Bowl chances intercepted, but we still have USC

It’s official.

After an explosive start to the Rick Neuheisel era at UCLA, the Bruins traversed a bumpy road before the wagon completely stalled Friday night.

There will be no .500 record and there will be no bowl game.

Friday night in the 34-9 loss to Arizona State in Tempe, redshirt junior quarterback Kevin Craft threw three touchdowns.

To the wrong team.

His trio of interceptions ““ the fourth time this year he has hurled at least three in a game ““ were all returned for scores and proved to be the difference on a night when the Bruin defense completely shut down the Sun Devils. The home team managed a meager 122 yards of total offense and in the second half generated two first downs, but scored 20 points.

For the season, Craft has thrown a staggering 19 interceptions and been sacked 31 times. After the game, coach Neuheisel called turnovers the team’s nemesis and noted, “It’s difficult to pinpoint why the turnover bug keeps biting us.”

It was an admirable attempt to protect his struggling quarterback and offensive line, but it’s impossible to ignore that Craft and his protectors have been a disaster for most of the season.

Neuheisel seemed pensive and emotionally drained after the game. Gone was the air of relentless optimism that has categorized his public appearances this season.

Instead, he spoke philosophically about the “two teams within a football team,” and the divisiveness that can surface if one of the those teams (defense) does its job and the other (offense) does not. Yet he insisted that the defense displayed no feelings of resentment in the locker room.

Rebuilding takes time. This has been a team ravaged by injuries, forced to start a shaky backup quarterback behind an even shakier makeshift offensive line. That combination was the kiss of death UCLA could never overcome.

Despite only four wins on the year, there was in fact a good foundation laid for the future. Young players blossomed on both sides of the ball, and a healthier, more experienced team along with a solid recruiting class should make UCLA a contender in the Pac-10 next season.

But before the lockers can be cleaned out and the 2008 season put on ice, the hated Trojans will invade the Rose Bowl next week. If the Bruins manage to shock USC on Saturday, this season will be regarded as an overwhelming success story. A triumph over the Trojans would trump any joy a random-sponsor.com bowl game could ever provide.

Yes, it is a complete long shot. A pipe dream even. But the Bruins just acquired the perfect blueprint to beat ‘SC.

The Trojans have the top-ranked defense in the country, so points, and even yards will be in short supply. As was the case for Arizona State against UCLA on Friday night.

If UCLA can follow the Sun Devils’ ingenious game plan ““ don’t worry about moving the ball on offense, play well in special teams, and score three or four defensive touchdowns ““ the Bruins have a chance.

Then again, if USC prevails as expected, they will have about the same chance to play for a national championship as UCLA: None.

If you have a game plan for Saturday, e-mail Taylor at btaylor@media.ucla.edu.

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