Jake Dean

UCLA's Jake Dean will finally get a chance to do what he has always dreamed about . . . start against USC. Dean, a junior, will be at right guard Saturday as Ryan Taylor , out the last three games because of a foot injury, is listed as questionable. "This means a lot," Dean said. "Growing up, you want to play in this kind of big rivalry game. I'm getting a shot to finally go out and do it, and not just watch. You come here to play this game. All that matters is how you perform in this one."

UCLA will send out an offensive line with plenty of experience Tuesday in the EagleBank Bowl. Whether that's a good thing is to be seen when the Bruins play Temple. Four of the five linemen got considerable playing time in 2008, with 32 starts among them before this season. That training, though, came during a 4-8 season in which the Bruins couldn't run the ball consistently -- but did consistently leave their quarterback fleeing for life and limb. "They're who we have and they're excited about playing," Coach Rick Neuheisel said.

The aftermath of the 59-0 shellacking Brigham Young laid on UCLA on Saturday had Bruins coaches poring over the film while trying to prop up their players' psyches Sunday. That will require a detailed review of the horror film -- for the Bruins -- that was shot in Provo, Utah. It will provide players, and coaches, a to-do list that must be at least partially handled before Saturday's game against Arizona. "When you take a tail-whipping like we took, the first thing you want to do is throw away the tape," Coach Rick Neuheisel said.

UCLA quarterback Kevin Prince continues to progress toward starting against Temple in the EagleBank Bowl on Tuesday in Washington, D.C. Prince, who injured his right shoulder in the game against USC, was cleared by team trainers Tuesday morning after treatments and tests. He then took the majority of the reps with the first team in practice. One concern Coach Rick Neuheisel has is how Prince's shoulder will be affected by the cold weather in Washington. Highs are expected to be about 40 degrees during the game, according to forecasts.

UCLA will send out an offensive line with plenty of experience Tuesday in the EagleBank Bowl. Whether that's a good thing is to be seen when the Bruins play Temple. Four of the five linemen got considerable playing time in 2008, with 32 starts among them before this season. That training, though, came during a 4-8 season in which the Bruins couldn't run the ball consistently -- but did consistently leave their quarterback fleeing for life and limb. "They're who we have and they're excited about playing," Coach Rick Neuheisel said.

UCLA quarterback Kevin Prince continues to progress toward starting against Temple in the EagleBank Bowl on Tuesday in Washington, D.C. Prince, who injured his right shoulder in the game against USC, was cleared by team trainers Tuesday morning after treatments and tests. He then took the majority of the reps with the first team in practice. One concern Coach Rick Neuheisel has is how Prince's shoulder will be affected by the cold weather in Washington. Highs are expected to be about 40 degrees during the game, according to forecasts.

UCLA's Jake Dean has become the center of attention. Dean was a great unknown as the Bruins' backup center. So when Micah Reed suffered an injury to his right knee against Brigham Young, there was concern. "I didn't really know what to expect," UCLA offensive line coach Bob Palcic said. "I think he has done a decent job. I'm very pleased. Now, does he have a long way to go? Yes, he does."

They fit the profile of "poster boy" for what UCLA's football needed most. They came in, "as advertised," according to Coach Rick Neuheisel . They even went to dinner at the starting quarterback's house. It can't be that easy for freshmen offensive linemen Stanley Hasiak and Xavier Su'a-Filo . Or can it? At the Bruins' first practice Monday, there was Hasiak at left guard and Su'a-Filo at left tackle. "We just wanted to see what we had," Neuheisel said. Even more to the point, it was a chance for other offensive linemen to see what they had. A year ago, the line was the weak spot on a weak offense.

Although UCLA lost its top passer, rusher and receiver from last season, Coach Karl Dorrell's top priority during recruiting was to add quality linemen -- which is what the Bruins believed they achieved in announcing Wednesday that 13 linemen were among the 22 players who had accepted scholarship offers.

