The No. 7 Bruins are beginning to take on a role to which they
are not accustomed at this point in the season.
They have suddenly become the team that everyone is gunning
for.
Entering Saturday’s game against Arizona, the Bruins (8-0,
5-0 Pac-10) are favored by 9 1/2 points in the game, and are
clearly the marked team.
“At this point in the season, you’re ranked in the
top 10, with teams (giving) their best effort to knock you
off,” coach Karl Dorrell said. “That’s part of
the equation as well, so let’s not underestimate
that.”
It’s something the Bruins are not used to, especially when
facing the Wildcats (2-6, 1-4). UCLA usually plays Arizona in
October, at the beginning of the season.
“I’ve been in that position before, the last two
years, trying to knock off a team perceived better than we
are,” Dorrell said. “So you’re getting
everyone’s best effort, and we have to play with our best
effort.”
There is a good reason for that. The Bruins have won their first
eight games in a season for the first time since 1998, and the
team’s No. 7 ranking is its highest since 2001.
In addition, the Bruins have defeated the Wildcats four
consecutive times, and have also won the last four meetings between
the two teams in Tucson.
“We want teams to be playing their best for us,”
wide receiver Marcus Everett said. “I love the challenge of
that.”
In the Bruins’ two previous Pac-10 road games this season,
they were the team with the challenge. They hadn’t beaten
either Washington State or Stanford on the road since 1999, and
that was motivation enough.
Tight end Marcedes Lewis says the Arizona game will be just as
challenging.
“If we can’t get up for them, there is something
wrong with us,” Lewis said. “We are one of the
top-ranked teams in the nation. We know the situation.”
The Bruins, at 8-0, are one of five remaining unbeaten teams in
the nation, and have a chance to improve their BCS bowl chances if
they can defeat the Wildcats on Saturday.
To do that, however, they will have to improve on the starts
they’ve had as of late.
The Bruins have been outscored 72-38 in the first half in four
out of their last five games.
“We’re just not getting it done,” Dorrell
said. “We need to do a better job of preparing our players to
do what they need to do in the early portions of the game.
It’s nothing more than that.”
To accomplish the feat, the Bruins will have to do it against
the third-best pass defense in the Pac-10. The Wildcats had six
interceptions last week against Oregon State and will be a tougher
opponent than the Bruins had to face last week against the
Cardinal.
In fact, on defense, the Wildcats are second in the Pac-10 with
only 10 passing touchdowns allowed.
“We know about their defense,” quarterback Drew
Olson said. “Coach (Mike) Stoops always gets those guys
going, and we know its going to be tough.”
Olson has a chance to become the UCLA single-season leader for
passing touchdowns this Saturday. The senior quarterback, with 23,
is currently two behind all-time leader Cade McNown.
Olson has thrown a touchdown in 16 of UCLA’s past 17
games.
“It would be awesome if I could get (the passing touchdown
record),” Olson said. “But its not what I’m
paying attention to. If our team plays well, the touchdowns will
come.”
If and when Olson does break the record, it will be for a team
that has clearly embraced its new role.
“I get excited when I look at the (BCS) standings
now,” Olson said. “Its been a nice change from the
past, I can tell you that.”