Bruins Nation - Beat $C Week (2014): UCLA Football Practice Updates, News & NotesBlog Of The Bruins, By The Bruins, For The Bruinshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48017/bruinsnation_f.png2014-11-22T18:40:55-08:00http://www.bruinsnation.com/rss/stream/69653322014-11-22T18:40:55-08:002014-11-22T18:40:55-08:00Southern Cal-UCLA: 2nd Half Game Thread
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<figcaption>Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The UCLA Bruins go into the 2nd half of their game against the Southern Cal Trojans with the score 24-14.</p> <p>With control over their own destiny in the Pac-12 and, to an extent, in the College Football Playoff the <a href="https://www.bruinsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">UCLA Bruins</a> entered Saturday's contest against the Southern Cal Trojans with a lot of emotion.</p>
<p>A pre-game incident at midfield with <span>Sam Handler</span> defending the logo and the Southern Cal band throwing a fit about it. Which is a great way to go from borderline anonymous UCLA player to borderline infamous, in my opinion.</p>
<p>On the field was what really matters, so the kickoff saw the Trojans start with the ball. The Trojans ended up punting around midfield after a short drive and <span>Brett Hundley</span> took the field looking to continue his hot play recently.</p>
<p>It did not start well, with Hundley throwing a pick-six on 2nd down to give the Trojans a 7-0 lead.</p>
<p>After a decent beginning to the next drive, Noel Mazzone called an atrocious option play on 3rd down that looked to give SC the ball again, but Nelson Agohlor made an awful decision to not fair catch a punt inside the 10-yard line and fumbled the punt. <span>Taylor Lagace</span> hopped on top to give UCLA the ball.</p>
<p>The defense-offense came on the field for some reason and promptly lost yardage, then Brett Hundley threw a TD pass to a wide-open <span>Devin Lucien</span> for the tying score. At 7-7, the Trojans got the ball again.</p>
<p>The UCLA defense continued to look god, forcing a 3-and-out and nearly intercepting <span>Cody Kessler</span> twice.</p>
<p>On the first play of their next drive, Hundley hit <span>Thomas Duarte</span> on a slant and Duarte broke a tackle and took it 57 yards for another TD to make it 14-7 for the Bruins.</p>
<p>The defense forced another punt after Steve Sarksian decided to give his fullback a hand-off on 3rd and 2, going away from his two stellar RBs. The Bruins were forced to punt and nearly faced disaster when <span>Matt Mengel</span> dropped the snap but managed to get the ball away.</p>
<p>It was still only a 13-yard punt, so the Trojans got the ball at the UCLA-30. The Bruin defense did a great job of holding Southern Cal on 4th down when USC again tried to run right into the heart of UCLA's defense. No points off of a drive that started at the UCLA 30.</p>
<p>UCLA went 3-and-out to answer that, but Mengel got the punt to the 42-yard line. Still great field position, but at least he caught the snap and got it away cleanly.</p>
<p>Southern Cal took advantage, getting 26 yards on a 3rd and 10 on an outstanding catch by <span>JuJu Smith</span> and then getting a TD pass to <span>Justin Davis</span> in the flat to even the score at 14.</p>
<p>The Bruins offense moved the ball well on the ensuing drive, giving the defense a much needed rest. A few wrinkles for <span>Myles Jack</span> (including <span>Poasi Moala</span> at FB and a pass to Jack in the flat), while unnecessary, were effective.</p>
<p>The drive stalled thanks to a holding penalty on Connor McDermott, but the offense picked up enough to give <span>Ka'imi Fairbairn</span> a short FG opportunity to make it 17-14 in favor of UCLA.</p>
<p>The UCLA defense needed a stop at the end of the half and they got more than that with <span>Eric Kendricks</span> making an exceptional interception on the sideline (where he was aided a little by the Pac-12 officials) after <span>Deon Hollins</span> and an interior rusher got to Cody Kessler and forced a bad pass.</p>
<p>With a little under 4 minutes left, the Bruins' offense got a chance to take a 2 score lead into the half on Southern Cal.</p>
<p>Brett Hundley was a machine on this drive and <span>Jordon James</span> gets a shout out for picking up a tough yard on 3rd and 1. The drive ended on a TD pass to <span>Eldridge Massington</span> to make it 24-14 for UCLA with 14 seconds left in the 1st half.</p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruins_usc_trojans/2014/11/22/7269355/southern-cal-ucla-2nd-half-game-threadIE Angel2014-11-22T15:19:53-08:002014-11-22T15:19:53-08:00Watch: Memorable Bruin moments v $C<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/VDoqg7xG1_0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>
<div class="source source-img"><p><p>One more video to get you fired up today. F*&K $C!</p></p></div>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/2014/11/22/7269025/memorable-bruin-moments-v-cbluestreet2014-11-22T07:45:29-08:002014-11-22T07:45:29-08:00Bruin Bites: UCLA v Southern Cal - Beat $c Edition
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<img alt="Brett Hundley looks to go 3-0 over the trogans today." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/heeoKojkTFu2ok5rlWVBz8D8pvo=/0x6:2400x1606/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/44208800/usa-today-6757414.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Brett Hundley looks to go 3-0 over the trogans today. | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>UCLA plays Southern Cal this evening. What else do you need? Let's bump around the UCLA-iverse to see what people are saying about the Bruins latest opportunity to put a bigger stamp on their dominance of Los Angeles.</p> <p>With all due respect to our outstanding Olympic sports (and to islandbruin2 and bruinette88 who - unlike our AD - have done <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/2014/11/21/7265049/womens-soccer-ncaa-second-round-ucla-vs-harvard-preview-and-game">an outstanding job talking about the teams and giving them their much deserved appreciation</a>) today's Bruin Bites is all football.</p>
