Oct. 6, 2008

To watch head coach Rick Neuheisel's news conference from Monday, October 6, click here.

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GAME 6 -- UCLA (2-3, 1-1 in Pac-10 play) plays it first Pac-10 Conference road game of the season when it travels to Oregon (4-2,2-1) on Sat., Oct. 11 at 7:15 p.m. The game will be televised nationally by FSN (Prime Ticket locally) with Barry Tomkins and Petros Papadakis in the booth and Jim Watson on the sidelines. The UCLA/ ISP Sports Radio Network (KLAC 570 AM is the Los Angeles flagship station) will broadcast the contest with Chris Roberts, Matt Stevens and Wayne Cook calling the action. The game also will be carried live on Sirius Satellite Radio (Channel 113). In addition, UCLA is producing a Spanish-language broadcast of all home games which can be heard on the Bruin website at uclabruins.com with Armando Aguayo and Mario Amaya.

SERIES WITH OREGON -- The Bruins and Ducks will meet for the 62nd time on Saturday. UCLA leads the series by a 39-22 count. The teams have split the past four meetings. UCLA won the last meeting, earning a 16-0 win last season (game 11) in the Rose Bowl. Oregon won the last meeting played in Eugene, 30-20, in the 2006 season (game 6). UCLA's last win in Eugene came in the 2004 season, a 34-26 verdict. Coach Rick Neuheisel owns a 4-1 record versus Oregon, 2-0 at Colorado and 2-1 at Washington.

Last season, the Bruins blanked the ninth-ranked Ducks 16-0 in the Rose Bowl. The UCLA defense limited Oregon to 148 total yards (43 rushing) as injuries forced the Ducks to utilize three quarterbacks during the contest. Osaar Rasshan started the game at quarterback for the Bruins who led 6-0 at halftime. Ben Olson took the reins at the start of the second half , seeing his first game action after missing nearly two months due to a knee injury. A third Kai Forbath field goal put UCLA up 9-0 at the end of three quarters. Craig Sheppard scored the game's only touchdown on a 20-yard burst with 5:29 remaining in the contest. In the 2006 game played in Eugene, OR, the Ducks used a 20-point first-quarter to take charge early in a 30-20 win. A couple of field goals by Justin Medlock closed the gap to 20-6 at halftime. A Duck scoring pass late in the third quarter put the home team up by a 27-6 score. A couple of short scoring runs by Kahlil Bell helped to narrow the final margin. Patrick Cowan made his first career start at quarterback in the contest.

LINEUPS AND STARTS
* Senior defensive tackle Brigham Harwell leads the team with 34 career starts. Tight end Logan Paulsen (26), linebacker Reggie Carter (25), wide receiver Marcus Everett (20) are the only other Bruins with at least 20 career starts. Junior defensive back Alterraun Verner is the next closest with 17 career starts.

* Junior cornerback Alterraun Verner has the longest starting streak on the team with 14 straight. Senior tight end Logan Paulsen had a 23-game starting streak snapped against BYU when he sat out the game due to a broken foot. Senior center Micah Reed had a string of 10 straight snapped when he did not play versus Arizona (knee). Senior defensive end Tom Blake has the next longest active streak (10).

FIELD POSITION AND TURNOVERS
* Opponents have started 14 drives in UCLA territory this season (during regulation) and have totaled 52 points. Tennessee started one drive (U 26-yard line) in Bruin territory and it led to a UT punt. BYU began six drives (U 37, U 30, U 25, U 48, U 43, U 16-yard lines) in UCLA territory and came away with five touchdowns and a field goal for 38 points. Four of the BYU drives came after UCLA turnovers and a fifth came after a blocked field goal. The sixth came after UCLA turned the ball over on downs. Arizona started four drives (U48, U26, U42, U25) and scored two touchdowns for 14 points. Fresno State started one drive in UCLA territory and it resulted in a Bruin interception. Washington State started two drives in UCLA territory and neither resulted in points, one ending with a punt and one on downs.

* UCLA is 24-2 when it wins the turnover battle over the past five-plus seasons, including 5-0 (Stanford, BYU, Oregon State, California, Oregon) in 2007 and 1-0 (WSU) in 2008.

* It is 13-29 when it ties or loses the turnover battle over the last five-plus seasons, including 1-3 (beat Tennessee, lost to BYU, Arizona and Fresno State) in 2008.

