UCLA

UCLA football: Prince has ‘best week of practice’

Adam Maya, staff writer since 2006 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:28:00 +0000

The old baseball adage is momentum is only as good as tomorrow’s starting pitcher. How about Saturday’s starting quarterback?

UCLA quarterback Kevin Prince threw for 198 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter while rallying the Bruins back from a 16-point deficit this past Saturday against Oregon State. Coach Rick Neuheisel said those final 12 minutes have already carried over.

“I think he’s had his best week of practice,” Neuheisel said Thursday. “I think he’s raring to go. I’ll be disappointed if he doesn’t keep up that momentum.”

Prince’s big finish last week ended a rather dry spell for the redshirt freshman. He hadn’t thrown a touchdown in three games and had failed to pass for 100 yards in two of there starts since returning from a broken jaw.

Prince finished with a season-high 323 yards and 22 completions against the Beavers and nearly drove UCLA down the field for another game-tying drive in the closing seconds.

“There’s nothing like a shot of confidence,” Neuheisel said. “You have to experience it. Even though it didn’t result in victory, the ability when you have to make plays, I think, is hugely beneficial.”

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UCLA football: Morrell Presley out, UW’s Jake Locker in

Adam Maya, staff writer since 2006 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:25:47 +0000

**The Seattle Times reported Thursday Washington quarterback Jake Locker (thigh) will start Saturday against the Bruins.

**Receiver Morrell Presley will not play because of a left shoulder sprain. Presley’s arm is in a sling after a collision with safety Dalton Hilliard during Wednesday’s practice. “It will probably keep him out for a week or so,” Coach Rick Neuheisel said.

**Receiver Randall Carroll (groin) is doubtful.

**Center Kai Maiava (elbow), who was limited in practice much of the week, will start.

**Another set of X-rays for cornerback Aaron Hester (leg) came back negative, but he will not play.

**Reserve defensive tackle Andy Keane (elbow) will not be available.

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UCLA football: UCLA or Washington?

Adam Maya, staff writer since 2006 — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:00:01 +0000

Click here for this week’s Pac-10 power poll and predictions on this week’s top college football games.

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Who will win Saturday?

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UCLA Basketball: Bruins ‘lucky’ to beat Concordia

Adam Maya, staff writer since 2006 — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:41:36 +0000

UCLA men’s basketball coach Ben Howland took the podium and, before he was asked, said he knew all too well about Div. II Le Moyne’s shocking victory against Syracuse on Tuesday.

The Bruins had just come dangerously close to besting that feat — by nearly losing to an NAIA team in their exhibition season-opener.

UCLA guard Mustafa Abdul-Hamid hit a 3-pointer with 16 seconds remaining to give the Bruins a 62-61 victory against Concordia at Pauley Pavilion on Wednesday.

“We were very lucky to win,” Howland said.

The Bruins had not led in the second half until Abdul-Hamid’s shot. Concordia, which led by as many as eight, missed two desperation layups in the closing seconds.

“Obviously we have a lot of work to do to compete at all in the Pac-10,” Howland said.

For much of the game the Bruins looked like five players who had not played together before. In all fairness, they almost are. As many as six players were sidelined at one point this preseason.

Two key players were missing to injury against Concordia, including point guard Jerime Anderson, who is expected to carry much of the load at guard left behind by Darren Collison and Jrue Holiday, both of whom are now in the NBA.

Abdul-Hamid, a former walk-on and Malcolm Lee handled the point guard duties for the Bruins, who had 20 turnovers.

“I think it shows how mismatched we’ve been. We’re behind,” Howland said. “We’re playing today how we’ve practiced.”

Forward Drew Gordon came off the bench and scored 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Bruins, which shot 48 percent form the field but made just 9 of 19 free throws. Forward Nikola Dragovic had 12 points, and forward James Keefe and Lee had 11.

“Tonight showed that we have a lot of work ahead of us,” Keefe said. “We’re a young team, we had a lot of injuries, we haven’t had full practices with everyone involved. It’s kind of hard to get in the flow, get in rhythm when guys are missing days, weeks of practices.

“We got a long way to go before we are at our peak.”

Concordia guard Justin Johnson led all scorers with 21 points, but had just four after halftime. The Eagles led at the break, 31-28, after the two teams traded leads for much of the first half.

