WASHINGTON ““ Rahim Moore has lightning-quick instincts. He proved that much by tormenting opposing quarterbacks this season, making precise defensive reads and leading the nation with 10 interceptions.
The sophomore safety is all instincts, but talking to him following UCLA’s 30-21 victory over Temple in the EagleBank Bowl would make you believe he’s somewhat of a prophet.
“You know, it’s funny,” Moore said. “I don’t want to say this, but I knew the game was going to come out like this.”
Fair enough. But did he know the Bruins would allow 241 yards in the first half and head into the locker room trailing 21-10?
“I knew Temple was going to come out hot,” he added. “I envisioned all of this before the game even started.”
So did he know UCLA would only give up a total of 41 yards and hold the Owls scoreless in the second half, paving the way for the Bruins’ first bowl victory in four years?
“When we were down, I knew we were going to come back,” Moore said without hesitation.
The Bruins were indeed down, struggling with the bone-chilling conditions at RFK Stadium and virtually trailing in every statistical category at the half. Yet, like Moore envisioned, the Bruins stormed back with 23 unanswered points, sending the team’s 20 seniors out on a winning note.
Usually a leader by example, Moore said he decided to be vocal and spoke to the team at halftime. He wanted to make sure everyone knew what was at stake. He wanted to make sure his pregame vision would become a reality.
“Everything was dedicated to these seniors,” Moore said. “These seniors have done so much and they’ve been through so much. It was either win or lose ““ we’ve got to ride or die.”
In his postgame press conference, coach Rick Neuheisel also praised the seniors for their important role in the team’s development. In particular, he thanked senior captains Reggie Carter and Alterraun Verner for quickly buying into his philosophy following the dismissal of former coach Karl Dorrell.
“It’s fitting that the leaders of this defense ““ the Reggie Carters, the Alterraun Verners and the Bosworth boys (Korey and Kyle) ““ they have that chance to feel that they were the cornerstone of putting us back in a winning way,” Neuheisel said.
Only sophomore linebacker Akeem Ayers, named the game’s most valuable player in an on-field ceremony following the game, had more tackles than Verner, Carter and the Bosworths against Temple. Carter, a first-team All-Pac-10 selection and an integral part of the Bruin defense for the last four seasons, had six tackles to finish with a team-leading 79 on the year. He tallied a 272 tackles during his collegiate career, good for No. 20 on UCLA’s all-time list.
“They always tell you that they remember you for what you do last,” Carter said. “This was the last opportunity to play together as a unit. We’ll never be this team again, the 2009 Bruins. It felt great to go out there and come out with a victory.”
Having obtained the bowl victory, UCLA (7-6) now has expectations of competing at a high level in the near future. Next season’s nonconference schedule features a home game against Houston (10-4) and road games at Kansas State (6-6) and potential national champion Texas (13-0).
“We’re on the path, now we’ve just got to keep taking those necessary steps,” Neuheisel said.
Before taking steps forward, the Bruins must first learn to crawl. UCLA’s defense loses five seniors and junior Brian Price, the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year who is expected to declare himself eligible for April’s NFL Draft.
With that in mind, Moore’s instincts have already kicked in.
“Last offseason, I wanted to do all I could to help these guys go out with a bang,” Moore said. “This win gives us a sense of urgency.”
So does this newfound prophet have any more predictions? Any more visions?
“The sky is the limit for this program,” Moore said.