With new coach, Stanford could provide more challenge

The last time the Bruins faced Stanford in Palo Alto, the game was a nightmare.

Three and a half quarters of it, at least.

The undefeated Bruins were down 24-3 with 8:26 to go against the unimpressive Cardinal team before mounting an unprecedented comeback that ultimately left the Bruins up 30-27 and the Stanford faithful in shock.

It was the signature comeback of the 2005 season that was fraught with those kinds of heart attack-inducing wins.

Now UCLA heads back.

The Bruins are a different team now, dominated by a defense that should be one of the best in the Pac-10, and are still trying to reestablish the offensive tone they had in 2005.

Stanford is itself a much different team. The Cardinal have a new coach in Jim Harbaugh, who is hoping to raise the Stanford football program from the ashes of its 1-11 2006 season.

The Cardinal also have a new stadium. Before, playing the Cardinal was like playing in a bubble. With a track surrounding the field, the players felt as if there was almost no crowd there. Now, the stadium has been redesigned, with the seats pulled in for a hopefully louder atmosphere.

“The crowd’s going to be closer, and that will be good,” UCLA quarterback Ben Olson said. “You kind of felt all alone out there. It was quiet and just kind of eerie.”

It is a strange circumstance for the Bruins, who must open their season on the road in a conference game. UCLA has not done that while Karl Dorrell has been the coach, but he’s excited for the new experience.

“It is strange,” Dorrell said. “I like it. I think we’re going to have our players’ attention right away. Sometimes when you play in a nonconference game (at the beginning of the season) that is supposedly not a big factor, your guys aren’t as focused, but we should be ready.”

Harbaugh has brought an energetic attitude to the Stanford program, something that was needed in the wake of last year’s abysmal season.

“That’s important for any first-year coach who’s building the confidence of his team,” Dorrell said. “I don’t know exactly what the product is going to be, but it sounds like he’s doing all the right things. He’s got a great staff and has hired some great coaches.”

As for the scouting of the Cardinal, there is still some doubt about what exactly the Bruins are going to be faced with, but the players are confident they will be able to handle whatever is thrown at them.

“We’re just trying to get out there against what we think they’ll be running (in our practices),” Olson said. “I don’t know (if they’re going to try to stack the box), but whatever they’re going to try to do, we have to be ready for.”

TV SCHEDULE: The game will be aired on FSN Prime Ticket at 12:30 p.m. in Los Angeles and on Fox Sports Net nationally.

Before the game, the channel will air a special “In My Own Words” with UCLA coach Karl Dorrell. Afterwards there will be a post-game analysis show. Late in the afternoon the channel will televise a show on the UCLA athletic program.

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