<p>It's that kind of day.</p>
<p>With U.C.L.A. stalking a Pac-12 South division championship, and possibly more, the media coverage this week has been turned up, and even seems more intense than it has been in recent years. Some of that can be attributed to the standings of the two teams, with the Bruins currently #9 and the trogans #19 in the latest CFB poll. <a href="http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/11/20/6-or-5-recent-ucla-usc-top-25-matchups/">CBS Los Angeles looked back at the last 6 matchups</a> between the two teams when both were ranked in the top 25 of the AP Poll. Good news...the Bruins are 3-2, with cheating $c having the vacate the 2005 meeting.</p>
<p>That media scrutiny is heightened because the Bruins, despite some pretty big bumps along the way, still find themselves with a chance to fulfill their high preseason expectations of getting a look at the College Football Playoff. <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/pac12/post/_/id/80889/a-jagged-upward-trend-ucla-defense-hits-moment-of-truth-versus-usc">David Lombardi of ESPN wrote about the Bruins up and down season</a> and how the defense will need to come up big to keep things pointed the right way for Coach Mora and U.C.L.A.</p>
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<p>Jim Mora acknowledges that UCLA's trajectory of improvement this season has been complicated.</p>
<p>"For us, if you were going to do a graph, it's been rather jagged, but always trending upwards, even when it didn't seem like it," he explains.</p>
<p>The entire gamut of feelings and evaluations have checked in with the Bruins over the course of 10 games so far -- lofty hype, bitter disappointment, maddening inconsistency, and mercurial play all come to mind.</p>
<p>Ultimately, the smell of success is lingering even as the dust of the chaos begins to settle. UCLA is 8-2, and with only two games remaining, they have traversed the Pac-12 South minefield well enough to control their own destiny -- not only for a conference crown, but also (potentially) for a College Football Playoff berth.</p>
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<p>Of course, you don't need BSPN to tell you this when you have <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/2014/11/20/7253299/u-c-l-a-vs-southern-cal-stats-preview">dbear737 breaking down this game</a> and <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruins_washington-huskies/2014/11/10/7185329/the-eye-test-ucla-puts-it-all-together-in-seattle#270503176">updating the Eye Test results</a> every week. But it's good to see they agree.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/college-football-playoff-contenders-2014-11">The Business Insider broke down the chances of the top 9 teams</a>, all of whom have a legit shot at the CFB Final Four.</p>
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<p>UCLA has the longest shot and needs the most to happen but they are also the dark horse that could sneak in. This is also the scenario you are rooting for if you love chaos.</p>
<p>Follow along: If UCLA wins out, including wins over top-25 ranked USC and Oregon, they would be Pac-12 champions and would almost certainly finish ranked ahead of Oregon.</p>
<p>If TCU and Baylor each lose one of their remaining games (not impossible) and if Ole Miss beats Mississippi State (very possible), the top three would most likely be Alabama, Florida State, and Ohio State.</p>
<p>The committee would then have to choose between a 2-loss non-SEC champ (Ole Miss or Mississippi State), a 2-loss Big 12 champ (TCU or Baylor), or a 2-loss Pac-12 champ that has a win over Oregon (UCLA).</p>
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<p>Yes, that scenario is getting ahead of things, but the possibility is certainly drawing a brighter light on this game than it might otherwise. Of course that road all begins with a win over the trogans tonight, so let's start there.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.presstelegram.com/sports/20141119/takkarist-mckinleys-journey-to-ucla-fueled-by-memory-of-his-grandmother">Jack Wang wrote an outstanding piece</a> on our mid-season addition, DE Takkarist McKinley. McKinley was fortunate to have the<a href="http://www.presstelegram.com/sports/20141119/takkarist-mckinleys-journey-to-ucla-fueled-by-memory-of-his-grandmother"> love and support of his grandmother</a> through a difficult childhood, and as he does everyday, he will have her in mind on Saturday.</p>
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<p>Takkarist McKinley is trying to think of his favorite childhood memory, and at the moment, he's coming up empty.</p>
<p>His earliest, haziest recollections are of a trip to Mississippi to meet a man he thought was his father. A paternity test later proved otherwise. He remembers all the nights he spent on couches or floors around the East Bay, having given up the bedroom to his younger cousins in a crowded house. He thinks of the T-shirts left on the streets, marking the spots of gunned-down bodies.</p>
<p>No, he's found it now: watching wrestling with his grandmother. The two loved nothing better than to huddle in her bedroom, turn on the television, and drink up the part-sport, part-stunt spectacle that was the WWE. Her favorite character was Booker T, a dreadlocked hulk of a man best known for the "spinaroonie" move and a boisterous catchphrase: "Can you dig it, suckaaaaa?"</p>
<p>Myrtle Collins died in 2011, succumbing to heart complications. McKinley has not watched wrestling since.</p>
<p>"I think about her every day," he says, sitting on a bench on the edge of UCLA's Spaulding Field. "She motivates me not to give up."</p>
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<p>Seriously. Read this <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://www.presstelegram.com/sports/20141119/takkarist-mckinleys-journey-to-ucla-fueled-by-memory-of-his-grandmother">article</a>.</p>
