Aug. 9, 2009

Complete Release in PDF Format

2009 BRUIN SEASON SCHEDULE BEGINS WITH SAN DIEGO STATE -- There are six home games, including the Sept. 5 season-opener against San Diego State, and six road matchups on the 2009 Bruin schedule. Overall, the record of UCLA's 2009 opponents was 72-78 (.480). Four of those schools (USC 12-1, Oregon State 9-4, Cal 9-4, Oregon 10-3) won at least nine games. A fifth team won eight games (Arizona 8-5) and four more won five games each (Stanford, Arizona State, Tennessee, Kansas State). The home opponents for 2009 posted a 31-43 (.419) record in 2008, while the road opponents compiled a 41-35 (.540) mark last season.

Four teams on the 2009 schedule have been voted into the pre-season USA Today Coaches Top 25 Poll --- USC at No. 4, Cal at No. 12, Oregon at No. 14, Oregon State at No. 25 --- and two others received votes (Arizona, Tennessee). UCLA also received votes (14) and was 38th on the poll.

Five of the 12 opponents played in bowl games following the 2008 campaign and each came away a winner (Oregon defeated Oklahoma State in the Holiday Bowl; California defeated Miami in the Emerald Bowl; Arizona defeated BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl; Oregon State bested Pitt in the Sun Bowl; USC topped Penn State in the Rose Bowl). The Bruins will meet four of those bowl-winning teams in a row during the month of October. Oregon (Oct. 10) and California (Oct. 17) come to the Rose Bowl and the Bruins play at Arizona (Oct. 24) and Oregon State (Oct. 31).

San Diego State returns to the Bruin schedule for the first time since a 2005 meeting in San Diego. The Aztecs last played in the Rose Bowl in the 2004 campaign. Kansas State will meet UCLA for the first time. The Bruins return to Tennessee for the first time since a 1996 encounter in Knoxville.

FALL PRACTICE SCHEDULE -- Practices will be held on campus at Spaulding Field. The Bruins will practice once daily from August 10-13 as part of the standard NCAA acclimatization process. The first practice in pads will be on Friday, August 14. Two-a-day practices will commence on Saturday, August 15. NCAA rules instituted in 2003 prohibit two practices on back-to-back days. On Saturday, August 22, the Bruins will hold a major scrimmage at Drake Stadium, beginning at approximately 5 p.m., with an autograph session to follow. Practices held from August 10 - August 22 will be open to the public (note: schedule is subject to change and times are approximate).

Monday, Aug. 10 - 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 11 - 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 12 - 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 13 - 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 14 - 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. (first day in full pads)
Saturday, Aug. 15 - 9:15 a.m. -11 a.m. / 4:00 p.m. -6:00 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 16 - 3:30 p.m. -5:30 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 17 - 9:00 a.m. - 11 a.m. / 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 18 - 3:00 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 19 - 9:00 a.m. - 11 a.m. / 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 20 - 3:00 - 5:15 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 21 - 9:00 a.m. - 11 a.m. / 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 22 - 5:00 p.m. (scrimmage at Drake Stadium)

SEASON OPENER -- UCLA opens its 91st season of football with a Sept. 5 game against San Diego State in the Rose Bowl. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. and the game will be televised regionally by FS West. AM 570 (KLAC) and the Bruin ISP Radio Network will radio broadcast the contest.

UCLA leads the series with San Diego State by a count of 20-0-1 and captured the last meeting, 44-21, in a 2005 game played in San Diego. Maurice Drew scored three touchdowns and compiled 186 yards of total offense in that contest. Tight end Marcedes Lewis caught six passes for 131 yards and linebacker Spencer Havner recorded 13 tackles. The Bruins last played host to the Aztecs in the 2004 season and came away with a 33-10 win. Drew rushed for 161 yards in that contest and racked up 222 all-purpose yards. Havner led the Bruin defense with 14 tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown.

The Bruins are 59-26-5 overall in season-opening games. UCLA has begun its last four seasons with a win. It knocked off Tennessee in overtime last season by a score of 27-24. (2007, won 45-17 at Stanford; 2006, won 31-10 over Utah in Rose Bowl; 2005, won 44-21 at San Diego State). The last season-opening loss was in 2004 to Oklahoma State (20-31) in a game played in Pasadena. San Diego State went 2-10 last season and tied for eighth in the Mountain West Conference with a 1-7 mark. The Aztecs have brought in a new coach, Brady Hoke, who led Ball State to a 12-1 record in 2008. There are several coaches on Hoke's staff who have ties to UCLA. Offensive coordinator Al Borges served in the same capacity at UCLA from 1996-2000; defensive coordinator Rocky Long held that title at UCLA from 1996-97; cornerbacks coach Tony White was a Bruin linebacker from 1997-2000 and a graduate assistant in football operations in 2007; Director of Operations Bob Lopez held that title at UCLA from 2003-07.

