan State</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">1066</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">8</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Notre Dame</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">1117</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,9]">9</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Georgia</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">1055</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">10</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Georgia</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">1096</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,10]">10</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">TCU</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">962</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">12</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">TCU</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">996</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,11]">11</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Kansas State</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">935</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">11</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Kansas State</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">909</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">14</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,12]">12</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Baylor</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">858</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">4</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Ohio State</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">856</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,13]">13</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Ohio State</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">753</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">13</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Baylor</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">853</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,14]">14</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Arizona State</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">643</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">17</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Arizona State</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">654</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">18</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,15]">15</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Arizona</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">639</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">16</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Arizona</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">612</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">17</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,16]">16</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Nebraska</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">537</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">19</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Nebraska</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="[null,2,">588</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,17]">17</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Oklahoma</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">461</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">11</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">East Carolina</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">578</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,18]">18</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">East Carolina</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">445</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">18</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Oklahoma</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">482</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,19]">19</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Utah</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">437</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">20</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Utah</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">371</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">23</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,20]">20</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Southern Cal</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">356</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">22</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Clemson</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">320</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">22</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,21]">21</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Clemson</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">283</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">24</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Southern Cal</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">258</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,22]">22</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">West Virginia</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">272</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">NR</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Marshall</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">247</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">24</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,23]">23</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Marshall</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">184</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">25</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">LSU</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">155</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">NR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,24]">24</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">LSU</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">177</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">NR</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">Minnesota</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">147</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">NR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,25]">25</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">UCLA</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">118</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">NR</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2,">West Virginia</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">143</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,2," style="text-align: center; ">NR</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Go Bruins!</p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/2014/10/19/7004495/top-25-ucla-re-enters-ap-poll-at-25Joe Piechowski2014-10-19T10:00:02-07:002014-10-19T10:00:02-07:00Bruin Tweets: UCLA Beats The Bears
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<figcaption>Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Bruins defeat the Bears up at Berkeley for the first time this century.</p> <p>We won!</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Thank God for another W!! On to the next!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoBruins?src=hash">#GoBruins</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/8clap?src=hash">#8clap</a></p>
— Eldridge Massington (@OH_GOTTAMAN) <a href="https://twitter.com/OH_GOTTAMAN/status/523633957834084353">October 19, 2014</a>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Great win today !!!</p>
— Eric Kendricks (@EKLA6) <a href="https://twitter.com/EKLA6/status/523638390990716928">October 19, 2014</a>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Missed this feeling so much! Thank you to all the TRUE Bruin fans who rode with us through this tough time! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BruinsForever?src=hash">#BruinsForever</a></p>
— Caleb Benenoch (@CalebBenenoch74) <a href="https://twitter.com/CalebBenenoch74/status/523617612044189697">October 18, 2014</a>
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<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Winning close counts the same as winning big! Enjoy it <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BruinsNation?src=hash">#BruinsNation</a> were back on the right track and can't wait to get back to work!</p>
— Jerry Neuheisel (@jerryneuheisel) <a href="https://twitter.com/jerryneuheisel/status/523673962979405824">October 19, 2014</a>
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<p>The best part of the game was Marcus Rios' interception.</p>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>So proud of Marcus! No one more deserving of that big play but Rios!!</p>