<p>Our friend<a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/la-sp-ucla-football-20141120-story.html"> </a>Chris Foster at the LAT has been busy this week covering a bunch of different angles on the Bruins. Of course <span>Brett Hundley</span> has been a major focus of the Bruins all season, and <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/la-sp-usc-ucla-hundley-20141122-story.html">even more so this week</a>. So far, only Cade McNown beat the trogans three times in his U.C.L.A. career - he actually did it four - and Hundley will try to become the second Bruin on that list tonight. He'll likely have to rely on <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/la-sp-usc-ucla-hundley-20141122-story.html">both his arm and his legs</a> to do so.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"That's what I do," Hundley said. "It'd be nice to sit in the pocket and be Peyton Manning back there. Teams structure a game plan for what you're doing most. It's a game of cat and mouse."</p>
<p>In recent weeks, Pac-12 defenses have dared Hundley to run by dropping eight or nine players into coverage. And they have paid a price. Hundley has gained at least 89 yards rushing in four of the last five games. He has run for 564 yards and seven touchdowns this season - and 1,683 yards and 28 touchdowns in his UCLA career.</p>
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<p>Another good piece by Foster focused on the wide receivers and the importance of their unheralded role - <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/la-sp-ucla-football-20141120-story.html">blocking in the running game</a>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>It is no secret that UCLA's offense purrs when quarterback Brett Hundley is on the move. An improved running game has also pushed the Bruins along this season.</p>
<p>UCLA receivers have had a hand in both areas, becoming skilled at down-field blocking, which can turn short gains into long ones.</p>
<p>"We like being physical," receiver <span>Eldridge Massington</span> said. "Defensive players like to hit us. Most of the time, receivers don't like to hit back. We do."</p>
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<p>Line wins games, right? These guys are part of that, too.</p>
<p>Speaking of the running game, Ryan Kartje, who has done a great job covering the U.C.L.A. beat all season for the OC Register, <a href="http://www.ocregister.com/articles/polamalu-642777-running-mora.html">wrote a great article on the man behind it all, Coach Kennedy Polamalu</a>. This rivalry is nothing new for Polamalu, but this will be his first time on the sideline for the good guys, and the great improvement in our running game this season can be<a href="http://www.ocregister.com/articles/polamalu-642777-running-mora.html"> traced back to his hire</a>.</p>
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<p>"It's not that anything needed to change necessarily," Mora said. "There's just a general feeling you get sometimes as a head coach that you need to make an adjustment. Maybe a different type of personality would impact the players in the way you'd like. That's not to say anything negative about the guy before, but it happens with coaches a lot. A guy comes in and he invigorates an entire squad."</p>
<p>That certainly has been the case with Polamalu, who, in less than a full year with the program, has turned UCLA's running game around completely. Through 10 games, this year's Bruins are averaging more rushing yards per game (215) than any UCLA backfield since 1986. At the core of that success is Perkins, who has evolved into one of the Pac-12's best all-around backs, upping his average to 6.17 yards per carry and giving the Bruins a legitimate every-down threat out of the backfield.</p>
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<p>It's not just current coaches and players who are the focus this week, but plenty of Bruin alums are talking about this game. Bruin greats Jarrad Page and Bruce Davis have joined forces for an <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://www.huddlepassnation.com/#!ucla-huddle/cm1v">awesome weekly podcast</a> and this week's episode focused on the Bruins hatred of their rival. They were joined this week by two other Bruin legends, Marcedes Lewis and Anthony Barr. Give it a listen <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://www.huddlepassnation.com/#!ucla-huddle/cm1v">here</a>.</p>
<p>Foster spoke to a couple of former Bruin QB's this week about the rivalry. Tommy Maddox faced Southern Cal twice, and <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/uclanow/la-sp-ucla-tommy-maddox-todd-marinovich-usc-20141121-story.html">he started that great 8 consecutive victory streak</a> in 1991.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Former UCLA quarterback Tommy Maddox remembers his one victory over USC. Yet, he has total recall on his one loss.</p>
<p>Maddox threw for 212 yards in guiding the Bruins to a 24-21 victory over the Trojans in 1991. It started UCLA's eight-game winning streak in the rivalry.</p>
<p>"The one I won was a lot more enjoyable," Maddox said.</p>
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<p>Former Bruin QB Wayne Cook, who owns two wins over the trogans as a starter himself, <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/uclanow/la-sp-ucla-wayne-cook-usc-ucla-20141118-story.html">weighed in on the rivalry, too</a>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Cook, now a sideline reporter for UCLA radio broadcasts, said, "I've listened to them talk how they dominated the series. Go back and look at the 1980s and 1990s. I'm sure UCLA won both decades. That's two decades."</p>
<p>UCLA had a 5-4-1 record against USC in the 1980s and 8-2 record in the 1990s. As for USC's dominance under Coach Pete Carroll in the 2000s, Cook cites the Trojans' probation.</p>
