Though UCLA doesn’t play again until Dec. 4, several
Bruins are receiving national attention for the things they have
done thus far this season. Yesterday tight end Marcedes Lewis and
punter Chris Kluwe were named as finalists for the John Mackey
Award and the Ray Guy Award, respectively, the top awards for each
player’s position. “That’s great,” coach
Karl Dorrell said. “That’s to the credit of what work
they put into their offseason, and they’ve both had good
years. We’re excited for them.” Lewis, who is a
finalist with Alex Smith of Stanford and Heath Miller of Virginia,
has 26 receptions for 332 yards and six touchdowns this season.
Lewis had his breakout game in the win against Arizona, when he had
six receptions for 99 yards and three touchdowns. Kluwe is
averaging 43.25 yards per punt, and has had just 33 percent of his
punts returned. But even though he has been an integral part of the
Bruins’ special teams success this season and deserves a lot
of credit, there are more important things than awards.
“They’re nice to get, but it’s more about the
team,” Kluwe said. “I’d be a lot happier if we go
out and beat USC and I don’t win the award, than if we go out
and lose and I get the award. Ultimately, it all comes down to the
team.”
THANKFUL FOR A BREAK: After an early-morning
practice today, the Bruin players will have several days off to
travel home for Thanksgiving. “It’s well
deserved,” Lewis said. “We finished well, and we
deserve it. “Everybody is working real hard these last three
days before we come back and really start grinding for
“˜SC.” UCLA is now faced with an interesting situation.
Having two bye weeks before they face USC next Saturday, the Bruins
are free to take a break, but they know the biggest game of the
season looms. Still, they will enjoy the time away.
“I’m excited about going home,” said receiver
Craig Bragg, who is from San Jose. “I haven’t been home
since we reported to camp, so my mom’s going to cook me up
some good food, and I’m excited about that.”
INJURY UPDATE: With every day of practice, the
Bruins are closer and closer to getting back to full health. Safety
Jarrad Page (hamstring), tailback Maurice Drew (ankle) and Lewis
(tailbone) all practiced in some capacity yesterday, and Dorrell
expects everyone to be at full strength when the team gets back at
it on Monday. Dorrell said Page, who pulled a hamstring in the win
against Oregon, looked good Tuesday. “He wanted to do more
than I wanted him to do,” Dorrell said. The Bruin coach said
that Drew still looked a little gimpy, but he expects him to be
full strength for the USC game. Lewis said he should be completely
healthy by the beginning of next week.