UCLA AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
* UCLA has won six of its last eight home games played against AP ranked opponents with wins over Tennessee (2008-18th), Oregon (2007-9th), Cal (twice, 2005-10th, 2007-10th), USC (2006-2nd) and Oklahoma (2005-21st) and the losses to ASU (2007-9th) and Fresno State 2008-25th).

* UCLA has defeated three of the last five Top 10-ranked opponents it has faced.

• Won against Oregon (No. 9 AP, No. 10 USA Today/ESPN) on Nov. 24, 2007
• Beat California (No. 10 AP, T-No. 9 USA Today/ESPN) on October 20, 2007
• Defeated No. 2 USC on December 2, 2006.
• Lost to Arizona State (No. 9), 24-20, on Nov. 10, 2007
• Lost to USC (No. 8 AP, No. 9 USA Today/ESPN) on Dec. 1, 2007.

* UCLA's last road victory over a ranked team (AP) came on Sept. 29, 2001 at #19 Oregon State (38-7).

FRESHMEN
*UCLA has played a total of 11 true freshmen (seven offense, four defense) so far this season. The Bruins played seven freshmen in the 2008 season-opening game against Tennessee --- LB Sean Westgate; S Rahim Moore; TE Cory Harkey; WR Taylor Embree; S; Tony Dye; WR Antwan Moutra; WR Nelson Rosario. RB Aundre Dean made his debut versus BYU. TB Derrick Coleman, OT Jeff Baca and DE Datone Jones debuted versus Arizona.

*A school-record 12 freshmen played for the Bruins in the 2004 season. (2007-2; 2006-8; 2005-9)

FIRST ACTION
* A total of 28 players (16 offensive and 12 defensive) saw their first action as a Bruin during the first five games of 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); 10 redshirt freshmen - five defensive and five 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), 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).

* In addition to the seven true freshmen listed above, 10 other Bruins saw their first action in the 2008 season-opening win against Tennessee --- redshirt sophomore OL Brandon Bennett; redshirt sophomore LB Mike Schmitt; redshirt sophomore DL Reginald Stokes; redshirt sophomore OL Sonny Tevaga; redshirt freshman DB Courtney Viney; redshirt freshman LB Steve Sloan; redshirt freshman LB Akeem Ayers; redshirt freshman OL Nate Chandler; redshirt freshman RB Raymond Carter; redshirt freshman DB Glenn Love. At Brigham Young, true freshman RB Aundre Dean, redshirt sophomore C Jake Dean, redshirt freshman DL Justin Edison and redshirt sophomore S Garrett Rubio made their Bruin debuts. Against Arizona, true freshman TB Derrick Coleman, true freshman OT Jeff Baca and true freshman DE Datone Jones played for the first time. Redshirt freshman WR Ryal Jagd played on special teams versus Fresno State. Against Washington State, redshirt freshman QB Chris Forcier and redshirt freshman TE Glenn Rauscher made their debuts on offense. Redshirt sophomore FB Tobi Umodu (he played on special teams last season) and redshirt junior OG Jess Ward (he played DT last year) made their offensive debuts versus the Cougars.

FIRST STARTS
* Fourteen players (10 on offense and four on defense) have made their first starts this season. Six players made their first position starts --- S Aaron Ware; S Rahim Moore; OG Sonny Tevaga; OT Nick Ekbatani; QB Kevin Craft; WR Terrence Austin - versus Tennessee. At BYU, OG Darius Savage, TE Cory Harkey and LB Akeem Ayers made their first starts. Versus Arizona, WR Taylor Embree, C Jake Dean and LB Steve Sloan made their first starts. Against Fresno State, TE Nate Chandler and OT Jeff Baca made their first starts.

TEAM NOTES --
* Washington State's 177 yards of total offense was UCLA's best defensive effort since holding Oregon to 148 net yards last season. That was the best effort by a Bruin defense since holding Arkansas to 42 net yards in the 1989 Cotton Bowl.

* Washington State's 26 net yards rushing was the lowest total by a Bruin opponent since UCLA held Arizona to minus-13 yards rushing in 2006.

* UCLA's 234 rushing yards against Fresno State was its highest total since running for 333 yards against Washington last season (game four).

* Has held 14 opponents over the last two-plus seasons to less than 100 yards of rushing offense.

* Held six opponents to less than 100 yards on the ground in the 2007 season (52-Stanford, 44-BYU, 46-Notre Dame, 67-Cal, 43-Oregon, 34-BYU/bowl).