WHO's BACK -- UCLA returns:
*10 Offensive Starters (OG Nick Ekbatani-12 starts, FB Chane Moline-8, QB Kevin Craft-12, WR Taylor Embree-8, WR Terrence Austin-7, TE Cory Harkey-7, OT Jeff Baca-8, OG Darius Savage-7, C Jake Dean-7, OL Micah Kia-7); 2007 starters-TE Logan Paulsen and FB Trevor Theriot)
*Seven Defensive Starters (LB Reggie Carter-12, DT Brian Price-12, DE Korey Bosworth-12, CB Alterraun Verner-12, FS Rahim Moore-12, LB Steve Sloan-9, DE Reggie Stokes-5; 2007 starter LB Kyle Bosworth)
*Three of theTop Four Rushers from 2008 (#2 Derrick Coleman-284 yds.; #3 Chane Moline-118; #4 Terrence Austin-90)
*Top Passer (#1 Kevin Craft-2,341 yds. and 7 tds)
*Top Three Receivers (#1 Terrence Austin-53 catches; #2 Taylor Embree-40; #3 Ryan Moya-38)
*Three of the Top Four Receiving Yardage Leaders (#1 Taylor Embree-531 yards; #2 Terrence Austin-460; #4 Ryan Moya-364)
*Four of the Top Five Total Offense Leaders (#1 Kevin Craft-2,361 yards; #3 Derrick Coleman-284; #4 Chane Moline-118; #5 Terrence Austin-90)
*Four of the Top Five Tacklers (#1 Reggie Carter-83 tackles; #2 Alterraun Verner-73; #4 Rahim Moore-60; #5 Korey Bosworth-55)
*Four of the Top FiveTackles for Loss Leaders (#1 Brian Price-14.0; #2 Korey Bosworth-11.0; #4 Akeem Ayers-5.0; #5 Reggie Carter-4.5)
*Three of the Top Four Scorers (#1 Kai Forbath-78 points; #3 Ryan Moya-18; #4 Derrick Coleman-12)
*Top Punt Returner (Terrence Austin- 23 returns for 219 yards, 9.5 avg.)
*Top Kickoff Returner (Terrence Austin - 46 returns for 1,109 yards, 24.1 avg.)
*Top Field Goal Kicker (Kai Forbath- 19/22 field goals made)

UCLA's Pac-10 TOP-10 RANKED RETURNEES --
No. 1 - Passes Defended - Alterraun Verner, 1.67 per game
No. 1, tied - Field Goals - Kai Forbath, 1.58 per game
No. 2 - All-Purpose Yards - Terrence Austin, 156.6 yards per game
No. 2, tied - Fumbles Recovered - Korey Bosworth, 0.25 per game
No. 4, tied - Fumbles Forced - Reggie Carter, 0.25 per game
No. 5 - Kick Return Avg. - Terrence Austin, 24.1 yards per game
No. 5 - Kick Scoring - Kai Forbath, 6.5 per game
No. 6 - Punt Return Avg. - Terrence Austin, 9.5 yards per return
No. 6, tied - Fumbles Recovered - Rahim Moore, 0.17 per game
No. 7 - Receptions per Game - Terrence Austin, 4.4 per game
No. 7 - Sacks - Korey Bosworth, 0.62 per game
No. 7 - Tackles for Loss - Brian Price, 1.17 per game
No. 9 - Scoring - Kai Forbath, 6.5 per game
No. 10 - Tackles - Reggie Carter, 6.9 per game

UCLA's Pac-10 TOP-5 TEAM RANKINGS --
No. 2 - Pass Defense, 167.7 yds. per game
No. 2 - Kickoff Returns, 24.0 yds. per return
No. 2 - Field Goals, .864 conversion percentage
No. 3 - Punting, 36.2 net yds. per kick
No. 3 - Oppt. 4th Down Conversion, 37.5%
No. 4 - Red Zone Defense, 84.1% scoring percentage
No. 4 - Oppt. 1st Downs, 18.8 per game
No. 4 - Penalties, 56.5 yds. per game
No. 4 - Oppt. Penalties, 62.2 yds. per game
No. 5 - Time of Possession, 30:07 per game
No. 5 - Red Zone Offense, 82.9% scoring percentage
No. 5 - Oppt. 3rd Down Conversion, 37.2%

2008 RECORD -- UCLA finished the 2008 season with a 4-8 record and placed eighth in the Pac-10 Conference with a mark of 3-6.

