Monday, August 31, 1998
Texas seeks revenge on UCLA
PREVIEW: After 66-3 trouncing last year, Bruins hope Longhorns won't bear too much of a grudge
By Jeff Kmiotek
Daily Bruin Staff
Last year it was Rout 66. UCLA purely dominated and Texas was completely humiliated. But this year, when the Longhorns stampede into the Rose Bowl, things will be very different.
"They're gonna be mad as hell," said Coach Bob Toledo.
Opening day will be here on Sept. 12, along with a bunch of bloodthirsty, vengeful Longhorns. In a rematch of UCLA's 66-3 thrashing a year ago, the 7th-ranked Bruins will have much at stake. They will be looking to extend their winning streak to a school-record 11 games. They will be shooting for the Pac-10 title and a national championship. And although the season is just unfolding, this contest may prove vital to the Heisman trophy race.
And the Bruins realize it won't be another walk in the park.
"Texas has something to prove from last year," said Toledo. "It will be a wild football game."
The Longhorns will be bringing in a new head coach, Mack Brown, and a new quarterback in fifth-year senior Richard Walton.
But one thing will be the same - All-Everything running back Ricky Williams, who is touted (along with Cade McNown) as the nation's leading Heisman trophy candidate. Last season, Williams led the nation in rushing (172.1 ypg) and scoring (13.8 ppg). He has set virtually every Texas rushing mark and will be in hot pursuit of Tony Dorsett's career NCAA rushing record. Williams was held to a season-low 36 yards on 13 carries against the Bruins last year, but that was partly due to the fact Texas was down 38-0 before the halftime show.
"I just hope we can stop him before he gets started. He's gonna make his yards," said Toledo. "He didn't have a very good game against us last year, but he's obviously very capable."
Defense coordinator Nick Aliotti's plan to stop Williams is simple.
"We're gonna have eight or nine men in the box and try to stop the run on first down and hopefully put them in long yardage and passing situations. That gives us more of an opportunity to dictate what we want them to do."
But that may not be as easy as it sounds. UCLA's defense is Toledo's biggest concern this season, as the unit returns only four starters. Strong safety Larry Atkins and outside linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo anchor a young defense that lost its top five tacklers. And although Aliotti will utilize a new 3-4-4 defensive alignment, the philosophy will be the same as last year.
Aliotti will still use the blitzing and attacking approach that keyed UCLA to the second-best turnover margin in the nation. The Bruins forced a whopping eight turnovers against Texas last season, and if they can force just half that many, they'll be in fine shape.
This season, Brown has installed a defensive scheme that will feature a pressure attack intended to stop the run. The rearranged defense does pose some problems, but Brown has it all sorted out.
"If they throw it over our heads and score, we'll get the ball back and hand it to Ricky Williams," he said.
And if there's anyone capable of tossing the ball over their heads, it's Cade McNown. Flanker Danny Farmer will be the leading recipient of McNown's spirals, as he was recently named the No. 1 receiver on the depth chart.
Brian Poli-Dixon, Brad Melsby and the speedy Freddie Mitchell round out a solid group of receivers. The starting tailback position is still unsettled, as Jermaine Lewis, Keith Brown and DeShaun Foster continue to battle in practice.
UCLA's potent offense shouldn't be too hard-pressed to find the endzone against a Longhorn defense that allowed almost 400 yards per game last year.
Unsung hero Craig Walendy has yet to practice for the Bruins due to an arm infection and will be replaced at fullback by Durell Price on opening day.
According to Toledo, the key to victory is for the Bruins not to beat themselves.
"You tend to make more mistakes early in the season, and that's always a concern in the first game."
When the Longhorns arrive in Pasadena, they will already have a game under their belt.
"I believe they'll win their first game against New Mexico (on Sept. 5)," said Toledo. "The game will help their new staff, and it will give them a chance go against some live competition and work out some of the kinks."
One thing the Longhorns won't need is extra motivation. They'll be salivating to take the field against the despised Bruins. In addition, they'll have plenty of fans on their side. Texas has already sold all of the 6,500 tickets it's allotted, the most ever for the Longhorns in a non-bowl game.
If practice is any indication, the Bruins will not have a difficult time matching Texas' intensity. The squad is enthusiastic and fired up to begin the 1998 campaign.
They know another Longhorn beating would be the perfect way to begin their journey to fiesta in 1999.