<p>"The Carroll years are tainted," Cook said. "They even had to vacate a couple wins.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>And let's finish with one more comment from the Head Coach (thanks to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjGm7LcV7m6__5hGqHpVPNA">Go Bruins</a> for posting the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUJFSDh81Fw">video</a>)</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/EUJFSDh81Fw" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p> </p>
<p>GO BRUINS!!!</p>
<p>BEAT $c!!!</p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruins_usc_trojans/2014/11/22/7254637/sat-bruin-bitesgbruin2014-11-21T16:35:02-08:002014-11-21T16:35:02-08:00Spaulding Roundup: Beat SC and SI Honors Bruins
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<figcaption>Stephen Dunn/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The national media is picking UCLA to beat Southern Cal tomorrow night and continue their late charge toward the Pac-12 title and a playoff spot.</p> <p>Allright Bruins. We are now just a day away from taking on the trogans at the Rose Bowl. Achilles has <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/2014/11/21/7258257/ucla-pregame-guesses-southern-cal-edition">his pregame guesses ready to go</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruins_usc_trojans/2014/11/19/7246651/ucla-usc-previews-stream-2014">our preview series on Southern Cal is here</a> for folks looking to catch up on the folks from across town. Coach Mora is <a target="_blank" href="http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/ucla-usc-rivalry-jim-mora-bonfire-pep-rally-f-bomb-turn-up-cfb-am-112114">fired up for tomorrow night</a>, and the national media thinks he has good reason. Let's start <a target="_blank" href="http://blogs.wsj.com/dailyfix/2014/11/20/college-football-pick-of-the-week-southern-california-at-ucla/">with the Wall Street Journal</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>... But Saturday’s game at the Rose Bowl may not ultimately be very close, especially considering the small, three-point spread.</p>
<p>UCLA has an elite home-field advantage (worth more than the traditional three points) and a matchup advantage with dual-threat quarterback <span>Brett Hundley</span> likely able to exploit a relatively weak USC run defense.</p>
<p>According to 50,000 games played by the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.predictionmachine.com/Picks">Predictalator</a> at PredictionMachine.com, UCLA wins over USC 58.1% of the time and by an average score of 39-30.</p>
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<p>The college football writers at SI.com have <a target="_blank" href="http://www.si.com/college-football/2014/11/19/week-13-college-football-picks">picked the Bruins to prevail tomorrow night</a> by a 7-1 margin, while Bruce Feldman and Stewart Mandel both have <a target="_blank" href="http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/week-13-cfb-picks-against-the-spread-arkansas-ole-miss-usc-ucla-fsu-notre-dame-112014">UCLA winning in a close battle</a> with Southern Cal. Coy Wire has an insightful piece at Fox Sports looking at how <a target="_blank" href="http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/college-football-playoff-ucla-bruins-usc-trojans-pac-12-game-of-the-week-111914">the evolution of the Bruin running attack </a>has allowed UCLA to make a late run toward the college football playoff.</p>
<p>Over at the LA Times, Tommy Maddux<a target="_blank" href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/uclanow/la-sp-ucla-tommy-maddox-todd-marinovich-usc-20141121-story.html"> looks back at his two Southern Cal games</a>, and Sam Farmer <a target="_blank" href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/football/nfl/la-sp-usc-ucla-nfl-prospects-20141121-story.html#page=1">talked with some NFL scouts about the professional outlook</a> for several of the players taking the field tomorrow.</p>
<p>In wider CFB news, reports over the last couple of days suggest that The Mighty SEC - home to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/schedule">such epic matchups</a> as Auburn/Samford and Georgia/Charleston Southern - is <a target="_blank" href="http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/college-football-playoff-rankings-alabama-sec-texas-am-bowl-game-cfb-am-111914">afraid of the possibility of Texas A&M playing Texas in a bowl game </a>and will oppose any bowl's attempt to select both teams.</p>
<p>Sports Illustrated is getting ready to name their Sportsman of the Year for 2014. In preparation, they have tasked their writers to publish short essays on the 20 finalists - a group which includes two Bruins. George Dohrmann's essay describes <a href="http://www.si.com/sportsman/2014/11/17/george-dohrmann-2014-sportsman-crusaders-obannon-case" target="_blank">the impact of Ed O'Bannon</a> and his fellow plaintiffs and activists fighting the NCAA.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>They say it takes a village to raise a child, and it took at least that to bring down the NCAA.</p>
<p>There were the former athletes, like Ed O’Bannon and <span>Shawne Alston</span>, who put their names on historic lawsuits...</p>
<p>While the NCAA it still operating and Mark Emmert is still defending its model, there is little doubt that the association will never be the same after the events of 2014. This past year was the beginning of its end, and the individuals who made that happen should be SI’s Sportspersons of the Year.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>UCLA's Nevada-based former national champion/POY is an SI Sportsman of the Year nominee, while Southern Cal's icon is a convicted felon <a target="_blank" href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/life-oj-simpson-20-years/story?id=24058397">serving up to 33 years in a Nevada prison</a>. Sounds about right. Bruin legend and 2014 Boston Marathon winner <a target="_blank" href="http://www.si.com/sportsman/2014/11/03/tim-layden-sportsman-nominee-meb-keflezighi">Meb Keflezighi is the subject of Tim Layden's nominating essay</a>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>... Then something remarkable happened, something that defies explanation to this day and softens the anger of the most cynical among us. An <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/american" class="sbn-auto-link">American</a> won the race. An American with a bib on which he had written in tiny letters the names of the three killed in the 2013 bombing and the MIT police officer killed later. An American who had for many years not long ago, suffered the indignity of criticism that he wasn’t American enough to represent the U.S.A. on the international athletic stage, when in fact he was everything that America aspires to be.</p>
