What's Bruin Blog

Welcome to the What's Bruin Blog. Check back on a regular basis for news and notes about UCLA Athletics and our various teams.

The What's Bruin Blog has been moved to www.uclabruins.com/blog.

August 17, 2009 

THE FOLLOWING IS A FOOTBALL PRACTICE TIME UPDATE...Afternoon practices held on Mon. Aug. 17; Wed., Aug 19; and Fri. Aug 21 will run from approximately 4-6 p.m. on Spaulding Field.

August 11, 2009

Freshman fullback Jayson Allmond has been certified by the NCAA Clearinghouse and has joined the football team. He will practice today. Also practicing today will be sophomore tight end Joseph Fauria, a transfer from Notre Dame.

 

August 9, 2009

 

UCLA alumnus Mitch Gaylord, who won an Olympic Gold Medal as a member of the USA men's gymnastics team in Pauley Pavilion in 1984, is profiled by the L.A. Daily News. To read more about what Gaylord is doing now, click here.

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Bruin alumna Elaine Youngs and her partner Nicole Branagh rallied from match point in the second set to win the Hermosa Beach Open in three sets on Saturday afternoon.. To read about the comeback victory, click here.

 

August 7, 2009

UCLA alumna Noelle Quinn scored a career-high 23 points to lead the Los Angeles Sparks to a 79-75 overtime victory over the Seattle Storm on Thursday evening. Quinn, who also had seven rebounds, three assists and zero turnovers in 42 minutes of play, sent the game into overtime with a 16-foot turnaround jumper that tied the game at 66-all with 8.3 seconds left in regulation. She took over in the overtime period, scoring eight of the Sparks' 13 points. To read more about the game, click here.

 

 August 6, 2009

 

 

The Parking Spot is one of UCLA's many corporate sponsors. A great place for fans to park when traveling from LAX, the Parking Spot now features two shuttle busses with UCLA decorations at the Century Blvd. location. Here are some pictures of the UCLA shuttle buses.

 

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The Daily News did a nice feature on former Bruin voleyball standout Jenny Johnson Jordan and her husband, former Bruin wide receiver Kevin Jordan. To read the piece, click here.

 August 5, 2009

Thoughout the week, ESPN.com has been announcing it's all-time Prestige Rankings. The ESPN Research Department devised a sytem to evalutate the history of each program since the 1936 season. UCLA is ranked 16th all-time in football, according to the data. To read the story, click here.

 

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Rick Reilly from ESPN The Magazine has written a nice piece about head football coach Rick Neuheisel. To read the piece, click here.

 

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Earlier this week, ESPN.com held a mock draft to select the current Top 40 college football programs . UCLA was selected No. 30 by Ivan Maisel, who said, "The Bruins have tradition. They have a smarter, wiser Rick Neuheisel, the first UCLA coach to make Pete Carroll work harder in Los Angeles recruiting in the USC coach's nine years. The Bruins have a solid, veteran coaching staff and nowhere to go but up." To see the mock draft, click here.

August 4, 2009

Last week, John Wooden was named the greatest coach of all-time in any sport by Sporting News. Much of Jim Hill's Sports Central Show on CBS2 this past Sunday was dedicated to the award to Coach Wooden. Here, courtesy of Bruins Nation, are some clips from that Sunday show. Here is the link.

 

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Check out this L.A. Times feature story on center Kai Maiava. Here is the link.

August 2, 2009

Incoming freshman Chandler Hoffman was named to the ESPN Rise Spring All-America first team for soccer. Hoffman joins fellow freshmen Dakota Collins and Evan Raynr, who were previously selected to the Winter All-America team.

July 31, 2009

KCBS2-TV and Jim Hill will air a special tribute to UCLA legendary Coach John R. Wooden. The tribute will air on Sports Central this Sunday, Aug. 2 at 3:00 p.m.

 

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The latest pre-season honors team to be announced is the Collegefootballnews.com Redshirt Freshman All-America squad.. Cornerback Aaron Hester and punter Jeff Locke were named to the team while quarterback Kevin Prince is on the honorable mention list..

