2008 UCLA Bruins football team

NCAATeamFootballSeason
Year=2008
Team=UCLA Bruins


ImageSize=150
Conference=Pacific-10 Conference
ShortConference=Pac 10
Division=
CoachRank=
APRank=
Record=2-3
ConfRecord=1-1
HeadCoach=Rick Neuheisel
OffCoach=Norm Chow
DefCoach=DeWayne Walker
OScheme=
DScheme=
StadiumArena=Rose BowlThe UCLA Bruins football team "(Motto: Then ... Now ... Forever)" opened the 2008 campaign by playing its first game at home against Tennessee under new head coach Rick Neuheisel, at 5:00 p.m. at the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, California [UCLA Football 2008 Fan Guide] . The Bruins will play six of the Top 25 teams in the 2007 final Associated Press rankings, with eight opponents played in last season's bowl games. More than half of the opponents had won nine or more games during the 2007 season.

The Bruins will have seven home games and five away games this season, UCLA's 90th season in college football and 27th season at the Rose Bowl. Since moving to the Rose Bowl, the Bruins have a 109-46-2 record (winning 70%).

On Monday, August 19, Neuheisel named Kevin Craft (#3) as starting quarterback for the first game of the season. Both Ben Olson (#7) and Patrick Cowan (#12) were injured in pre-season practices. Other available quarterbacks are Chris Forcier (#8), Osaar Rasshan (#11), and Nick Crissman (#18).

chedule

CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = w
date = September 1
nonconf = yes
time = 5:00 p.m.
rank =
away =
opprank = 18
opponent = Tennessee
site_stadium = Rose Bowl Stadium
site_cityst = Pasadena, California
tv = ESPN
score = 27-24
overtime = OT
attend = 68,546 CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = l
date = September 13
nonconf = yes
time = 12:30 p.m.
rank =
away = yes
opprank = 15
opponent = BYU
site_stadium = LaVell Edwards Stadium
site_cityst = Provo, Utah
tv = Versus
score = 0-59
attend = 64,153 CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = l
date = September 20
nonconf =
time = 12:00 p.m.
rank =
away =
opprank =
opponent = Arizona
site_stadium = Rose Bowl Stadium
site_cityst = Pasadena, California
tv = Fox
score = 10-31
attend = 65,434 CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = l
date = September 27
nonconf = yes
time = 12:30 p.m.
rank =
away =
opprank = 25
opponent = Fresno State
site_stadium = Rose Bowl Stadium
site_cityst = Pasadena, California
tv = ABC
score = 31-36
attend = 73,963 CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = w
date = October 4
nonconf =
time = 7:15 p.m.
rank =
away =
opprank =
opponent = Washington State
site_stadium = Rose Bowl Stadium
site_cityst = Pasadena, California
tv = FSN Prime Ticket
score = 28-3
attend = 65,469 CFB Schedule Entry
w/l =
date = October 11
nonconf =
time = 7:15 p.m.
rank =
away = yes
opprank =
opponent = Oregon
site_stadium = Autzen Stadium
site_cityst = Eugene, Oregon
tv = FSN
score =
attend = CFB Schedule Entry
w/l =
date = October 18
homecoming = yes
nonconf =
time = 1:00 p.m.
rank =
away =
opprank =
opponent = Stanford
site_stadium = Rose Bowl Stadium
site_cityst = Pasadena, California
tv = FSN West
score =
attend = CFB Schedule Entry
w/l =
date = October 25
nonconf =
time =
rank =
away = yes
opprank =
opponent = California
site_stadium = California Memorial Stadium
site_cityst = Berkeley, California
tv =
score =
attend = CFB Schedule Entry
w/l =
date = November 8
nonconf =
time =
rank =
away =
opprank =
opponent = Oregon State
site_stadium = Rose Bowl Stadium
site_cityst = Pasadena, California
tv =
score =
attend = CFB Schedule Entry
w/l =
date = November 15
nonconf =
time =
rank =
away = yes
opprank =
opponent = Washington
site_stadium = Husky Stadium
site_cityst = Seattle, Washington
tv =
score =
attend = CFB Schedule Entry
w/l =
date = November 28
nonconf =
time = 6:30 p.m.
rank =
away = Yes
opprank =
opponent = Arizona State
site_stadium = Sun Devil Stadium
site_cityst = Tempe, Arizona
tv = ESPN 2
score =
attend = CFB Schedule Entry
w/l =
date = December 6
nonconf =
time = 1:30 p.m.
rank =
away =
opprank =
opponent = USC
site_stadium = Rose Bowl Stadium
site_cityst = Pasadena, California
tv = ABC
score =
attend =

Coaching Staff

Rick Neuheisel

* MVP, 1984 Rose Bowl game
* Played for USFL San Antonio Gunslingers
* Assistant UCLA football coach
* Played for NFL San Diego Chargers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
* Head Coach, Colorado & Washington
* Quarterback Coach and Offensive Coordinator for NFL Baltimore Ravens

DeWayne Walker

* Defensive Coordinator Walker's defensive unit ranked best in each of his first two seasons.
* UCLA ranked 14th in rushing defense (109.2 yds/game) and 29th in total defense (343.23) in 2007.
* The Bruins also ranked second in tackles for loss per game (8.7), third in thirddown conversion defense (29.1%), tied for 15th in sacks per game (3.0) and tied for 17th in fumbles caused (14).
* The Bruins ranked tied for ninth in the nation in rushing defense (91.08) and ranked fifth in third-down conversion defense (28.4%) in 2006.