<p>For this victory, the period -- nay, the exclamation mark -- at the end of Boston’s yearlong expression of recovery and resolves, Meb Keflezighi should be Sports Illustrated’s 2014 Sportsman of the Year.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>No matter who SI selects next month, the actions of these Bruins - and all those who go about their lives without drawing national attention - have been felt.</p>
<p>GO BRUINS!</p>
<p>BEAT SOUTHERN CAL!</p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruins_usc_trojans/2014/11/21/7265301/ucla-football-usc-trojans-bruins-nominated-si-sportsman-of-yearPatroclus2014-11-21T13:58:08-08:002014-11-21T13:58:08-08:00Mora getting the crowd pumped up last night!<iframe class="vine-embed" src="https://vine.co/v/OJj75ndJv2d/embed/simple" width="480" height="480"></iframe>
<div class="source source-img"><p><p>Wew!! Mora is pumped up!!!</p>
<p>Love it!</p></p></div>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/2014/11/21/7264995/mora-getting-the-crowd-pumped-up-last-nightFlem2014-11-21T11:51:52-08:002014-11-21T11:51:52-08:00Bruin Tweets: Beat Southern Cal Bonfire Cancelled
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/yfQMb_Hoha2OLNnctSXDyGmzH0g=/0x586:2165x2029/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/44200558/452694381.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Stephen Dunn/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The fire may not have been lit last night, but the Bruin spirit is still strong.</p> <p>Rivalry Week is (was) a fun time on campus. There is usually a buzz as everyone gets ready for the game and takes part in the activities during the week, and calling out ANYONE wearing red.</p>
<p>Also shout out to Bear Patrol, who should consider upping their patrols by a week, after the scumbags across town got to the Bear early.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>You guys are the real MVP! RT <a href="https://twitter.com/aseerali4">@aseerali4</a>: Guardians of the Bruin Bear <a href="http://t.co/PPWFdKoon1">pic.twitter.com/PPWFdKoon1</a>"</p>
— <span>Jerry Neuheisel</span> (@jerryneuheisel) <a href="https://twitter.com/jerryneuheisel/status/535438810541473792">November 20, 2014</a>
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<p>One of those traditions is the Bonfire on Thursday night. The football team comes out, the coach will say a few words, and we get pumped up as we burn a pile of wood, that in previous years, used to be Tommy Trojan but apparently we need to be sensitive (sure, whatever) and is now just a pile of painted wood.</p>
<p>Coach Mora got into it:</p>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCLA?src=hash">#UCLA</a> couldn't light it's Beat SC bonfire tonight. Jim Mora didn't care. <a href="https://t.co/Zx4nG6RXPM">https://t.co/Zx4nG6RXPM</a></p>
— Edward Lewis (@EdwardLewisBSR) <a href="https://twitter.com/EdwardLewisBSR/status/535652663057457152">November 21, 2014</a>
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<p>Yes, that's an F Bomb. Do we care? No.</p>
<p>What do we care about? There was no fire.</p>
<p>This isn't new - there have been occasions due to fire danger where the bonfire was not lit. This is understandable. However, this year, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/2014/11/20/7257955/who-organizes-the-beat-c-bonfire-rally">a group of students decided to sit on the wood pallets</a> to protest the UC's decision to increase tuition over the next five years.</p>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCPD?src=hash">#UCPD</a> are saying they will not light the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BeatSCBonfire?src=hash">#BeatSCBonfire</a> tonight. Students are still sitting on the wood, bonfire events are going as planned</p>
— Daily Bruin (@dailybruin) <a href="https://twitter.com/dailybruin/status/535631053671899136">November 21, 2014</a>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCLA?src=hash">#UCLA</a> rally can't light traditional bonfire bc of students protesting tuition hikes. <a href="http://t.co/uNhqUTi7t4">pic.twitter.com/uNhqUTi7t4</a></p>
— Jeff Michael (@JeffMichaelNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffMichaelNews/status/535630908230221825">November 21, 2014</a>
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<p>Not everyone was happy with that decision:</p>
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<p>"Ever since they ruined the bonfire I'm SO much more sympathetic to the protesters' cause!" - Nobody ever</p>
— Michael Drell (@_mdrell) <a href="https://twitter.com/_mdrell/status/535641642586607616">November 21, 2014</a>
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<p>UCLA: where our Rivalry Week bonfire isn't going to happen because of protestors.</p>
— Tyler (@tmorad22) <a href="https://twitter.com/tmorad22/status/535630904396238848">November 21, 2014</a>
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<p>No bonfire because protesters. I mean I'm with the cause but really? During the Beat SC bonfire?</p>
— alan mendoza (@thehomie_alan) <a href="https://twitter.com/thehomie_alan/status/535635638444244992">November 21, 2014</a>
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<p>On the other side, there are the students that believe the message got out:</p>