WHO WAS MISSING -- The following players, who will return to the team for 2009, were listed in the 2008 pre-season two-deep or figured to play a prominent role, if available for action last season: Offense --- TE Logan Paulsen - missed 11 g to injury; OL Jeff Baca - missed 3 g to injury; OL Darius Savage - missed 2 g to injury; OL - Sean Sheller - missed all 12 g to injury; OL - Mike Harris - missed 7 g to injury; RB - Christian Ramirez - missed all 12 g due to academic eligibility issues; FB Trevor Theriot - missed 9 g to injury; Defense --- Kyle Bosworth - missed 10g to injury; DL - Jess Ward - missed 5 g due to injury; DL Reginald Stokes - missed 1 g due to injury.

The group of players out last season, but not returning, included --- QB Ben Olson - missed all 12 g to injury; WR Marcus Everett - missed 5 g to injury; RB - Raymond Carter - missed 5 g to injury; RB Kahlil Bell - missed 2 g to injury; OL - Micah Reed - missed 4 g to injury: QB - Pat Cowan - missed all 12 g due to injury; DL Tom Blake - missed 7 g to injury.

YOUTH AND EXPERIENCE -- UCLA played a total of 22 freshmen (11 redshirt and 11 true freshmen) in the 2008 season. Sixteen of the twenty scholarship players included in that group are scheduled to return in 2009. Of that group of sixteen returning players, 11 have starting experience (Defense --- So. Rahim Moore, S - 12 g; So.R Steve Sloan, LB - 9 g; So. R Akeem Ayers, LB - 3 g; So. Datone Jones, DL - 2 g; So. Tony Dye, S - 1g; Offense --- So. Cory Harkey, TE - 7 g; So. Taylor Embree, WR - 8 g; So. Jeff Baca, OL - 8 g; So.R Nate Chandler, TE - 2 g; So. Derrick Coleman, RB - 1 g; So.R Mike Harris, OL - 5 g).

In addition, three 2008 true freshmen saw action in at least nine games - WR Nelson Rosario - 9g; WR Antwon Moutra - 10 g; LB Sean Westgate - 12 g. Two 2008 redshirt freshmen, Glenn Love and CB Courtney Viney, each saw action in all 12 games.

MOST-EVER TRUE FRESHMAN STARTS -- Rahim Moore's 12 starts last season at free safety were the most ever by a Bruin true freshman defensive back and the highest total in UCLA history by a true freshman at any non-kicking position. Jeff Baca's eight starts along the offensive line in 2008 set a new mark for a Bruin true freshman o-lineman. Wide Receiver Taylor Embree's total of eight starts in 2008 were the most ever by a true freshman Bruin at that position.

FRESHMEN OVER THE YEARS -- A school-record 17 true freshmen played for the Bruins in 1977. Thirteen played in 1975, 12 in 1978, 1980 and 2004 and 10 played in 1979. In recent years, nine played in 2005, eight in 2006, two in 2007 and 11 in 2008.

2009 FRESHMEN BY POSITION -- The following is a position-by-position look at the scholarship freshmen expected to join the Bruin team this Fall (* indicates participated in 2009 Spring Practice):

Offensive Linemen (4) - Nik Abele (Irvine, CA HS); Greg Capella OL (Visalia, CA El Diamonte HS); Stanley Hasiak (Kapolei, HI HS); Xavier Su'a-Filo (Provo, UT Timpview HS)
Tight End (1) - Morrell Presley* (Carson, CA HS)
Running Back (2) - Jayson Allmond - FB (Fontana, CA Bloomington HS); Damien Thigpen - TB (Manassas, VA Stonewall Jackson HS)
Quarterback (1) - Richard Brehaut* (Rancho Cucamonga, CA Los Osos HS)
Receiver (2) - Randall Carroll (Los Angeles, CA Cathedral HS); Ricky Marvray (Corona, CA Centennial HS)
Athlete (1) - Dalton Hilliard (Honolulu, HI Punahou HS)
Linebacker (2) - Isaiah Bowens (La Puente, CA Bishop Amat HS); Todd Golper (Arcadia, CA HS)
Defensive Linemen (2) - Keenan Graham (Las Vegas, NV Silverado HS); Iuta Tepa (Long Beach, CA Poly HS)
Defensive Back (5) - Alex Mascarenas (Mission Viejo, CA HS); Stan McKay (Long Beach, CA Poly HS); Marlon Pollard (San Bernardino, CA Cajon HS); Sheldon Price (La Puente, CA Bishop Amat HS); Brandon Sermons (Pomona, CA Diamond Ranch HS)