— owamagbe (@LPJ_Odighizuwa) <a href="https://twitter.com/LPJ_Odighizuwa/status/523636564300025856">October 19, 2014</a>
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<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>happy for marcus boy been through a lot man</p>
— AB (@itheeayb) <a href="https://twitter.com/itheeayb/status/523616134374125568">October 18, 2014</a>
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<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Could not be more proud of one of my best friends Marcus Rios, to overcome everything he has and have the game winning Int at Cal!!!</p>
— Daniel G Eaton (@Ucla_Eaton88) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ucla_Eaton88/status/523639512661258240">October 19, 2014</a>
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<p>This game was of particular interest to Takkarist McKinley:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Great feeling to get win against school I should of been at ! Can't be much happier to play with the group of guys at Ucla <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/gobruins?src=hash">#gobruins</a></p>
— takkarist mckinley (@D1boundTAKK) <a href="https://twitter.com/D1boundTAKK/status/523640400192348160">October 19, 2014</a>
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<p>Hmm.</p>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>On a side note why am I the only one who gets ejected for throwing..... Nvm. ☕️</p>
— Caleb Benenoch (@CalebBenenoch74) <a href="https://twitter.com/CalebBenenoch74/status/523644554872766465">October 19, 2014</a>
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<p>(the boxes were a cup of tea and a frog, if you get that meme.)</p>
<p>But overall:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Lol I swear I love this game.</p>
— Jaleel Wadood (@OGLeel_2) <a href="https://twitter.com/OGLeel_2/status/523633462620594177">October 19, 2014</a>
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<p>The players still love playing.</p>
<p>Go Bruins.</p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruin_football/2014/10/19/7001969/headlines-in-the-bruin-twitterverse-ucla-wins-at-uc-berkeleyMenelaus2014-10-19T05:00:02-07:002014-10-19T05:00:02-07:00The Morning After, Part 7: UC Berkeley
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<img alt="We are certainly glad this guy is healthy" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/lDh6Ni363-JX_EXfpUcwf-ZOe_I=/0x20:4000x2687/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/42221308/457456044.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>We are certainly glad this guy is healthy | Thearon W. Henderson</figcaption>
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<p>The UCLA Bruins ended a 16 year drought at Cal yesterday, but does that mean our team is good, or Cal is bad, or did we just get the right breaks at the right times, and what does it mean for next week and beyond? It's relatively hard to know. </p> <p>Einstein once described relativity this way: Sitting on a hot stove for a minute feels like an hour. Sitting with a pretty girl for an hour feels like a minute. That's relativity.</p>
<p>All appearances are relative, depending where your seat is. As such, it's hard to say anything with a high degree of certainty, and that continues to apply to the 2014 <a href="https://www.bruinsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bruins</a> football team.</p>
<p>You might hear two versions of yesterday's game.</p>
<p>The Bruins lost two poorly played games in a row which killed their season hopes, then traveled to play a bad Cal program that has struggled in recent years and had one of the worst scoring defenses in the conference, but still settled for a couple of red zone field goals while the Bears erased our 10 point halftime lead, turned the ball over 3 times, and had to rely on a late field goal and then a turnover on a curious play call by the opponent when they were closing in on a game-winning field goal attempt to secure an ugly win.</p>
<p>Or...</p>
<p>Despite two losses, the Bruins remained in the thick of the Pac-12 South race, then went on the road to a place they haven't won in 16 years, faced the highest scoring offense in the conference, staged a 4<sup>th</sup> quarter comeback, made a clutch field goal late and then got a last minute game-sealing interception from a second string corner who missed last season with a life threatening fungal infection in his sinuses to preserve a valiant win to keep their Pac-12 hopes alive.</p>
<p>You can adopt either viewpoint, depending on which one suits you better. They are both correct and incorrect at the same time. I've always hated those glass half full/glass half empty arguments, because, by definition, the glass is both. One side cannot exist without the other, and so it then becomes defined by its opposite. But if you just consider the different frames of reference, Einstein (who was mostly a South Campus type) will tell us it's ok, they're actually still the same.</p>
<p>So to choose one side over the other is just an exercise in self preservation.</p>
<p>I wrote this line for the Cal SBN site on Friday about this game: If we lose this game, it's not a big surprise and it doesn't affect the season. If we win this game, it's not a surprise and it doesn't affect the season.</p>
<p>There you go. Equivalent opposites.</p>
<p>From a pure football standpoint, this game was pretty much like all the Bruins previous games. Our team did some good things and they did some bad things, and we have still failed to put together 4 quality quarters of football on the same weekend. The difference yesterday was that, like our 4 wins and unlike Utah and Oregon, we had an opponent that allowed us a greater margin for error. So based on the frame of reference we were observed in yesterday, we looked like a winner.</p>
<p>Also, it was great to end the drought in Berkeley. It has been 16 years since UCLA won there. I looked it up and that 1998 gave was played on October 24<sup>th</sup>, so it's possible there are kids who were born after our last win there who got their driver's licenses before our next win there.</p>
<p>But college football is a wacky sport and appearances can be deceiving. Consider these examples from yesterday...</p>
<p>The Missouri offense had 99 yards rushing and 20 yards passing against Florida. Total. That's it. In the entire game. But no matter, they beat the Gators by 29 points. Only 2 teams in history have limited an opponent to less than 120 yards of offense and lost. Florida's Will Muschamp has coached both of those losing teams.</p>
<p>Oklahoma was the #11 team in the country before Saturday. Then their kicker had a PAT blocked and missed 2 short FG's, the second from 19 yards out with 3 minutes left in the game. Oklahoma lost by a point.</p>
<p>Texas A&M was in the Top 10 2 weeks ago. They lost by 59 yesterday and they will not be in the Top 25 this afternoon.</p>
<p>Baylor was the #4 team in the country before meeting West Virginia yesterday where the two teams combined for 32 penalties for 353 yards. That game film is going to be porn for the SPTRs</p>
<p>And closer (or farther?) from home, the road team advantage in the Pac-12 is now 16-6. So maybe there shouldn't have been any question about breaking the streak this year</p>
<p>Which of the above teams are good and which are bad? I guess it depends on your point of view. We've had our own adventures with winning with an anemic offense, unreliable kicking, falling rankings, and penalties, penalties, penalties. On the other hand, we are undefeated on the road</p>
<p>I don't know what any of it means, and I think my lack of enthusiasm - and direction - for writing this today reflects my ongoing uncertainty about this team. Last week I found some comfort by being relieved of the stress that came with watching our team try to meet ideals is wasn't playing up to. Waiting for failure isn't fun. But I still want to know something more concrete about this team and staff. We did see the coaches try a few new things yesterday like new personnel on the O line and more pressure from the defensive front, so if the possibility for change exists, maybe there is some hope for us after all.</p>
<p>But are we a good team? That's all relative.</p>
<p>If you're looking for absolutes that apply from any reference frame, you'll only find a few here. One is that yesterday's game confirmed that an ugly win is always better than a loss. Another is, after listening to large parts of the last three games on radio via the cool UCLA Gameday app, play by play guy Chris Roberts's eminent retirement will provide an enormous improvement for our broadcast. Silence would get more details correct. And finally, see the photo at the top of this article? We are grateful and happy for a young man who overcame a frequently deadly sinus disease. That he gets to continue playing football is just a bonus.</p>
<p>GO BRUINS!</p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruins_california_bears/2014/10/19/7002011/the-morning-after-part-7-u-c-berkeleygbruin