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<p>Protest with us! <a href="https://twitter.com/UCLA">@ucla</a> doesn't want us here- TOO BAD WE'RE NOT GOING <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tuitionhikes?src=hash">#tuitionhikes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/regents?src=hash">#regents</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/uctuitionhikes?src=hash">#uctuitionhikes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ucla?src=hash">#ucla</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/notwelcome?src=hash">#notwelcome</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ucbonfire?src=hash">#ucbonfire</a></p>
— Maddalena Zarcone (@LenaGuilliette) <a href="https://twitter.com/LenaGuilliette/status/535595331816153088">November 21, 2014</a>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCLA?src=hash">#UCLA</a> with the money we are paying, give us education, not entertainment <a href="https://twitter.com/samhoff3">@samhoff3</a>: Bonfire protest continues <a href="http://t.co/FlcEK6SlmK">pic.twitter.com/FlcEK6SlmK</a></p>
— Maria Yefimova (@myefimova) <a href="https://twitter.com/myefimova/status/535618455580315648">November 21, 2014</a>
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<p>Interesting when someone called her out on it though:</p>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/Chuck1463">@Chuck1463</a> my point is these protests raise real issues that students & families will face, like increasing tuition/debt. SC rally can wait</p>
— Maria Yefimova (@myefimova) <a href="https://twitter.com/myefimova/status/535644287858257921">November 21, 2014</a>
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<p>In reality, no the rally CANNOT wait, as the game is this weekend, we have to contract with UCPD and the Fire Department for the safe lighting of the fire, and it made what could have been a unifying experience for freshmen and a final bonfire for seniors a disappointment.</p>
<p>One way to cure that disappointment:<br><br>Beating Southern Cal.</p>
<p>Go Bruins.</p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruins_usc_trojans/2014/11/21/7260237/headlines-in-the-bruin-twitterverse-beat-southern-cal-bonfireMenelaus2014-11-20T13:54:21-08:002014-11-20T13:54:21-08:00Spaulding Report: Consistency Is Key For UCLA
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<img alt="The Bruins sound focused and ready for Southern Cal" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/4HQ9mAKRJJJVhqYMe6i2PaSQnnk=/0x277:2576x1994/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/44196176/457199852.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>The Bruins sound focused and ready for Southern Cal | Harry How/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Coach Mora met with the media for the final time before Saturday's rivalry game with Southern Cal, and he stressed the importance of the Bruins sticking to what they have learned and practiced all season rather than getting hyped up at the last moment. </p> <p>UCLA Football Head Coach Jim Mora <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EFCAAfXZIQ">met with the media</a> for the final time before Saturday's rivalry game with Southern Cal. Not surprisingly, there wasn't a lot of in depth information. Instead there was a theme of sticking to their routine and what has gotten them this far.</p>
<p>Mora started off by saying that the team's preparation remained essentially the same this week and that the staff didn't significantly change their model for this game. He feels the team has been fairly successful with this formula, and that sticking to what they are used to should help keep the players from getting too wrapped up in the hype and emotion of the rivalry. His comments and direction reflected much of what we heard from the <a href="http://his%20comments%20reflect%20much%20of%20what%20we%20heard%20form%20the%20players%20earlier%20this%20week">players earlier this week</a>, so it sounds like the team is all together going into this game. He added the players look focused and excited to play, but it sounds like they are trying to keep things business as usual around Spaulding.</p>
<p>After the 4 (2 real ones) penalty performance against Washington, Mora wouldn't say that the penalties problem are gone for the Bruins. He said the team has done a really nice job of owning the issue and that it will be important for them to continue that mindset this weekend. There was an allusion to the horrible SPTRs when he said that he hopes that the officials understand the significance of this game and that penalties don't have a role in deciding the outcome of the game.</p>
<p>Mora spoke a lot about his background with Southern Cal coach Steve Sarkisian, saying he has great respect for him as a coach and a person and called him a friend. He added his gratitude that Sarkisian offered him the opportunity during his time out of the NFL to be around Sark's football program in Washington. Mora got to sit in on some of the UW meetings and practices where he realized a great appreciation for the college game. Mora said his biggest revelation with the college environment was how much he enjoyed being around college athletes and having the opportunity to make a difference in the kids' lives both on and off the field.</p>
<p>Mora had high praise for Southern Cal defensive lineman <span>Leonard Williams</span>, and then finished by saying he doesn't have any specific pre-game speech prepared, calling them overrated. Rather he will let the attitude and mindset that has been created through the years provide much of the preparation and motivation, and he'll just add what he feels is right before they take the field.</p>
<p>You can watch the whole interview below. Thank you, as always, to <a href="https://ucla.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1706660">Ed Lewis with Bruin Sports Report</a> for making the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EFCAAfXZIQ">video</a> public. Besides the interview with Mora, the video also offers prime coverage of our friends Chris Foster with the LAT and Ryan Kartje from the OC Register behind Mora, the hideous monstrosity of Block's ridiculous hotel looming in the background, the constant and nearly overwhelming clatter from the construction, and the still silky smooth tones of Jim Hill, who I grew up watching on TV 35+ years ago.</p>