 

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Senior All-America candidate Reggie Carter represented the Bruins at Pac-10 Media Day. Here is a FoxSports.com interview with Reggie. Do you recognize the interviewer? It's former UCLA long Snapper Christian Andersen..

 

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Here is a link to the video of UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel and linebacker Reggie Carter from Pac-10 Football Media Day.. Here is the link.

July 28, 2009

Check out the University's latest e-newsletter on the successes of UCLA Athletics. To view, click here.

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The USA Men's Water Polo Team has advanced to the medal round at the 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome. UCLA head men's water polo coach Adam Wright scored one goal in Team USA's 8-5 win over Germany on Tuesday. Behind eight different goal scorers and stifling defense, the United States improved to 4-0 in tournament play and will meet the winner of Spain/Canada on Thursday. Former UCLA All-America Justin Johnson is also playing for the U.S. Senior National Team.

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The USA Women's Water Polo Team has advanced to the medal round at the 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome. Led by head coach Adam Krikorian, the USA Women's Team defeated Spain, 9-6, on Monday. Team USA advances to play Greece on Wednesday. Former UCLA standouts Tanya Gandy, Jaime (Hipp) Komer and Kelly Rulon are playing for the U.S. Senior National Team. Additionally, current UCLA women's water polo head coach Brandon Brooks and former Bruin standout Coralie Simmons are serving as assistant coaches on the women's national team staff.

July 23, 2009

UCLA head men's water polo coach Adam Wright helped lead the USA Senior National Men's Water Polo Team past Macedonia, 13-6, on Wednesday by scoring two goals. Former UCLA All-American Justin Johnson added one goal for the U.S. With the victory, Team USA improved to 2-0 in group play at the 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome. A win against Romania on Friday, July 24, will allow the U.S. team to win its preliminary group.>.

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The men's basketball game versus Cal State Fullerton has been moved to Monday, November 16. It had previously been scheduled for Tuesday, November 17.

July 17, 2009

UCLA right-handed pitcher Chase Brewer has been selected to play in the 2009 New England Collegiate Baseball League All-Star Game on Saturday, July 18. Brewer, a rising redshirt freshman from Paradise Valley, Ariz., has gone 2-1 with a 1.69 ERA in four starts for the Holyoke Blue Sox (West Division). He has allowed four runs and 18 hits in 21.2 innings and opened his summer campaign having thrown 16.0 consecutive scoreless innings over three starts. Brewer has totaled eight strikeouts and nine walks. The NECBL's All-Star Game will be played at MacKenzie Stadium in Holyoke, Mass., on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. (ET).

July 16, 2009

The Jackie Robinson Foundation and Michael E. Meyer, Esq. are hosting "A Night of Stars" on Wednesday, Aug. 5 at Dodger Stadium. Join luminaries such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Joe Morgan and Candace Parker in a private suite to see the Los Angeles Dodgers take on the Milwaukee Brewers. The game begins at 7:10 pm, and the suite opens at 6:30 pm. A $500 donation per individual includes a suite ticket, parking pass, food and beverages, hand-autographed merchandise from special guests, and unlimited photo opportunities. To register for the event or for more information, CLICK HERE.

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Incoming Women's Soccer Recruit Chelsea Cline Named W-League Player of the Week. United Soccer Leagues announced today the W-League Team of the Week honoring Minnesota's Chelsea Cline as Player of the Week following her five goal, one assist performance in the Lightning's three wins last week. Read all about it HERE.

 

 

July 15, 2009

Patrick Ianni's bicycle kick goal was voted the Major League Soccer Goal of the Week. Along with other Goal of the Week winners, Ianni's game-winner will be up for MLS Goal of the Year honors at the end of the season. You can watch the goal HERE. 

