Arizona's Stoops is unconvinced by UCLA loss to BYU
UCLA FOOTBALL
Wildcats Coach Mike Stoops remembers that the humiliated Bruins also beat Tennessee - and that his team lost to New Mexico.
Arizona football players are still dealing with their stumble Saturday against New Mexico. So watching the tape of UCLA's 59-0 humiliation at the hands of Brigham Young University can only lift the Wildcats' spirits.
Still, with UCLA next up on the schedule, Arizona Coach Mike Stoops was trying to sell the Bruins, pointing out their 27-24 victory over Tennessee in the opener.
"You've got to look at what they did against Tennessee. Both [games] carry the same weight in our eyes," Stoops said during the Pacific 10 Conference media call Tuesday. "We have all been in games where things go out the window. BYU was relentless throughout that game, one of the best games I've ever seen a team play.
"Then you turn on the film and watch UCLA play Tennessee. They are capable of moving the ball. Besides, they're UCLA. And UCLA doesn't have bad talent."
Stoops was also propping up his own team after a 36-28 loss to then-winless New Mexico in which the Wildcats turned the ball over five times. Arizona had 388 total yards in that game, with quarterback Willie Tuitama throwing for 321 yards and three touchdowns. He also had two passes intercepted.
"Our offense is working as well as it ever has," Stoops said. "If we don't beat ourselves, we can score on about anybody in the country. We know what kind of team we have. We feel our offense is one of the best in the [Pacific 10] Conference."
On the move again
Among UCLA players making their college debut against BYU was Nate Chandler, though not at tackle. Chandler saw time at tight end in the game, the position he was recruited to play before being moved to tackle last spring.
But with tight end Logan Paulsen lost for at least six weeks, and probably for the season, the Bruins needed a tight end with better blocking skills than Ryan Moya and Corey Harkey.
chris.foster@latimes.com