After having his nose broken for the second time in two weeks during a spring football camp in April, Jake Dean didn't see the injury as an excuse to stop and take a break. Instead, the Lancaster Paraclete senior offensive lineman viewed it as his opportunity to shine. "I was going against someone, and the kid didn't move, and he went to hit my hands off, and socked me right at my nose," Dean said. "I kept playing through it, though, with blood coming down my face. "It hurt, and I felt it.

Offensive lineman Jake Dean will make his last UCLA football moment a spotlight memory because he is on track to start the EagleBank Bowl on Dec. 29. Even though he has a year of eligibility remaining, he said this will be his final game. It will be Dean's third consecutive start in place of right guard Ryan Taylor , who continues to struggle with ankle and foot injuries. "Ryan is doubtful," Coach Rick Neuheisel said. "It is one of those things that has taken longer to heal.

UCLA's Jake Dean will finally get a chance to do what he has always dreamed about . . . start against USC. Dean, a junior, will be at right guard Saturday as Ryan Taylor , out the last three games because of a foot injury, is listed as questionable. "This means a lot," Dean said. "Growing up, you want to play in this kind of big rivalry game. I'm getting a shot to finally go out and do it, and not just watch. You come here to play this game. All that matters is how you perform in this one."

They fit the profile of "poster boy" for what UCLA's football needed most. They came in, "as advertised," according to Coach Rick Neuheisel . They even went to dinner at the starting quarterback's house. It can't be that easy for freshmen offensive linemen Stanley Hasiak and Xavier Su'a-Filo . Or can it? At the Bruins' first practice Monday, there was Hasiak at left guard and Su'a-Filo at left tackle. "We just wanted to see what we had," Neuheisel said. Even more to the point, it was a chance for other offensive linemen to see what they had. A year ago, the line was the weak spot on a weak offense.

UCLA's Jake Dean has become the center of attention. Dean was a great unknown as the Bruins' backup center. So when Micah Reed suffered an injury to his right knee against Brigham Young, there was concern. "I didn't really know what to expect," UCLA offensive line coach Bob Palcic said. "I think he has done a decent job. I'm very pleased. Now, does he have a long way to go? Yes, he does."

The aftermath of the 59-0 shellacking Brigham Young laid on UCLA on Saturday had Bruins coaches poring over the film while trying to prop up their players' psyches Sunday. That will require a detailed review of the horror film -- for the Bruins -- that was shot in Provo, Utah. It will provide players, and coaches, a to-do list that must be at least partially handled before Saturday's game against Arizona. "When you take a tail-whipping like we took, the first thing you want to do is throw away the tape," Coach Rick Neuheisel said.

Although UCLA lost its top passer, rusher and receiver from last season, Coach Karl Dorrell's top priority during recruiting was to add quality linemen -- which is what the Bruins believed they achieved in announcing Wednesday that 13 linemen were among the 22 players who had accepted scholarship offers.

Offensive lineman Jake Dean will make his last UCLA football moment a spotlight memory because he is on track to start the EagleBank Bowl on Dec. 29. Even though he has a year of eligibility remaining, he said this will be his final game. It will be Dean's third consecutive start in place of right guard Ryan Taylor , who continues to struggle with ankle and foot injuries. "Ryan is doubtful," Coach Rick Neuheisel said. "It is one of those things that has taken longer to heal.

There has been no hiding UCLA's biggest concern. Even before the first day of practice, it was clear the Bruins' offensive line was going to make or break the season. Sweeping up the pieces is this week's chore. Quarterback Kevin Craft is coming off an abysmal game against California; he had four passes intercepted. But he didn't have much help. The Bears were able to tee off on Craft, knowing the Bruins were incapable of running the football. UCLA had 16 yards rushing in the game.

After having his nose broken for the second time in two weeks during a spring football camp in April, Jake Dean didn't see the injury as an excuse to stop and take a break. Instead, the Lancaster Paraclete senior offensive lineman viewed it as his opportunity to shine. "I was going against someone, and the kid didn't move, and he went to hit my hands off, and socked me right at my nose," Dean said. "I kept playing through it, though, with blood coming down my face. "It hurt, and I felt it.