 

July 14, 2009

UCLA alum Chad Barrett was named Major League Soccer's Player of the Week after scoring two goals in a 3-1 Toronto win over San Jose on Saturday. Barrett scored the game's first goal in the fifth minute with a goal that is nominated for MLS Goal of the Week (Vote Here). After San Jose tied the game, Barrett brought his team ahead again, setting up the go-ahead goal, and he put the game away in the 69th minute with a breakaway goal. The Player of the Week award is the first in Barrett's five-year MLS career.

 

July 13, 2009

UCLA alumni Patrick Ianni and Chad Barrett are both up for Major League Soccer's Goal of the Week. You can vote now for the goal of the week at the MLS website. Ianni scored the game-winning goal for Seattle on a bicycle kick, while Barrett scored his first of two goals for Toronto after sneaking into the box to receive an over-the-head pass from a teammate.

 

July 12, 2009

UCLA rising sophomore pitcher Gerrit Cole was profiled in the July 12 edition of Los Angeles Times Magazine. Sportscaster Barry LeBrock writes about Cole's decision to attend UCLA last fall after having been selected in the first round of the 2008 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees. To read the article, click here.

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The New York Times has ranked UCLA No. 52 in its college football countdown. To read the assessment from "The Quad," the Times' sports blog, click here.

 

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Darren Collison made his Summer League debut for the Hornets on Sunday afternoon. In a 92-86 loss to San Antonio, the Bruin alum had 19 points, six assists and five rebounds. To read the Hornets' blog, click here.

July 11, 2009

Goal.com interviewed senior goalkeeper Brian Perk of the men's soccer team. To read the Q&A, click here.

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UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero has been selected one of the most powerful people in college athletics. The July 11 edition of the Orlando Sentinel selected the nation's most powerful people in college sports. Guerrero, now in his eighth season as UCLA's director of athletics, is No. 12 on the list. He also ranks first among those who work in athletics on a college campus. The people ahead of him on the list are television or corporate executives (four), NCAA staff (three), conference commisioners (three) or university chancellors (1). Guerrero is also the incoming chair of the NCAA Men's Basketball Committee. To see the entire list, click here

July 10, 2009

UCLA rising sophomore right-hander Gerrit Cole will take the mound for Team USA in Japan on Saturday at 8 p.m. (Pacific time). The game is scheduled for a 12 p.m. start on Sunday, July 12, in Matsuyama, Japan (local time in Japan). The USA Baseball National Team (Collegiate) opens the 37th Annual USA vs. Japan Collegiate Championships.

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Congratulations to Bruin professionals Giulia Sergas and Maria Jose Uribe who made the cut at the U.S. Women's Open Friday at Saucon Valley CC in Bethlehem, PA. Sergas fired a 67 (-4) in the second round and was tied for fourth place overall at even par 142. Uribe was tied for 60th at 151 (+9) after posting a 76 (+5) in the second round. Jane Park, Hannah Jun and incoming freshman Tiffany Lua all missed the cut.

 

 

July 8, 2009

Congratulations to UCLA golfers past and future who will be teeing it up at the U.S. Women's Open in Pennsylvania beginning July 9. Incoming freshman Tiffany Lua and professionals Hannah Jun, Jane Park, Giulia Sergas and Maria Jose Uribe will be battling the Saucon Valley Old Course, which measures 6,740 yards and plays to a par of 71.

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Former UCLA left-hander Tim Murphy has been dominant as of late for the Bakersfield Blaze (high-A). Murphy has logged a 1.37 ERA and 3-0 record in his last four starts, allowing just four earned runs over 26.1 innings. In his last six starts, Murphy has compiled a 2.13 ERA and a 4-1 record. Murphy was a third-round selection by the Texas Rangers in the 2008 MLB Draft. Former UCLA shortstop Brandon Crawford has batted .296 in 77 minor league games this season. Crawford batted .371 with six homers and 17 RBI in 25 games for the San Jose Giants (high-A) and has hit at a .255 clip with two homers, nine doubles and two triples in 52 games for the Connecticut Defenders (double-A). To view a complete list of former UCLA ballplayers in the minor leagues, click here.

