Long looks for upset

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2002 | 9:22 a.m.

NEXT UP

What: Las Vegas Bowl, UCLA vs. New Mexico

When: Wednesday, 1:30 p.m.

Where: Sam Boyd Stadium

TV: ESPN (Ch. 30)

Radio: KBAD 920-AM

Line: UCLA by 10 1/ 2 points

Total: 55 points

While growing up in the southern California suburb of Alta Loma, Rocky Long had a choice to make.

"You were either a USC fan or a UCLA fan," Long recalled. "I always liked the Bruins better than the Trojans. I was a big Gary Beban fan when he won the Heisman Trophy."

But Long won't be rooting for the powder blue and gold on Wednesday afternoon at Sam Boyd Stadium.

That's because his New Mexico Lobos (7-6) will be trying to win their first bowl game since 1961 when they face UCLA (7-5) in the 11th annual SEGA Sports Las Vegas Bowl at 1:30 p.m.

The Lobos haven't won a bowl game since defeating Western Michigan, 28-12, in the one-time-only Aviation Bowl in Dayton, Ohio, on Dec. 9, 1961. That game was played in sleet and snow and was viewed by approximately 4,000 fans.

A crowd of about 15,000 as well as a national cable audience will view Wednesday's game against UCLA. And although sleet and snow aren't in the forecast, temperatures are expected to be in the mid-40's at kickoff.

New Mexico, which overcame a 2-4 start to finish second in the Mountain West Conference, will be trying to keep the MWC's perfect record in tact in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Since forming in July of 1999, the Mountain West is 3-0 in Las Vegas Bowl games, including a 10-6 victory by Utah over USC last year. Still, UCLA, which fired head coach Bob Toledo just hours after accepting the Las Vegas Bowl bid and will be coached by athletic administrator Ed Kezirian, is a substantial 10-point favorite to snap that streak.

Long, who spent two years as a defensive coordinator for the Bruins before taking the New Mexico head coaching job in 1998, doesn't believe Toledo's firing -- he has since been replaced by Denver Broncos assistant Karl Dorrell -- will take away from the game.

"It's still UCLA that we're playing," Long said. "We know that's a big challenge. I have great respect for their coaching staff. They'll come up with a good game plan. Coach K (Kezirian) will go a good job of getting them emotionally ready to play."

In fact, several Bruin assistants could be audtioning to keep their jobs with Dorrell, who officially takes over as head coach on Thursday and is expected to start interviewing assistant coaching candidates soon after.

UCLA players said the transition has gone smoothly.

"I think everybody has done pretty good," starting quarterback Drew Olson said. "It has been a little bit of a distraction, but I think everybody has gone about with their business in the right way and just handled it and practiced hard."

Despite being outscored by a combined 100 to 48 in lopsided season-ending losses to USC (52-21) and Washington State (48-27), the Bruins have a talented roster loaded with former prep All-Americans.

The Bruins have one of the top offensive lines on the West Coast led by senior tackles Mike Saffer and Bryce Bohlander and tight end Mike Seidman. And explosive true freshman tailback Tyler Ebell earned second team all-Pac-10 honors after rushing for 924 yards on 209 carries, including 203 yards in one game against a good Oregon State defense.

UCLA will play two true freshman quarterbacks, Drew Olson and Matt Moore, against a tough and complicated blitzing Lobo defense that has allowed just one touchdown in the second half of its last five games. That would seem to be a clear mismatch on paper, but having an extra week to prepare for the game as well as the fact three current Bruins coaches -- offensive line coach Mark Weber, tight ends coach Gary Bernardi and wide receivers coach Ron Caragher -- coached with Long during his UCLA stay should help the Bruins.

"You have a little better understanding of (Long's defense) than the person who hasn't seen it," Weber said. "We used to see it every day in practice and at spring practice."

"It helps having that extra week to get ready," Olson said. "It's a complicated defense to face but I think we'll be okay. There's certain things that we can do. We kept the offense pretty simple. I think we'll be all right."

And even though the Bruins were blown out in their last two games, Long and the Lobos are taking nothing for granted on Wednesday.

"They are very, very skilled," Long said. "They're big and strong up front on defense."

"That's a big-time Pac-10 team," defensive end D.J. Renteria said. "They've got great athletes but so do we. It will be a big challenge going up against some of the best players in the country. It gives us a chance to prove ourselves to people that don't normally see our football team." It will be a big challenge going up against some of the best players in the country. It gives us a chance to prove ourselves to people that don't normally see our football team.

archive