Sophomore safety Matt Ware is a good student. He loves
tests.
“It is going to be so much fun to play against this
offense because it is a challenge. You have to make sure you are so
into it because all their shifting and motioning. If you are out of
it for a play, it is a touchdown, easy,” he said.
USC’s offense has generated 421 yards per game.
“The way they get into formations by motioning, shifting,
and shifting back they make your defense go through all its checks
in one play. Most offenses will probably confuse themselves with
what they’re doing,” Ware added.
Ware will likely draw 6-foot-5-inch freshman wide receiver Mike
Williams, who leads the Trojans with 93.1 yards per game.
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Senior defensive tackle Steve Morgan is one of the few
fifth-years on the team, one of the few who remember UCLA’s
last cross-town rivalry win, 34-17 in 1998.
“I was redshirting the last time we beat them. Just the
feeling in the locker room after the game, Cade McNown and those
guys, I remember that.
“It’s been tough to put that out of my mind the past
three years because they have beaten us. I want to set a standard
for the young players to continue to do well against
them.”
The only player on the team who has actually participated in a
win against the Trojans is senior Jon Dubravac, who medically
redshirted last year with back problems.
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UCLA running back Tyler Ebell’s older sister, Jennifer,
goes to USC. As a result, the USC-UCLA rivalry resembles more of a
sibling rivalry.
Ebell refused to give Jennifer tickets to the game because she
would be rooting for USC.
However, Jennifer still supports her younger brother, and
she’s putting her money where her mouth is. She has bet $200
that Tyler will surpass the century mark for the seventh straight
game.
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UCLA fans shouldn’t expect to see to much of No. 77 on
Saturday. Defensive tackle Rodney Leisle, while participating in
practice drills, won’t be playing much.
“Even if he can, he won’t be playing much,”
UCLA head coach Bob Toledo said. “He hasn’t practiced
much.”
Dubravac suffered a concussion on Monday in practice, but should
be able to play on Saturday.
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Losing is a sore spot with many among this year’s class.
Practice got a little rambunctious Tuesday with everyone’s
eagerness to leave as winners.
“They are fine,” Toledo said.