UCLA v. Texas: Three keys

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UCLA v. Texas
Rose Bowl
12:30 p.m.
TV: ABC
Radio: AM 570 KLAC

If you are heading out to Pasadena, here are some keys to the game you can watch for…

A clash between burnt orange and true blue

Not just on the field, but in the stands. Longhorn fans are well known for their ability to travel in herds, and UCLA prepared for all the buzz they’ll bring — coach Rick Neuheisel had crowd noise blasted over the Spaulding Field loudspeakers throughout the week despite the contest being at home.

“I don’t know many crowds that get real quiet during that time of the game,” said Neuheisel, who asked for the noise during the team’s hurry-up offense drills. “It’s important to be able to deal with the tension that noise brings and relax in it.

Also, Longhorn fans are very familiar with the route from Austin to Pasadena, one they traveled for the 2010 BCS National Championship Game. Texas dropped that game to Alabama after starting quarterback Colt McCoy left early due to injury. Garrett Gilbert replaced McCoy that night and brought the Longhorns to within a field goal in the fourth quarter, but his valiant efforts fell short.

There have also been fonder memories in Arroyo Seco for Texas. They triumphed in consecutive Rose Bowls in 2005 and 2006, the latter being for the BCS National Championship against USC.

Finding the balance between the quarterbacks

Could we see four quarterbacks play tomorrow afternoon? Texas coach Mack Brown has already let it be known that he’ll be playing sophomore Case McCoy (Colt’s younger brother) and freshman David Ash. Brown is just riding the hot hands after the pair relieved a struggling Gilbert last week and led Texas to a 17-16 come-from-behind win over BYU.

As for the blue and gold, it was redshirt junior quarterback Kevin Prince who led the Bruins to victory last year, and he’ll probably have the first shot to do it again. Thursday’s practice, the last before the game, saw Prince get most of the snaps in UCLA’s short hurry-up drill at the end of the day.

Junior quarterback Richard Brehaut started last week against San Jose State, but Prince didn’t see the field at all, suggesting Prince — recovering from a concussion and sprained throwing shoulder suffered at Houston — wasn’t at full health. That is no longer an issue.

“I think (Prince is) 100 percent,” said Neuheisel on Thursday, adding that his throwing velocity is where it needs to be. “He’s ready to go. So is Richard, and we’ll have them both available.”

Neuheisel is refusing to tip his hand before this game, but the last time both were fully healthy he decided that both were worthy of playing, so it wouldn’t be a stretch to see dueling two-headed attacks on the field.

Differentiating between Ash and McCoy

Each quarterback in the Texas two-step was used in specific situations, even alternating on consecutive plays at some points throughout Texas’ last game.

McCoy came in to run a standard spread offense while Ash, who stands taller and has more bulk on his frame, was used in packages tailored for his athleticism. McCoy finished with 57 yards passing while Ash racked up 94 yards from scrimmage — 35 passing, 36 rushing and 23 receiving on pass from receiver Jaxon Shipley that sealed the game late. If that wasn’t versatile enough for you, Ash was also an all-state punter, leading to questions about whether playing quarterback has hurt his chances of punting.

UCLA will have to account for both, but is it tougher to gameplan for two quarterbacks than it would be against one?

“No,” said starting defensive end Damien Holmes, “because you just look at it from a personnel standpoint. If they have three different running backs, then we’re going to study three different running backs. If they have another quarterback, it’s just another type of personnel.”

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