TEMPE, Ariz. “”mdash;ÂÂ For much of the season, the difference in performance for the offense and defense has been markedly polar.
However, coach Rick Neuheisel said the noticeable discrepancy does not transcend the locker room.
“It’s a tough thing to continue to come into the locker room and allow the team thing to still flourish without a measure of divisiveness,” he said. “And that’s the biggest lesson and the biggest challenge for us.”
UCLA is fourth in the Pac-10 in total defense with 324.6 yards, and eighth with 29.1 points allowed.
The offense ranks 110th in the NCAA in total yards with 294.7, which is eighth in the Pac-10.
Neuheisel acknowledges the frustration on the part of the defense, particularly when their efforts don’t translate into wins.
“I think it’s a very tough pill to swallow if you’re a defensive football player,” Neuheisel said. “I think that they are proud of their own efforts, and they also understand that the offensive guys come to work every day and try as hard as they can.”
For the Bruins, the concept of team unity overshadows the feelings of disappointment even when one side of the ball is struggling.
Senior wide receiver Marcus Everett attested to the ability of the team to not dwell on losses and testified to their investment in each other as a team.
“We are all one team,” Everett said. “We practice separately, (but) we win or lose together so we got to stick together.”
Redshirt junior quarterback Kevin Craft echoed these sentiments, recognizing the team’s ability to bounce back from blunders such as the one suffered Friday in the desert.
“I know that this team is really resilient, and I think we’ve proved that all year,” Craft said. “I just think that shows how mentally tough the guys on the team are and nobody’s stopped fighting.”
Even though UCLA rescinded any chance at a bowl berth with Friday night’s loss, the Bruins will still come out fighting for their pride next week when they face the Trojans.
USC needs a win if they want to go back to the Rose Bowl, and the Bruins will do their best to play spoiler.
“We’re not going to lay down for ‘SC just because we aren’t bowl eligible,” junior cornerback Alterraun Verner said. “We’re still going to play to win.”
RECEIVERS PERFORM: Senior wide receiver Marcus Everett set a career-high for receptions in a game with eight and set a new season-high for reception yards in a game with 75.
Junior wide receiver Terrence Austin equaled his career-high for receptions in a game with eight. He moved to No. 2 all-time all-purpose yards in one season; he had 231 on the night and has 1823 for the season.
NOT SO CRAFTY: After Arizona State’s second touchdown in the second quarter, Craft was taken out of the game for one series and replaced by redshirt freshman Chris Forcier.
Craft was also removed after the Sun Devils scored on his third interception in the fourth quarter. The pick was his 19th on the season.
A KICKER’S NIGHT: Sophomore kicker Kai Forbath and senior punter Aaron Perez had career nights for the Bruins.
Forbath accounted for all of the Bruins’ scoring, tallying three field goals. His first field goal of the evening of 53 yards was the second longest of his career, and his fourth of 50 yards or more. He has never missed a field goal attempt of over 50 yards.
Perez tallied eight punts at 43.9 yards per punt. He had three punts travel for over 50 yards. Perez set a new school record for punt yards in a career with 11,762.
BOWL IMPLICATIONS: With UCLA’s loss on Friday, Arizona State will become bowl eligible if they can muster a win against Arizona this weekend in Tucson.