For many UCLA fans, the matchup against USC is the biggest game of the season.
But no matter what week of the season it is for the Bruins, the biggest game of the year is the next one.
That’s why, after Monday’s practice, memories of UCLA’s 38-20 win over USC Saturday were already locked away in the Bruins’ minds. Instead, all focus shifts to Stanford Friday.
On a normal week, UCLA doesn’t practice Mondays, letting players’ bodies recover, but the earlier game day has forced the Bruins to shift their routine forward a day.
“We don’t have that extra 24 hours but it’s all about maturity as a team and coming in, getting your bodies right and prepare for this next game,” said redshirt senior inside linebacker Eric Kendricks.
Refocusing becomes even more important for UCLA this week considering the type of opponent Stanford is. While their 6-5 record may not indicate it, the Cardinal still presents a formidable challenge in yet another must-win game for the Bruins.
Stanford’s offense has taken a step back this year, averaging just 25.2 points per game, worst in the Pac-12. Its defense, however, has been dominant, with the Cardinal allowing the nation’s seventh fewest points per game – 16.5.
So the Bruins will need to come prepared, despite having one less day to do so.
“(The Cardinal is) just always disciplined, always tackle well, do what they’re told all the time and it’s hard to beat a team like that,” said junior wide receiver Jordan Payton. “You have come ready to play.”
Defending the logo
Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Sam Handler may be out for the season after tearing his ACL during fall camp, but he still did his part for UCLA in its game against USC.
As the Bruins headed to the locker room prior to kickoff and the Trojan marching band took the field, Handler remained firmly in place atop the midfield logo, preventing the USC drum major from stabbing the field with his sword, a former tradition of the band.
“I actually didn’t even know about it until about midnight,” said coach Jim Mora. “I called Sam and said, ‘Tell me what happened,’ and he said, ‘Well … that guy looked like he was gonna stab it so I felt like I had to do something.’”
Handler was eventually escorted from the field by security, and the USC drum major did not stab the UCLA logo.
“From what I’ve heard from outside reports is he’s like a UCLA football legend … a cult hero,” Mora said. “And no it wasn’t anything that we talked about or planned, it was him having a lot of school pride.”
Injury update
After already losing junior safety Randall Goforth to injury early in the season, UCLA’s secondary was even further depleted during the USC game when both junior cornerback Ishmael Adams and sophomore cornerback Priest Willis left the game with injuries.
Willis collided with a teammate on one play and suffered what Mora described as head trauma. Mora said that, while all head injuries are significant, Willis’ was not one that team doctors were overly concerned about.
“We’re very cautious on those things, but we have protocol in place to determine whether or not he can play, and if he clears the protocol, he’ll play and if he doesn’t, it’s very simple: he won’t,” Mora said.
Adams, meanwhile, tweaked his ankle, but Mora was optimistic about his recovery. Although Mora said Adams worked mainly with strength and conditioning coach Sal Alosi during practice, Mora said Adams is doing much better than anticipated.
Adams will be a “pregame time decision” on Friday, according to Mora.
Although UCLA’s secondary is banged up, it could benefit from Stanford’s receiving corps making news on the injury front as well. The Cardinal’s leading receiver, senior Ty Montgomery, injured his shoulder in the first quarter of Saturday’s win over Cal and did not return. His status for Friday’s game is not yet known.
Kendricks award update
Kendricks has continued to earn honors in his final college season, being named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week and a finalist for the Butkus Award, given to the nation’s best linebacker.
Joining Kendricks as Butkus Award finalists are Washington senior outside linebacker Hau’oli Kikaha, Miami senior outside linebacker Denzel Perryman, Michigan senior outside linebacker Jake Ryan and Notre Dame sophomore outside linebacker Jaylon Smith. The winner will be announced by Dec. 9.
Through 11 games this season, Kendricks’ 128 total tackles ranks fifth in the nation and his 89 solo tackles ranks first.
As for the Pac-12 honors, this was Kendricks’ second time winning defensive player of the week this season. He had 14 tackles, a tackle for loss and an interception against USC.
Kendricks also needs just eight more tackles to tie Jerry Robinson for the UCLA career record at 468.