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The USA Senior Women's Water Polo National Team went 2-1 in three games in the Netherlands last week. Led by former UCLA women's water polo head coach and current men's associate head coach Adam Krikorian, Team USA rebounded from an 8-3 loss to Hungary on July 3 to defeat the Netherlands, 8-7 on July 4, and Canada, 6-5 on July 5. In Team USA's victory against Canada on the third day, former UCLA standouts Kelly Rulon (two goals) and Tanya Gandy (one goal) led the way. Additionally, former UCLA goalkeeper Jaime (Hipp) Komer logged 10 saves in the cage. Team USA travels to Rome, Italy, to play in the FINA World Championships beginning July 20.

July 3, 2009

Today's L.A. Times has a story on head football coach Rick Neuheisel's trip to the Middle East. To read the story, click here.

July 2, 2009

Congratulations to junior Christian Yount of the football team. Yount is the first long snapper in history to be selected to the Playboy magazine pre-season All-America team. He has handled every snap on Bruin punts, field goals and PATs for the past two seasons.

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UCLA head football coach Rick Neuheisel's trip to the Middle East is highlighted on the UCLA Today website. To read Wendy Soderburg's article, click here.

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Safety E.J. Woods and offensive lineman Sonny Tevaga are no longer members of the football team. Woods plans to transfer to a local junior college. Tevaga is exploring his options.

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UCLA alumnus Troy Aikman will be throwing out the first pitch at this afternoon's Padres home game at PetCo Park in San Diego. Aikman is a part-owner of the team.

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Concordia College of California will be the men's basketball team's first exhibition opponent this season. The Bruins will host Concordia on Wed., Nov. 4. The exhibition game with Humboldt State will now be played on Tues., Nov. 10.

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BusterSports.com is currently running a series on the top football coaches in Pac-10 history. Several of UCLA's head coaches are on the list, including No. 27 Pepper Rodgers, No. 24 Rick Neuheisel, No. 21 Bob Toledo, No. 19 Dick Vermeil, No. 5 Terry Donahue and No. 4 Tommy Prothro. The top three selections have not yet been announced. To view the series, click here.

June 29, 2009

UCLA placed 16th in the race for the 2008-09 Leerfield Sports Directors Cup. The Bruins finished with 909.25 points, including 193.0 for Fall sports, 207.00 for Winter sports and 509.25 for Spring sports. UCLA won its fifth straight NCAA championship in women's water polo and also placed second in women's golf, tied for third in women's soccer and men's tennis, seventh in women's gymnastics and tied for ninth in women's tennis, women's volleyball and softball. UCLA had placed second in each of the last three years (2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08).

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Former UCLA left-hander David Huff (Cleveland) and right-hander Josh Roenicke (Cincinnati) pitched in the same game on Sunday, June 28. Sunday's interstate duel between the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians marked the first major league game in which two former UCLA pitchers faced each other since April 26, 2001. In that game eight years ago, Jim Parque started on the hill for the Chicago White Sox, and Mike Magnante entered the contest in relief for the Oakland Athletics.

June 28, 2009

More than 140 colleges, universities, and conference offices were honored by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) for "Excellence in Publications" at the 52nd annual CoSIDA convention in San Antonio. UCLA placed fourth among all Division I schools with 16 citations. The University of Oklahoma led the nation with 21 citations, followed by the University of Kentucky and Louisiana State University (17 honors each), UCLA (16), Texas A&M University (15), Kansas State University (14), and Ohio State University (14). The results do not include Division IA football guide (judging was not completed by the time of the convention). UCLA placed second nationally in that category in 2007-08.