“I don’t think anything surprised us,” Abdul-Hamid said. “We were prepared but we didn’t execute offensively or defensively. They did a great job.”

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UCLA basketball: Bruins edge Concordia, 62-61

Al Balderas, staff writer — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:34:36 +0000

Mustafa Abdul-Hamid scored a 3-point basket with 16.1 seconds remaining to lift the UCLA men’s basketball team to a 62-61 victory over Concordia in an exhibition game at Pauley Pavilion Wednesday night.

Concordia, yes an NAIA school, led most of the way but were unable to hold off the Bruins’ comeback.

Concordia got a few looks at the basket in the closing moments but failed to score. Terrence Worthy missed two shots in a final drive.

The Bruins will play against Humboldt State in another exhibition game on Nov. 10.

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UCLA basketball: Concordia 31, UCLA 28 (halftime)

Al Balderas, staff writer — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:36:11 +0000

Justin Johnson scored 17 first-half points to help Concordia build a 31-28 halftime lead over UCLA in an exhibition game at Pauley Pavilion on Wednesday night.

The Bruins have been hampered by 2 of 8 shooting from the free throw line, as well as 10 turnovers.

James Keefe and Drew Gordon lead the Bruins with nine points apiece.

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UCLA football: Brian Theriot tells his side of Facebook fiasco

Adam Maya, staff writer since 2006 — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:08:34 +0000

The comments began Saturday night.

“The sad state of UCLA football. My gosh…..I have never seen more misuse of talent and a greater degree of offensive stagnancy on play calling and use of personnel….we have the players.”

They continued Monday morning.

“UCLA under Coach Rick (Neuheisel)….is horrible. Wayne Moses the running back coach is horrible. … UCLA is playing with great athletes but giving great athletes boys and girls club sets. Norm Chow and Wayne Moses are old school and gone.

“I have decided to just show up and Coach at UCLA Spaulding Field today. I am going to just step out of the ‘parents’ section of the stands and coach the backfield.”

The above remarks were posted on the Facebook page of Brian Theriot, the father of UCLA reserve fullback Trevor Theriot.

Brian Theriot has since claimed his Facebook account was “hacked” and that he did not post the comments in question, which have since been removed.

We spoke with Theriot on Wednesday. Here’s what he said:

Adam Maya: What happened?
Brian Theriot: “What really happened was I was up at Corvallis and these postings started on my Facebook page. My password was changed 13 times between Oct. 28 and Nov. 2. I never even saw the postings.

“First of all, I’m a big believer in Rick Neuheisel, Norm Chow and Wayne Moses. I would never go out and publish and chastise these coaches for what they’re trying to do.”

Maya: When did you notice the comments on your Facebook page?
Theriot: “I didn’t know it until the associate athletic director wrote me (on Monday) and said, Did you write this? Well, first of all, I’ve been at more practices than any other parent in the history of UCLA. There is no practice on Mondays at UCLA. And there is no parent section. Those are the keys that tell you it isn’t me.”

Maya: There were multiple posts on your Facebook page attacking the program, beginning Saturday night and continuing through Monday morning. In-between there were multiple posts on Brett Favre and Halloween photos, which have not been removed. If you posted those, you would have seen the comments from Saturday night, which were still on your page as of Monday. Are those your posts from Sunday?
Theriot: “I’m a big Brett Favre fan. My last post I think was about 5:20 p.m., Sunday.”

Maya: Right. And the posts attacking the program came before and after that. The first ones were from Saturday evening, shortly after the UCLA-Oregon State game. The others came on Monday morning. You’ve admitted you posted Sunday. So if someone else wrote these posts on Monday, what about the posts from Saturday?
Theriot: “Those aren’t me. I don’t attack the program. I’ll be honest with you, do I disagree with the use of my son? Yes, but that’s irrelevant. That’s no reason to attack the program. In the midst of all this (on Monday), I was communicating with Bob Field, the associate athletic director, about the situation with my son.”

Maya: What situation with your son?
Theriot: “After the Oregon State game, I wrote Bob and Rick and Dan (UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero): I got some questions here. Can you help me through this? We have a returning two-year starter, Trevor wants to go to the next level, where is he falling short? Bob and I were going back and forth on emails and I got an explanation.

