Mike Price and Bob Toledo have a lot in common. They were
both college quarterbacks. They both like to fish and golf.
They both remind one of Santa Claus because of their
joviality and body type. So you would think that Toledo would
take a little advice from his good buddy. But not this week.
Saturday UCLA (7-4, 4-3 Pac-10) plays No. 7 Washington State (9-2,
6-1), which hopes to secure a Rose Bowl berth. A Bruin victory
sends USC to the Rose Bowl. “If it were me and winning this
game would give my rival the Rose Bowl berth, I’d tank
it,” Price said jokingly. “I’m not tanking
it!” Toledo yelled with a smile on his face when he came in
to Monday’s press conference. “This game is exciting.
We can change bowl pictures and impact the BCS,” Toledo said.
Should UCLA win, the BCS is thrown into disarray. With USC at No. 4
in the BCS rankings, it is guaranteed a BCS bowl which could push
No. 5 (BCS) Iowa out if one of the bowls invites No. 10 (BCS) Notre
Dame. “We’ve done better than anyone expected this year
for us with a senior quarterback. We want to get to the best bowl
possible,” Toledo said. The Bruins were picked to finish
sixth in the Pac-10 in the pre-season media poll but could not
finish below tied for fourth. Freshman quarterback Drew Olson will
start but Toledo will try to get Moore in again, despite
Moore’s costly fumble after Toledo switched
quarterbacks. Ңbull;Ӣbull;Ӣbull; The Bruins would like to know
if co-Pac-10 offensive player of the year and WSU quarterback Jason
Gesser will play. He suffered a severe high ankle sprain in the
Cougars’ last game, a 29-26 triple overtime loss to Washington.
“What quarterback?” the ever-playful Price replied when
asked about Gesser’s status. In all seriousness, Price
believes Gesser is 50/50 to go Saturday and will practice today.
This week he will split the reps 50/50 with backup Matt
Kegel. Regardless of how Gesser’s situation improves, Price
will not make public what quarterback will start until gametime.
Kegel struggled against Washington, losing the game on a fumble
that could possibly have been called an incomplete forward pass,
but was ruled a lateral. Kegel was 5-of-7 for 20 yards with two
interceptions. “He’s had a good two days of
practice,” Price said. “He’s doing just beautiful
now.” “¢bull;”¢bull;”¢bull; Redshirt freshman tailback Jason
Harrison and Akil Harris, who suffered concussions during UCLA’s
loss to USC, will be checked today and possibly cleared for the WSU
game. Junior flanker Tab Perry is very doubtful with a high ankle
sprain. Sophomore split end Craig Bragg is listed as the starter at
flanker with freshman Junior Taylor starting at split end. Junior
receiver Ryan Smith will have surgery on his foot Wednesday. Also
on the injured list: senior receiver Jon Dubravac (toe), junior
offensive lineman Shane Lehmann (ankle), freshman defensive lineman
C.J. Niusulu (appendix), and, of course, quarterback Cory Paus
(foot). Ңbull;Ӣbull;Ӣbull; Several Bruins made the All-Pac-10
team, voted on by coaches. Seniors cornerback Ricky Manning, Jr.,
punter Nate Fikse, offensive tackle Mike Saffer and tight end Mike
Seidman all made first team. Manning is only the seventh Bruin
since 1964 to earn first-team honors three times. Five others were
named to the conference second team: redshirt freshman tailback,
sophomore offensive guard Eyoseph Efseaff, junior defensive end
Dave Ball, seniors offensive tackle Bryce Bohlander and linebacker
Marcus Reese. Bragg, Perry, sophomore offensive guard Steven
Vieira, junior linebacker Brandon Chillar, and senior defensive
tackle Steve Morgan earned honorable mention.