<p><iframe width="640" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/0EFCAAfXZIQ" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p><i>video from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EFCAAfXZIQ">BSR TV via YouTube</a></i></p>
<p>Mora later <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/uclanow/la-sp-ucla-jim-mora-usc-20141120-story.html">spoke with Foster</a> about which of the <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/uclanow/la-sp-ucla-jim-mora-usc-20141120-story.html">trogan players</a> worries him, and then proceeded to name almost all the trogan starters, giving due respect to their QB, running backs, receivers, O Line, and several defensive players. It was good respectful pre game coach speak, and it was fair, but Foster added his own <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/uclanow/la-sp-ucla-jim-mora-usc-20141120-story.html">great tag</a> to finish it.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.insidesocal.com/ucla/2014/11/20/whats-at-stake-for-ucla-in-the-usc-rivalry-game/">Inside UCLA's Jack Wang</a> appeared on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEqAwLP1aTc#t=55">ESPN's Sports Center a couple mornings ago</a> to discuss the state of UCLA going into the rivalry game. Unlike what we would hear from the coaching staff or players though, Wang hits it on the head when he says this game, beyond the obvious implications in rankings and Pac-12 South standings, is important in that it offers UCLA an opportunity to put a definite stamp of authority on the football scene in Los Angeles. Winning the last two years felt great, but there is the fact that the trogans were still reeling from the NCAA sanctions and having Lane Kiffin was like a gigantic extra penalty on top of that. Many people feel that the Bruins still need to prove they can beat a Southern Cal program that isn't the glorious dumpster fire it was the last two seasons.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/SEqAwLP1aTc" height="480" width="853"></iframe></p>
<p>Thanks to Jack Wang for the <a href="http://www.insidesocal.com/ucla/2014/11/20/whats-at-stake-for-ucla-in-the-usc-rivalry-game/">video</a>.</p>
<p>I hope the team is able to stay focused because I'm already pacing like a caged tiger. I want this one so much.</p>
<p>Two more days.</p>
<p>GO BRUINS!!</p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruins_usc_trojans/2014/11/20/7256097/spaulding-report-consistency-is-key-for-uclagbruin2014-11-19T19:03:20-08:002014-11-19T19:03:20-08:00Spaulding: Beban Remembers and Cordinators Talk $c
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<img alt="It's time to bring the pressure Bruins!" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/MN9q_hZJ4XNKXYw9RPA6rU7Tye8=/0x174:1350x1074/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/44190866/usa-today-6757378.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>It's time to bring the pressure Bruins! | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>News and notes from the UCLA football program as the Bruins gear up to take on Southern Cal.</p> <p>With three more days until <span>Brett Hundley</span> leads our Bruin football team to his third possible victory over Southern Cal, UCLA's offensive and defensive coordinators were singing the praises of some of the Trogan players. We have been hearing focus, confidence, and thoughtful reflection from our players all week. They really seem to be approaching this with the right mentality. The Coordinators did not stray from that path even as many of the questions seemed to be about this week's opponent.</p>
<p>Offensive <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUR9ONc9gVU">C</a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUR9ONc9gVU">oordinator Mazzone</a> starts with a little quib about this being coach speak day and not keeping up with sports news. He then goes on to talk about the challenge Southern Cal's defense will be present. Coach Mazzone switches the conversation back to the Bruins and how his focus is on preparing his guys and on what his guys are doing. When asked, Mazzone praises defensive lineman Williams saying that he is one of the conference's best lineman, he plays angry and then says our guys will need a little anger too. Mazzone says he does not know how the opponent's d will come after them, blitzing or not, and that they need to be prepared for everything. Mazzone agrees that you can see Kennedy Polamalu's imprint on the running back group, especially in the pass protection role which allows him to call more pass plays and Brett to run through his progressions. Mazzone continues the focus on UCLA:</p>
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<p>In all honesty, we just kind of come out every week and worry about us. It's about the process of becoming a good football team and we're still in that process... this week is another challenge for us to see how far we've come.</p>
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<p>Mazzone does a good job of talking about Brett Hundley and how in that position you always get better. "Brett's won a lot of football games for us here", all quarterbacks vacillate from week to week, even those that have been playing a long time like "the Paytons and the Toms". The full interview:</p>
<p><span><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/iUR9ONc9gVU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></span></p>
<p><i>Thank you </i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUR9ONc9gVU">Ryan Kartje,</a><i> OC Register for the video.</i></p>