Here is the list of nine UCLA publications that won 16 citations:
Men's Soccer Guides/ A - Fifth in the Nation (Liza David)
Men's Basketball Guides/ A - Eighth in the Nation (Ryan Finney, Alex Timiraos); Best in the District (Ryan Finney, Alex Timiraos)
Baseball Guides/ A - Second in the Nation (Alex Timiraos); Second in the District (Alex Timiraos)
Softball Guides/ A - Fourth in the Nation (James Ybiernas)
Men's Tennis Guides/ A - Second in the Nation (Danny Harrington)
Women's Tennis Guides/ A - Best in the Nation (Danny Harrington); Best Cover (Danny Harrington)
Single Sport Guides/ A - Fourth in the Nation / Women's Rowing (Alex Timiraos); Fifth in the Nation / Men's Water Polo (Alex Timiraos); Ninth in the Nation / Women's Water Polo (Alex Timiraos)
Single Sport Guides/ A - Second in the District / Women's Rowing (Alex Timiraos)
Single Sport Guides/ A - Women's Rowing - Best in the Nation (Alex Timiraos)
Single Sport Guides/ A - Men's Water Polo - Best in the Nation (Alex Timiraos)
Single Sport Guides/ A - Women's Water Polo - Best in the Nation (Alex Timiraos)

June 26, 2009

In 1998, Chad Sauter earned All-Pac-10 acclaim as a Bruin offensive lineman. Today, he is an L.A. County deputy sheriff who coaches football players at Lynwood and Compton Centennial high schools as a volunteer assistant. To read an L.A. Times article about Sauter, click here.

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UCLA right-hander Gerrit Cole had a dominant debut with the U.S. National Team (collegiate) this evening. Cole recorded 12 strikeouts and issued one walk, surrendering just three hits in 6.2 scoreless innings to earn the victory. The U.S. National Team defeated Canada, 8-1, at Durham Bulls Athletic Park (Durham, N.C.). Cole and UCLA teammate Trevor Bauer were both selected to the 22-man national team roster Wednesday evening. USA Baseball Recap

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UCLA alums Benny Feilhaber and Carlos Bocanegra are featured with a few U.S. soccer teammates on People.com. To read the article, click here.

June 25, 2009

One of the top football players in UCLA history was on campus today. Jerry Robinson, the best linebacker in school history, was in the Morgan Center today. He taped an interview with a Philadelphia TV station in the Hall of Fame. Robinson, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, was a three-year starting linebacker in 1976-78. He earned consensus All-America honors in each of those seasons, becoming the first three-time consensus All-American in the nation since the 1940s. Jerry, who was at April's Spring Game at the Rose Bowl, also enjoyed a long career in the NFL with Philadelphia and Oakland.

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Offensive coordinator Norm Chow was featured on Ted Miller's Pac-10 blog on ESPN.com. To read the story, click here.

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Dave Ball, who was named the 2003 Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year, is doing well as a member of the Tennessee Titans. To read a nice story about him, click here.

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UCLA soccer alum Jimmy Conrad (1996-97) was named to the U.S. roster for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The 1st game for the U.S. is July 4 vs. Grenada in Seattle. The U.S. won the last CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2007.

June 23, 2009

UCLA alum Paul Reilly was the Bruins' long snapper in 1984 and 1985, helping the Bruins to victories in the 1985 Fiesta Bowl and the 1986 Rose Bowl.. Now he is pursuing an acting career. To read the story in the Orange County Register, click here.

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The highlight of the first day of the 2009 College Sports Information Directors of America Convention Monday in San Antonio was the induction of the latest class of Academic All-America Hall of Famers and the naming of the Dick Enberg Award Winner. Former Academic All-America® basketball selections Tom Clark, '87 of Mount Vernon Nazarene, Diane Dietz, '82 of the University of Michigan and Julie Roe Lach, '97 of Millikin University join former Academic All-America® linebacker Dr. Patrick Tyrance, `90 of Nebraska and UCLA volleyball star Karch Kiraly, `83 as this year's Academic All-America® Hall of Fame inductees. The five inductees joined 103 previous inductees since the CoSIDA Academic All-America® Hall of Fame inducted its first Hall of Fame class in 1988. Former Michigan State basketball standout Steve Smith, who went on to a 14-year career in the National Basketball Association, was honored as the Enberg recipient.

