These were not your 2008 UCLA Bruins.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Kevin Prince didn't find a red-faced Coach Rick Neuheisel in his face on Saturday, arms flailing as if he were attempting liftoff. The offensive line provided holes to run through, rather than digging them. Bruins fans left the Rose Bowl murmuring sounds of content.
There was such a different feel to UCLA's 33-14 victory over San Diego State that defensive players even complained a little about their offense keeping them off the field.
"I was like, 'Come on, man, either score or punt,' " senior linebacker Reggie Carter. "We kept getting three-and-outs and the offense was holding onto the ball. I wanted to hit somebody. But I can't complain. This was fun."
There weren't a lot of rollicking good times around the Bruins football team following a 4-8 season. And there were plenty of words of caution afterward Saturday.
But coaches and players framed this as a start, with the desired finish a bowl game . . . any bowl game
Prince, who had not played in a game in two years, had a first half, "that showed that he can play at this level," Neuheisel said, followed by a half, "that showed he's still a freshman."
The line, a source of "a lot of exasperation last season," line coach Bob Palcic said, set tailbacks Derrick Coleman and Johnathan Franklin on touchdown runs. Coleman's run covered 29 yards and washed clean a slow start, giving UCLA a 16-14 lead with 5 minutes 33 seconds left in the first half. The Bruins' longest scoring play was 21 yards last season.
Those things left the defense as spectators for long stretches -- the Bruins had a 10-minute edge in time of possession.
"It felt good not to be out there for 80 plays," defensive end Korey Bosworth said. "It felt real good."
This was hardly a litmus test. San Diego State was coming off its own disaster of a season that prompted a coaching change. But Neuheisel said, "We saw glimpses tonight."
Not to mention a few flashbacks. Bruins fans must have had those Mountain West Conference jitters in the first quarter. UCLA was pummeled by Utah in 2007 and Brigham Young in 2008, by a combined score of 103-6. It seemed more of the same was in the offing when San Diego State jumped to a 14-3 lead.
Twice UCLA extended the Aztecs' opening drive with third-down penalties leading to a touchdown. Next, Ryan Lindley scorched the Bruins' secondary, connecting with Vincent Brown on a 78-yard touchdown pass.