FIRST ACTION -- A total of 29 players (17 offensive and 12 defensive) saw their first action as a Bruin during the 2008 season (11 true freshmen - seven offensive and four defensive players (LB Sean Westgate, S Rahim Moore, TE Cory Harkey, WR Taylor Embree, S Tony Dye, WR Antwan Moutra, WR Nelson Rosario, RB Aundre Dean, RB Derrick Coleman, OL Jeff Baca, DL Datone Jones); 11 redshirt freshmen - five defensive and six offensive players (DB Courtney Viney, LB Steve Sloan, LB Akeem Ayers, DB Glenn Love, OL/TE Nate Chandler, RB Raymond Carter, DL Justin Edison, WR Ryal Jagd, QB Chris Forcier, TE Glenn Rauscher, OT Mike Harris), six redshirt sophomores - three offensive and three defensive players (OL Brandon Bennett, LB Mike Schmitt, DL Reginald Stokes, OL Sonny Tevaga, OL Jake Dean, DB Garrett Rubio), one redshirt junior (QB Kevin Craft).

YOUTH UNDER CENTER -- Redshirt freshman Kevin Prince was named the starting quarterback by head coach Rick Neuheisel shortly after the end of 2009 Spring Practice.

The last, and only, time the Bruins have taken the field in a season-opener with a freshman quarterback under center was in 1989. Bret Johnson started all 11 games that season and the Bruins finished with a 3-7-1 record. UCLA opened that campaign with games against Tennessee (6-24 loss in Rose Bowl) and San Diego State (28-25 win at SDSU).

The following is a list of freshmen quarterback starts over the last 20 seasons: *2002 (8-5, T 4th Pac-10) -- Matt Moore (Fr.) game 8 win over Stanford; Drew Olson (Fr.) game 9 win at Washington; game 10 win at Arizona; game 11 loss to USC; game 12 loss to Wash. State; game 13 bowl win over New Mexico.
*1999 (4-7, 9th Pac-10) -- Cory Paus (Fr.R) game 3 win over Fresno St.; game 5 loss at Ariz. State; game 6 win over Oregon; game 7 loss to Cal; game 8 loss at Ore. State; game 9 loss to Arizona; game 10 win over Washington; Ryan McCann (Fr. R) game 11 loss at USC.
*1995 (7-5, T 5th Pac-10) -- Cade McNown (Fr.) game 3 loss to Oregon; game 5 win over Fresno St.; game 6 win over Arizona; game 7 win at Stanford; game 8 win over Cal; game 9 loss at Ariz. State; game 10 loss to Washington; game 11 win at USC; game 12 bowl loss to Kansas.
*1992 (6-5, 8th Pac-10) -- Rob Walker (Fr. R) game 2 win at BYU; game 3 win over San Diego State; game 4 loss at Arizona; game 5 loss to Stanford; game 10 win at Oregon; Ryan Fien (Fr.) game 7 loss to Arizona State.
*1990 (5-6, T 6th Pac-10) -- Tommy Maddox (Fr. R) game 3 loss at Michigan; game 4 win at Wash. State; game 5 loss to Arizona; game 6 win over San Diego State; game 7 loss at Cal; game 8 win over Oregon State; game 9 loss at Oregon; game 10 win at Washington; game 11 loss to USC.
*1989 (3-7-1, 9th Pac-10) -- Bret Johnson (Fr. R) started all 11 games. game 1 loss to Tenn.; game 2 win over San Diego State; game 3 loss to Michigan; game 4 win over Cal; game 5 win over Ariz. State; game 6 loss at Arizona; game 7 loss at Oregon State; game 8 loss to Washington; game 9 loss at Stanford; game 10 loss to Oregon; game 11 tie at USC.

QB FIRST STARTS -- Seven of the last 10 quarterbacks to start a game for the Bruins have helped to lead the team to victory in their initial contest. Last season, Kevin Craft (Jr.R) engineered a 27-24 overtime win over Tennessee. In 2006, Ben Olson (So.R) helped lead the Bruins past Utah 31-10. Drew Olson (Fr.) was at the helm of a 34-24 Bruin win in Seattle in 2002. Also in 2002, the Bruins emerged with a 28-18 win over Stanford behind Matt Moore (Fr.). In 2001, Scott McEwan (Sr.R) piloted the Bruins to a 52-42 win over ASU. In 1999, Cory Paus (Fr.R) won his first start, against Fresno State, 35-21. The Bruins won the 1999 season-opener with Drew Bennett (Jr.R) under center in a 38-7 decision over Boise State.

On the other side of the ledger, the Bruins came up on the short end of a 24-20 score in Ossar Rasshan's (So.R) 2007 debut against Arizona State. Oregon bested the Bruins, 30-20, in Eugene in Patrick Cowan's (So.R) first start in 2006. Ryan McCann (Fr.R) was under center in USC's 17-7 win over the Bruins in the Coliseum in 1999.