U.S. District Court judge Cormac Carney, UCLA class of 1983 and a two-time Academic All-American, was inducted in 2005. UCLA's seven inductees include John Wooden (honorary member), football's Donn Moomaw and John Fowler, in addtion to Carney, basketballs Bill Walton and Jamaal Wilkes and Kiraly.

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Former UCLA offensive tackle Kris Farris, All-American and winner of the 1998 Outland Trophy, has earned his MBA from UCLA's Anderson School of Business.

June 22, 2009

Several football and men's basketball alumni were on campus today. The list of football alums included quarterback Steve Bono. tight end Charles Arbuckle, running back James Primus, defensive end/linebacker Bruce Davis, defensive tackle Kevin Brown and safety Chris Horton. Among the basketball alums were Russell Westbrook, who is enrolled in a summer class, Aaron Afflalo, who was working out. He will make an appearance at Coach Howland's camp on Tuesday.

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Most of the freshmen in the various sports are on campus for the beginning of summer school. Head men's coach Ben Howland had lunch with his five freshmen while head women's coach Nikki Caldwell welcome her two prized freshmen - Mariah Williams and Markel Walker - to campus. Most of the incoming football players are on campus and they looked like they were in good shape and ready to go. Offensive linemen Stan Hasiak and Xavier Su'a-Filo look impressive together on Bruin walk and stopped to speak with head coach Rick Neuheisel. Ricky Marvray, Isaiah Bowens, Keenan Graham, Alex Mascarenas, Marlon Pollard and Brandon Sermons also had quick chats with Coach Neuheisel on Bruin Walk near the Morgan Center.

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UCLA right-handers Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer conclude competition at the U.S. National Team Trials in Cary, N.C. this week. Cole recorded eight strikeouts in 4.2 innings to pick up the victory in a scrimmage contest Friday, June 19. The rising sophomore allowed two runs and three hits in his first action at the National Team Trials. Bauer threw four scoreless innings as the starter on Sunday, allowing one hit while notching five strikeouts and one walk. In two appearances in the last week, Bauer has allowed just one hit in 6.0 scoreless innings, collecting seven strikeouts and one walk.

June 21, 2009

The U.S. Men's Soccer National Team overcame what looked to be insurmountable odds to advance to the semifinals of the FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa. The U.S. was in last play entering the last day of group play and needed a big win and a big loss by Italy. They got exactly what they needed, defeating Egypt 3-0 while Italy lost to Brazil, 3-0. The U.S. advanced via the goals for tiebreaker. Bruin alumni Jonathan Bornstein started in the U.S.-Egypt game and helped contribute to the shutout. Benny Feilhaber was a second-half substitute. Also on the team are defenders Carlos Bocanegra and Marvell Wynne. The U.S. will face Spain in the semifinals on Wednesday, June 24 at 11:30 am PT.

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ESPN ran an Outside The Lines story on "One and Done" players in college basketball this morning. Head men's basketball coach Ben Howland was one of two coaches interviewed for the piece. To watch the story, click here.

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Happy Father's Day to all Dads, especially the patriarch of the Bruin family, John Wooden. Bob Field and Valorie Kondos Field had dinner with Coach and his daughter Nan last night and Coach is doing great!

June 19, 2009

UCLA right-hander Trevor Bauer had a strong outing at the U.S. Baseball (collegiate) National Team Trials on Thursday. The rising sophomore from Valencia, Calif., threw two hitless innings and notched two strikeouts as the starting pitcher for the Blue Team, which downed the Red Team by a 3-1 margin in an intersquad contest at the USA Baseball National Training Complex (Cary, N.C.). In other summer action, rising junior left-hander Rob Rasmussen earned the victory for the Orleans Firebirds in his first Cape Cod League start of the year. Rasmussen fanned 10 batters and walked one, limiting the Cotuit Keetlers to one unearned run and two hits through 6.0 innings. Rising junior left-hander Matt Grace scattered three hits in 4.2 scoreless innings of relief for Cotuit, recording four strikeouts and two walks.