<p>Defensive <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-jB0zEYGFk"></a><a href="http://%3Ciframe%20width%3D/">C</a><a frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/iUR9ONc9gVU" height="315" href="http://<iframe%20width=">oordinator Jeff Ulbrich</a><a frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/iUR9ONc9gVU" height="315" href="http://<iframe%20width="> </a>is asked a lot of questions about Southern Cal's offense and says diversifying the defense will be one of the keys in meeting the challenge the opponent's offense presents. UCLA's defense will get a new look this week going up against a well executed hybrid of a pro style and spread offense. Coach Ulbrich says they have not seen any others like it this season.</p>
<p>Coach Ulbrich is then asked about some of Southern Cal's weapons. With regards to the quarterback, he says Kessler can move on to his 3rd and 4th reads, executes well, and agrees that he can get the ball out quickly. He also praises running back Allen for his patience, his vision, and notes that he will be playing on Sundays. Because of Allen's ability, gap discipline will be extra important this week and Ulbrich thinks the defense has been showing a true commitment to doing their jobs and maintaining their gaps. He is asked about getting pressure on the quarterback and says that Kessler has been able to go through so many progressions in large part because of their success running the ball. Since Southern Cal is committed to the run game play action is always "valid" which slows down the ability to pass rush, even on third downs. Ulbrich says the Bruins have to stop the run in order to earn the right to affectively rush the passer. Ulbrich praises the work of their young offensive line and has seen them improve, especially in the Berkeley game. When asked about the opponent's wide receiver Agholor, Ulbrich says the Bruins will have to mix up the coverages and adjust if things are not working. He is excited for our defensive backs who get to take on this challenge, adding that this is why you play the game. Our defensive backs have gotten a lot of help this week going up against <span>Jordan Lasley</span> "who is going to be a stud!" "The sucker comes out and competes his butt off everyday...He makes it easier for our guys on Saturday." Coach Ulbrich believes the defense is playing with confidence and will do their jobs on Saturday. The full video:</p>
<p><span><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/j-jB0zEYGFk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></span></p>
<p><i>Thank you </i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-jB0zEYGFk">Ryan Kartje,</a><i> OC Register for the video.</i></p>
<p>I guess that is about all that Southern Cal is going to get on the Bruins preparations for the game as there seems to be added security around Spaulding:</p>
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<p>Hit <a href="https://twitter.com/UCLAFootball">@UCLAFootball</a> practice this am.Impressed they had security in parking lot overlooking practice field. Rivalry spy prevention <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USCvsUCLA?src=hash">#USCvsUCLA</a></p>— Holly Rowe (@sportsiren) <a href="https://twitter.com/sportsiren/status/535119776683933699">November 19, 2014</a>
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<p>I'd bet my life that the dude with the sledgehammer is a trogan. How are we going to going to keep eyes off practice once the hotel is built Chancellor Block? Just asking.</p>
<p>While driving to the Staples Center last night, I was excited to <a href="http://www.am570radio.com/media/podcast-petros-and-money-PetrosAndMoney/petros-and-money-show-gary-beban-25586479/">hear Gary Beban</a> come on the Petros and Money show. The Heisman Trophy winner who "once a year lowers himself" (not Beban's words), to be on their show talks about what it was like back in the day when there was only one game a week on television and when exposure for Heisman candidates was at a minimum. Gary Beban expresses his view of the current uniforms, loving the baby blues (wouldn't be seen wearing anything else), the magic carpet ride Tommy Prothro was on, and why Prothro didn't go for a third touchdown in the last four minutes against Southern Cal in 1965. About playing it cool like the current Bruins are, Beban said when he was playing this game was a "season of its own". He makes a point about how important this week was when he was there and that this game was why players went to one of the two schools. As for this year's game, Beban says it all depends on which UCLA team shows up.</p>
<p><span>Ishmael Adams</span> was also<a href="http://www.am570radio.com/media/podcast-petros-and-money-PetrosAndMoney/petros-and-money-show-ishmael-adams-25580295/"> interviewed on Monday</a>, but as Petros says, he gave them nothing. Once again, Ish showing Bruin discipline while being fun to listen to.</p>
<p>Chris Foster has a article about how <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/la-sp-ucla-football-20141120-story.html">Jordan Lasley's physicality </a>is helping prepare UCLA's d-backs. Foxsports discusses why <a href="http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/college-football-playoff-ucla-bruins-usc-trojans-pac-12-game-of-the-week-111914">UCLA could crash the College Football Playoff</a> if the Bruins run the table. The Salt Lake Tribune takes a look at how the<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/sports/1842064-155/south-pac-sec-west-arizona-ucla?_mid=117957&_rid=117957.16511.38&cmpid=emc:fscom:cfb_bruins&place2"> Pac-12 South Is not the SEC West, but it's close</a>.</p>
<p>There seems to be another competition going on between the two schools this week to see which school's students can conserve the most water. In <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://www.atvn.org/news/2014/11/usc-ucla-compete-highest-water-conservation">The Thirst is Real: UCLA vs. USC</a> competitioin, students are asked to pledge to reduce water. With the flooding on our campus this year, I think the Bruins will be more motivated than usual to do the right thing.</p>
<p>That's it for now, and as always...</p>
<p>Go Bruins!</p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruin_football/2014/11/19/7251725/spaulding-roundup-ucla-football-coordinators-praise-southern-cal-gary-bebanuclaluv