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| November 2, 2002 |
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| The Coast Watcher |
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By JOHN SCHEIBE
scheibe@collegeBLITZ.com |
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Better wave a stick before going in the Bruins' cave....
There's new life in Westwood these days for the UCLA football team, a young group of players that Coach Bob Toledo says he enjoys coaching. The season seemed on the brink of slipping away from the Bruins last month when Cory Paus broke his ankle in a 17-12 loss to California at Berkeley. But UCLA has rallied behind the play of two freshman quarterbacks and won its last two games, qualifying for a bowl bid with a 6-3 record. "We've got a great mix," says Toledo. "It's a team that's got great chemistry, great unity. I'm having a lot of fun this year." Drew Olson has stepped in for Paus and did better-than-average job last week in the team's win at Washington. He will start Saturday against Arizona at Tucson. "I feel a lot more confident," Olsen said. "I was all right. I was just going out and playing football. Beating the Huskies at their stadium, that's a tough thing to do." Here is a look at some of the key matchups on the Coast this week:
OREGON (7-2) at WASHINGTON STATE (8-1): If the Cougars win this one they'll most likely clinch a berth in the Rose Bowl. They moved from 8th to 5th in the BCS rankings this week but the four teams in front of them have large leads. In last season's meeting between these two teams, Oregon rushed for a school record 446 yards in a 24-17 win. Washington State is looking for payback at Pullman. Cougars win, 34-33.
USC (6-2) at STANFORD (2-6): USC is in a groove right now with quarterback Carson Palmer at the controls of the offense. Coach Pete Carroll announced that Justin Vargas will again start at tailback, ahead of Sultan McCullough. Two weeks ago, Vargas helped lead USC against Oregon at Eugene, with 137 yards rushing. The Trojans, who lost to Washington State in overtime earlier this season, still have a shot at the Rose Bowl. Stanford is the first of four games they must win. USC wins, 35-7.
CALIFORNIA (5-4) at ARIZONA STATE (7-3): For the Sun Devils, last week was the Rose Bowl, this week it's any bowl after being thrown off the road to Pasadena in an embarrassing loss at home to Washington State, 44-22. Arizona State should get back on its high-scoring track against an injury-depleted Cal team. Sun Devils, 55-12.
GOING COASTAL: Colorado State has signed Coach Sonny Lubick to a new five-year contract. The Rams are 82-37 since Lubick came to Fort Collins in 1993. This season Lubick's team is 8-2 and ranked No. 24...Among the 14 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the country's best defensive back, are Oklahoma teammates Andre Woolfolk and Brandon Everage...Oregon's brilliant tailback Onterrio Smith is questionable for Saturday's big tilt against Washington State. Smith hurt his left knee two weeks ago during the Ducks' overtime loss to USC and sat out last week's game against Stanford...Washington State linebacker Ira Davis, who broke teammate Jason David's cheekbone in a lockerroom fight last week, will remain suspended from the team until David can resume playing, which will probably not be before the bowl season.
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Rose Bowl
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Final
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1-Southern Cal
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28 |
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| 4-Michigan |
7 |
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Orange Bowl
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Final
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9-Florida State
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14 |
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| 10-Miami, Fla. |
16 |
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Fiesta Bowl
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1st Quarter
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7-Ohio State
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7 |
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| 8-Kansas State |
0 |
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Sugar Bowl
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Sunday, 8 PM Eastern
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2-Louisiana State (12-1)
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| 8-Oklahoma (12-1) |
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| AP Top 25 |
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1.
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Southern Cal |
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11-1 |
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2.
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Louisiana State |
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12-1 |
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3.
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Oklahoma |
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12-1 |
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4.
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Michigan |
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10-2 |
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5.
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Texas |
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10-2 |
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6.
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Tennessee |
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10-2 |
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7.
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Ohio State |
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10-2 |
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8.
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Kansas State |
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11-3 |
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9.
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Florida State |
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10-2 |
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10.
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Miami, Fla. |
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10-2 |
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11.
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Georgia |
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10-3 |
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12.
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Purdue |
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9-3 |
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13.
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Iowa |
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9-3 |
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14.
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Miami, Ohio |
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12-1 |
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15.
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Wash. State |
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9-3 |
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16.
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Mississippi |
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9-3 |
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17.
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Florida |
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8-4 |
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18.
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Boise State |
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12-1 |
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19.
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Texas Christian |
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11-1 |
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20.
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West Virginia |
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8-4 |
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21
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Okla. State |
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9-3 |
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22
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Nebraska |
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9-3 |
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23
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Maryland |
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9-3 |
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24
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Minnesota |
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9-3 |
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25
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Utah |
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9-2 |
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| Also receiving votes: Bowling Green 95, Pittsburgh 73, Southern Miss 56, Northern Illinois 22, Oregon 20, Clemson 19, Michigan State 15, Missouri 13, Virginia Tech 8, Virginia 5, Connecticut 4, Louisville 1, North Texas 1.
Dropped Out:
Bowling Green 20.
Through Dec. 7
» AP Top 25
» Coaches Poll |
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