June 18, 2009

UCLA's September 12 football game at Tennessee will be televised by ESPN. Kickoff has been set for 4:00 pm in Knoxville, 1:00 pm PT.

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UCLA assistant football coach Todd Howard and six former UCLA football players are scheduled to participate in the New Era Bowl 2009. The bowl is scheduled for 6:00 pm on July 4 at Oji Stadium in Kobe, Japan. Howard and the six Bruins - wide receiver Brandon Breazell, fullback Chad Moline and wide receiver Mike Angelo on offense and defensive tackle Chase Moline, linebacker John Hale and cornerback Michael Norris - will leave for Japan on Friday, June 26. They will arrive on Saturday and practice for the week leading up to the game on July 4. They are scheduled to depart from Japan on Monday, July 6.

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Former UCLA right-handed pitcher Josh Roenicke made his first major league appearance of the season today. Roenicke, who last pitched in the big leagues in Sept. 2008, helped preserve Cincinnati's 7-0 lead by recording three consecutive outs on nine pitches in the eighth inning against Atlanta. The former UCLA ballplayer was recalled from triple-A Louisville on Wednesday, June 17. Roenicke played baseball at UCLA from 2003-06, competing primarily as an outfielder before assuming the role as the team's closer his senior season (2006).

June 17, 2009

Several Bruins appear on the NationalChamps.net pre-season All-America team. Place kicker Kai Forbath was named to the first team and cornerback Alterraun Verner was a second-team selection. Defensive tackle Brian Price, tight end Ryan Moya and kick returner Terrence Austin were honorable mention selections.

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Former UCLA golfers John Merrick and Doug Batty will tee it up Thursday in the first round of the 109th U.S. Open at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, NY. By tying for sixth place at last year's U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, Merrick received an exemption into this year's Open. Batty earned his tee time by advancing through local and sectional qualifying.

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There are several nice articles about UCLA alumni student-athletes in the local newspapers today.In the L.A. Daily News, Jill Painter writers about UCLA women's golfer Charlene Alphonso, who will be caddying in this week's U.S. Open. To read the article, click here. In the Long Beach Press-Telegram, Bob Keisser, who covered the Bruins in the 1980s for the old Herald-Examiner, profiles tight end Marcedes Lewis, who is holding a free youth football camp in his hometown. To read that article, click here. And here's a piece from Sunday's Washington Post on 1995 NCAA Player of the Year Ed O'Bannon - click here to read.

June 16, 2009

Thirteen members of the 2008 UCLA football team have graduated as of the end of Spring Quarter 2009. They are: Tom Blake, Pat Cowan, Marcus Everett, Josh Edwards, Scott Glicksberg, Brigham Harwell, Adam Heater, Chris Meadows, Michael Norris, Ben Olson, Aaron Perez, Micah Reed and Nathaniel Skaggs. In addition, several former Bruins also graduated, including Brian Abraham, Troy Aikman, Aleksey Lanis, Shawn Oatis, Drew Olson, Marcus Reece and Jamil Turner.

Ten members of the 2009 Bruin squad took part in graduation ceremonies because they are projected to graduate at the end of Fall Quarter. That list includes Korey Bosworth, Kyle Bosworth, Kevin Craft, Nick Ekbatani, Gavin Ketchum, Logan Paulsen, Craig Sheppard, Trevor Theriot, Jess Ward and Aaron Ware.

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For those who missed it, here is the Troy Aikman graduation video from UCLA's YouTube page.

 

June 15, 2009

Drew Gordon has accepted an invitation to the 2009 Men's U19 World Championship Team Trials that will be held from June 16-18 in Colorado Springs, Colo. The trials invitations were extended by the USA Basketball Men's Junior National Team Committee, chaired by NCAA representative Jim Boeheim (head coach, Syracuse University). Following the trials, the USA Basketball Men's Junior National Team Committee will announce the 12-member USA U19 World Championship Team roster. Training camp will be held from June 18-25, with the team departing for New Zealand on June 25. The 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship for Men will be played July 2-12 in Auckland, New Zealand.