A MUST-WIN IN AUGUST; BRUINS COULD START 0-3.Byline: Jon Wilner Daily News Staff Writer UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX coach Bob Toledo Bob Toledo (born March 4, 1946, in San Jose, California) is an American football coach, recently hired as head coach at Tulane University. He is best-known as the thirteenth head coach at UCLA. had not finished asking the question - ``Who wants to move the game at Washington State from November to August?'' - when the first hands went up. A few seconds later, it was a landslide: Move it. ``Nobody really said no,'' Bruins tailback Skip Hicks Brian "Skip" LaVell Hicks (born October 13, 1974 in Corsicana, Texas) is a former American football running back in the NFL. In his four seasons, Hicks played for the Washington Redskins and the Tennessee Titans. said of today's season opener. ``We wanted to play on national TV, and we could get the season started faster. We were all ready to play. If we could have scheduled it a week earlier than this, we would have.'' There were prudent logistical reasons for moving the game as well. It gave the Bruins a chance to smooth the glitches before a Sept. 6 showdown against Tennessee. It created a crucial bye on Nov. 8, before they finish with Washington and USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. . And it eliminated a frigid date on Martin Stadium's unforgiving OmniTurf. ``The big pluses are that we don't have to play there in November and that jumping off with a Pac-10 game makes us get prepared quicker,'' UCLA quarterback Cade McNown Cade McNown (born January 12 1977 in Portland, Oregon) is a quarterback who played in the National Football League. He attended played college football at the University of California, Los Angeles. said. ``But since then, I've heard how fast Washington State gets out of the gate and that they've had a tough run in November. After I heard that, I thought, `Can we move it back to November?' '' McNown chuckled and leaned back in his Morgan Center chair. But for the Bruins, there's nothing funny about Washington State's early-season success. Since 1992 the Cougars are 13-5 in August and September, including a 24-15 victory over UCLA in Sept. '95. In that same span, Washington State is 4-11 in November, and it has not won a game after Oct. 19 since 1994. WSU WSU Washington State University WSU Wayne State University WSU Wichita State University WSU Wright State University WSU Weber State University WSU Western State University College of Law WSU Winona State University WSU Walter Sisulu University fans and media have derisively de·ri·sive adj. Mocking; jeering. de·ri  sive·ly adv.de·ri dubbed coach Mike Price ``Mr. November.'' ``There are a lot of theories about why we have so much trouble late in the season,'' Price said. ``I think it has to do with the weather. It's so bad in November that it's hard for us to get quality practices. Opponents only have to deal with it for one day, but we've got it the whole week. Also, our depth usually isn't very good, and that takes a toll at the end of the year.'' Another possibility is early-season opponents are not prepared for Washington State's sophisticated passing attack - Price has one of the best offensive minds in the nation - but November foes have seen enough on film to design an effective counterattack Attacking an attacker. Even though a criminal hacker or other agent is attempting to penetrate a security perimeter or damage systems, the counterattack must not violate applicable laws. . Whatever the explanation, UCLA expects to face the Cougars at their best. It's a critical game for both teams, especially the Bruins, who face Tennessee and Texas in coming weeks. A victory today makes them 1-0 in conference play with only three league road games remaining (Oregon, Stanford and USC). A loss brings them that much closer to an 0-3 start; both the Volunteers and Longhorns are ranked in the top 15. ``This is a must-win game,'' free safety Shaun Williams Shaun LeJon Williams (born October 10, 1976 in Oakland, California) is a former American football safety, most recently for the Carolina Panthers, of the NFL. Williams attended Crespi Carmelite High School in Encino, California and played both tailback and safety. said. ``We can't start 0-1 if we want to go to a big-time bowl game. I've been to one bowl in three years (the Aloha, 1995), and we lost that. I have nothing to show my family, nothing to show my kids. ``So far, the class of '94 has nothing to show for its time here. That has been a big emphasis among the seniors and (fourth-year) juniors.'' Starting the season with a conference game created a sense of urgency in both teams, with more than 60 players from each staying on campus this summer to prepare. Cougars senior linebacker Brandon Moore Brandon Moore can refer to one of two American football players currently playing in the National Football League.
The Bruins, their enthusiasm fueled by the double-overtime victory over USC, were equally dedicated, especially the Big Three: McNown, Hicks and Williams. In this case, he who hesitates is 0-1 before Labor Day Labor Day, holiday celebrated in the United States and Canada on the first Monday in September to honor the laborer. It was inaugurated by the Knights of Labor in 1882 and made a national holiday by the U.S. Congress in 1894. . ``This team is fed up with mediocrity,'' said McNown, who is 12-11 in his two seasons in Westwood. ``We're fed up with winning here and losing there. We want consistency in winning. It's an attitude: make this season special.'' They must start today. CAPTION(S): Photo, Box Photo: (Color) UCLA's Skip Hicks Myung J. Chun/Daily News Box: (Color) ON TAP TODAY |
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