Norm Chow

* Offensive Coordinator Chow has worked with several of the NCAA’s all-time career pass efficiency leaders.
* He has mentored six quarterbacks selected in the first-round of the NFL draft (Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Philip Rivers, Steve Young, Jim McMahon, Marc Wilson).

Other members of the coaching staff include: Wayne Moses, Running Backs coach; Bob Palcic, Offensive Line coach; Reggie Moore, Wide Receivers coach; Todd Howard, Defensive Line coach; Chuck Bullough, Linebackers coach; Tim Hauck, Secondary Coach; Frank Gansz, Jr., Special Teams.

Players

Depth chart

SPECIALISTS: PK - Kai Forbath (25), Jeff Locke (49); KO - Jimmy Rotstein (37); P - Aaron Perez (17), 39 Danny Reese (39); LS - Christian Yount (52); H - 17 Aaron Perez (17); PR - Terrence Austin (4), Ryan Graves (2); KOR 4 Terrence Austin (4), Raymond Carter (20).

Media

In addition to the games on TV, the football games are broadcasted on the UCLA ISP Sports Network (AM570 Sports, in Los Angeles), with Chris Roberts, Matt Stevens and Wayne Cook. 2008 marks the 17th year of the voice of the Bruins for Roberts, 12th season for Stevens, and 7th year for Cook. Both Stevens and Cook are former quarterbacks for UCLA.

Game notes

Tennessee (#18)

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Volunteers
R1=0
R2=14
R3=0
R4=10
R5=0
Home=Bruins
H1=7
H2=0
H3=3
H4=14
H5=3This was the season-opening game for both teams. Tennessee held a 7-4-2 record on the Bruins before game time. Only San Diego State had more games with the Bruins in a non-conference series history. The 1996 game against Tennessee set an attendance record with a crowd of 106,297 at Neyland Stadium.

UCLA and the University of Tennessee agreed to move up their football game to Labor Day in order to have the game nationally televised on ESPN as one of only two football games played on the final day of college football opening weekend. The game was originally scheduled for September 6. The game kicked off from the Rose Bowl at 5 p.m. Pacific Time in the ESPN Monday Night Football time slot, which for the rest of the season is devoted to NFL professional football. The moving of the game altered the schedules of the two teams. Tennessee was scheduled to begin the season on August 30 against the University of Alabama-Birmingham, but that game was moved to September 13. UCLA changed the September 6 slot to be an open date.

UCLA went ahead in the first quarter when Sean Westgate returned a blocked-punt for a 17-yard touchdown. After throwing four interceptions in the first half, Kevin Craft threw a 3-yard pass to Ryan Moya in a 70-yard drive that put UCLA in the lead late in the fourth quarter. Then Daniel Lincoln's 47 yard field goal tied the game with no time in regulation. But Kai Forbath kicked a 42-yard field goal to give the Bruins a 27-24 lead. The Volunteers were unable to match the Bruins in overtime when Lincoln's field goal attempt went wide left. [Foster, Chris - [http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-ucla2-2008sep02,0,2921348.story UCLA 27, NO. 18 TENNESSEE 24 (OT) Kevin Craft rallies UCLA past Tennessee.] Los Angeles Times, September 2, 2008.]

The win makes Rick Neuheisel, a former UCLA quarterback who was the 1984 Rose Bowl MVP, only the third head coach to win in the first game. The win also marks the first win as a Bruin offensive coordinator for Norm Chow.

Tennessee Head Coach Phil Fulmer has a season opening record of 14-2, both losses to UCLA; the first one was a 25-23 loss at the Rose Bowl on Sept. 3, 1994. There was a fireworks show at end of the game.

BYU

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Bruins
R1=0
R2=0
R3=0
R4=0
Home=Cougars
H1=7
H2=35
H3=17
H4=0It was a homecoming for Norman Chow, who was an assistant coach at BYU for many years. Dewayne Walker also coached the Cougars as defensive coordinator. The Bruins held a 7-2 record on the Cougars prior to the game. BYU was ranked No. 18 in the AP Top 25 poll and No. 15 in the USA Today/Coaches Poll. Former BYU quarterback Ben Olson did not play due to injuries. In his first career start at San Diego State, Kevin Craft completed 20 of 32 passes for 216 yards against BYU.

BYU scored first on a Max Hall pass to Dennis Pitta for 10 yards for a touchdown; then another Hall pass to Austin Collie for a two-yard score in the second quarter. UCLA fumbled the ball and the Cougars recovered, which led to Hall's pass to Collie for the third touchdown. The Bruins again fumbled and Hall had his 4th touchdown pass to Michael Reed. Another Bruins' fumble gave Hall his 5th pass touchdown. Before the end of second quarter, Hall threw his 6th pass (2 yards) to Pitta.