“I agree I’m not a coach. I’m not at the caliber of these guys. But as a dad, I did want to know. We work hard. Less than three hours later, I have something on my Facebook page as disastrous as that.”

Maya: OK, but I want to make sure we’re clear on this: There were comments on your Facebook attacking the program on Saturday night. You said you posted the Halloween photos and comments on Brett Favre on Sunday. Did you write the comments from Saturday night?
Theriot: “I was in Corvallis. How would I do that?”

Maya: You still could have easily logged into a computer. You could have even done it from your phone.
Theriot: “You think I’m going to do that while I’m having a good time when I’m in Corvallis on Halloween night? There’s no time for that.

“Look, this is a newsworthy story. But I’m a true blue Bruin. I love the program and I love Rick Neuheisel. It’s not a big deal, but this thing steamrolled and now it’s in USA Today. I got hacked and that’s it. No big deal. Certainly I have differences as a parent but every parent does. I can’t win that battle. I’m not mad at anybody.”

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UCLA football: Injury updates

Al Balderas, staff writer — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:00:48 +0000

Defensive tackle Jerzy Siewierski said his right foot (plantar fasciitis) is feeling better and that he could conceivably return for the Bruins’ game against Arizona State on Nov. 21.

Offensive lineman Eddie Williams (broken right ankle) has been spending time without his protective boot but there is no timetable on his return.

Offensive lineman Stanley Hasiak will remain out of action indefinitely with what Neuheisel describes as a “personal issue”.

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UCLA football: Cornerback questionable for Washington game

Al Balderas, staff writer — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:52:50 +0000

Aaron Hester did more watching than anything else during Monday’s workout at Spaulding Field.

The cornerback reinjured his right leg when he and teammate Sheldon Price collided in the third quarter of last Saturday’s game at Oregon State.
Price leg-whipped Hester and nailed him in the same spot where Hester had cracked his fibula in the Bruins’ season opener.

Hester was asked if he could return to the game after the collision but opted to play it safe.

“I remember in the San Diego State game, I hurt it but I went back in the game and that’s when it broke,” Hester said. “I didn’t want to break it again and be out for longer.”

Hester suggested that x-rays be taken. The x-rays were negative.

“It’s just sore right now,” he said. “It’s tender right now but it’s getting better and better every day.”

Hester isn’t sure if he’ll play on Saturday against Washington but a lot of that decision will depend on how much he is able to practice this week.

“I’m going to go out there and try to practice (Wednesday), that’s for sure,” he said.

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UCLA football: Bruins expect to face Locker on Saturday

Al Balderas, staff writer — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:52:10 +0000

The UCLA football team was practicing with a couple of 10s on the field Tuesday.

Jake Locker

Two black (quarterback) jerseys bearing the number 10 were visible on a couple fo players as the Bruins’ scout team did its work to prepare the regulars for Saturday’s game at the Rose Bowl.

Washington quarterback Jake Locker wears the same number.

There are reports from Seattle that Locker is questionable for Saturday’s game but the Bruins aren’t taking any chances. They’re moving forward with the idea that their defense will be trying to stop Locker instead of backup Ronnie Fouch.

Fouch completed seven of 22 passes for 39 yards in a 27-7 loss to the Bruins last season.

Locker was the Huskies’ starter last season but broke his thumb in a game against Stanford and didn’t play against UCLA. He did throw four touchdown passes in a losing cause against the Bruins the previous season.

“We played against Ronnie Fouch last year and I was impressed with him but Jake Locker is a difference-maker,” UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel said. “He’s the total package. He’s a gifted guy. He makes all the throws and he’s got all the arm strength you ever wanted.”

Locker suffered a deep bruise in his right thigh in a game against Oregon on Oct. 24, casting his availability for this week’s game into question. The Huskies didn’t play last weekend.

Locker, who has passed for 1,968 yards and run for more than 200 this season, told the Seattle Times that he “should be ready to go” although Washington coach Steve Sarkisian did his best to rein in the enthusiasm.

“He’s going to be a day-to-day guy,” Sarkisian told the same publication. “I would anticipate that he would be (able to play) but it remains day to day.”

The Huskies had somewhat of a light workout on Monday, with helmets and shoulder pads, and Locker looked good. The Washington training staff will keep closer tabs on Locker as the week progresses and the practice sessions increase in their intensity.

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