* In 13 games in 2007, opponents converted 62 of 214 (29.0%) third down opportunities and UCLA ranked third in the nation and second in the Pac-10 in that category.

* UCLA held its 13 opponents to 1,419 net rushing yards on 472 attempts (3.0 average) and ranked 25th in the nation (109.15) in rushing defense in 2007.

* Over the last five-plus seasons, UCLA is 21-2 when it scores at least 30 points in a game and 12-1 when it scores 40 or more (11 in a row).

* Over the last five-plus seasons, the Bruins are 21-3 when they hold the opponent under 20 points, and had a 16-game winning streak snapped when they lost the Las Vegas Bowl, 17-16.

ROSE BOWL ADVANTAGE
* The Bruins have captured wins in 18 of the last 23 games (.783) played at home in the Rose Bowl.

* Over the last six seasons, UCLA's home record is 26-9 (.743).

* UCLA has won 17 of its last 21 (.810) non-conference matchups played in the Rose Bowl (2008: L Fresno State / W Tennessee; 2007: L Notre Dame / W BYU; 2006: W Rice / W Utah; 2005: W Oklahoma / W Rice; 2004: W San Diego State / L Okla. State; 2003: W San Diego State / W Illinois; 2002: L Colorado / W Colorado State; 2001: W Ohio State; 2000: W Michigan, W Fresno State, W Alabama; 1999: W Fresno State / W Boise State; 1998: W Texas).

* UCLA's 10-game home winning streak in 2005-06 was its longest since 1997-1999, when it won 13 consecutive home games.

PLAYER/COACH NOTES --
#1 Alterraun Verner - JUNIOR DEFENSIVE BACK
* Picked off eighth career pass against WSU.
* Made career-high 13 tackles at BYU.
* Ranks 2nd in Pac-10 and T-6th in NCAA with 1.60 passes defensed per game in 2008.
* Has three interception returns for touchdown in his career (34 yards-Utah, 2006; 89 yards-Arizona, 2006; 76 yards-California, 2007).
* That total ties the UCLA record held by Jerry Robinson (1975-78), Marcus Turner (1985-88) and Spencer Havner (2002-05).

#51 Reggie Carter - REDSHIRT JR. LINEBACKER
* His 20 tackles at BYU were the most by a Bruin since Eric Turner made 21 vs. Oregon on Nov. 11, 1989.
* Ranks fourth (tied) in Pac-10 with 8.40 tackles per game

#92 Brian Price - SOPH. DEFENSIVE TACKLE
* Has 5.0 tackles for loss this season and 12 TFL in the last nine games.
* He had three tackles for loss in the bowl game versus BYU and recorded all seven of his tackles for loss last year in the final four games of the season.

#25 Kai Forbath - REDSHIRT SOPH. PLACE KICKER
* Second on the all-time list of UCLA kickers with field goals of 50 or more yards (Justin Medlock-6).
* First Bruin to record five kicks of 50 or more yards in same season (2007) and second to kick two in the same game (Medlock-2004 at Oregon).
* His 54-yard field goal versus Oregon in 2007 was third longest in UCLA history.

#4 Terrence Austin - JUNIOR KICK RETURNER
* Currently 13th in the NCAA and second in the Pac-10 in all-purpose yards (168.20).
* Ranks sixth on the all-time UCLA Punt Returns list
* Set a UCLA game record with 208 kickoff return yards versus Fresno State

#25 Bret Lockett - SENIOR SAFETY
* Ranks second in Pac-10 with 8.75 tackles per game
* His defensive PAT for two points versus Fresno State was only the second in UCLA history (Matt Clark did it versus USC in 2003)

#54 Kyle Bosworth - SENIOR LINEBACKER
* His 19 tackles at Washington State and safety Dennis Keyes' 19 tackles at USC in 2007 were the most by a Bruin player since Eric Turner made 21 against Oregon on Nov. 11, 1989.
* That total of 19 stops ranks ninth (tied) on UCLA's single-game list.

#36 Kahlil Bell - SENIOR TAILBACK
* Named to the 2008 Doak Walker watch list
* Has scored four touchdowns in his last two games
* Would have finished fifth in the Pac-10 with an average of 99.38 yards per game (he did not have enough games to qualify due to injury).
* Bell has a total of five career 100-yard games (195-Stanford, 2007; 142-Cal, 2007; 136-Northwestern, 2005; 109-Washington, 2007; 102-Rice, 2006).