In the second half, Max Hall passed to Harvey Unga for a 6-yard touchdown, Mitch Payne kicked a 24-yard field goal and Wayne Latu rushed for a 13-yard touchdown to give BYU the 59-0 win. This was the worst loss the Bruins endured since a 76-0 defeat in the very first UCLA-USC rivalry football game. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/sports/ncaafootball/14game.html No. 18 B.Y.U. 59, U.C.L.A. 0 Hall’s 7 Touchdown Passes Lead B.Y.U.’s Rout] , Associated Press, New York Times, September 13, 2008]

Arizona

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Wildcats
R1=3
R2=14
R3=0
R4=14
Home=Bruins
H1=7
H2=3
H3=0
H4=0The Bruins held a 19-11-2 record on the Wildcats at game time. On a day when the Bruins were woeful in punt coverage and bad in third down conversions, the Arizona Wildcats won 31-10 in the Rose Bowl. Arizona quarterback Willie Tuitama, who had been a thorn to UCLA for the last couple of years, threw 222 yards and a pair of touchdowns to tight end Rob Gronkowski.

The only touchdown for UCLA came from Korey Bosworth, who recovered a Wildcat fumble and rolled one yard into the end zone for the score. Kai Fobath kicked a 35-yard field goal to cut Arizona's lead to 17-10 at half-time.

No scoring by either team in the third quarter, but Arizona took care of that by scoring two touchdowns with the short fields in the final period. UCLA running back Chane Moline (#42) had 72 yards rushing and Arizona's wide receiver Mike Thomas (#10) caught for 112 yards. Aaron Perez kicked two punts for more than 50 yards for the Bruins and they were downed inside the two-yard line. [ [http://www.dailynews.com/ucla/ci_10520711 L.A. Daily News] ]

Fresno State

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Bulldogs
R1=7
R2=13
R3=16
R4=0
Home=Bruins
H1=7
H2=12
H3=5
H4=7Before the game, the Bruins held a 6-1 record on the Bulldogs. The game was a public safety appreciation game. Because of a knee injury, Fresno State's top defense lineman Jon Monga did not play.

A Derrick Coleman fumble in the redzone in the fourth quarter took away the Bruins' hope of keeping the Bulldogs from winning a game in the Rose Bowl stadium. Fresno State won its first game there by five points, taking control of the final 8 minutes and 55 seconds and not allowing a UCLA comeback.

Washington State

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Cougars
R1=0
R2=0
R3=3
R4=0
Home=Bruins
H1=0
H2=14
H3=7
H4=7The Bruins had a 35-18-1 record on the Cougars. UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame Ceremony was held during half-time. The game was the conference opener for both teams.

UCLA quarterback Kevin Craft (#3) passed for 224 yards, Derrick Coleman (#33) rushed for 51 yards and Terrence Austin (#4) had 78 yards of receiving in this game. There were no UCLA turnovers for the first time since their game at Arizona on Nov. 3, 2007. With the win, Coach Rick Neuheisel has a 6-0 record on the Washington State Cougars.

Oregon

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Bruins
R1=
R2=
R3=
R4=
Home=Ducks
H1=
H2=
H3=
H4=The Ducks beat the Washington Huskies 44-10 in the first game of the season. UCLA leads in the series with a 39-22 record on Oregon.

tanford

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Cardinal
R1=
R2=
R3=
R4=
Home=Bruins
H1=
H2=
H3=
H4=It's Homecoming and parent's weekend at the Rose Bowl for the Bruins. High school band day with half time performance. The Cardinal started the season with a Pac-10 win over the Beavers 36-28. UCLA has a record of 44-31-3 on the Cardinal.

California

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Bruins
R1=
R2=
R3=
R4=
Home=Golden Bears
H1=
H2=
H3=
H4=The Golden Bears opened the season with an exciting win over Michigan State at home. The Bruins lead the series, 49-28-1, on the Golden Bears.

Oregon State

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Beavers
R1=
R2=
R3=
R4=
Home=Bruins
H1=
H2=
H3=
H4=Veterans and Armed Forces Appreciation Day at the Rose Bowl, honoring the U.S. service men and women. Flyover by the United States Air Force. UCLA leads the Beavers in football with a 39-13-4 record.

Washington

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Bruins
R1=
R2=
R3=
R4=
Home=Huskies
H1=
H2=
H3=
H4=Washington has been losing to the Bruins in the series. UCLA leads 36-29-2.

Arizona State

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Bruins
R1=
R2=
R3=
R4=
Home=Sun Devils
H1=
H2=
H3=
H4=UCLA leads the series 15-8-1. The Sun Devils won the 2007 game, 24-20.

USC

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Trojans
R1=
R2=
R3=
R4=
Home=Bruins
H1=
H2=
H3=
H4=USC leads the series, 42-28-7. In the Rose Bowl, UCLA has an 8-5 record over the Trojans. Rick Neuheisel vs. USC is 1-1. Senior athlete salute.

References

Bibliography

*UCLA Bruins football media guide 2008 Edition (preseason information)

External Links

* [http://www.uclabruins.com UCLA Bruins] Official site of the UCLA Athletic Department