Nick Aliotti

Pacific 10 Conference coaches can't wait for Saturday's marquee matchup, USC at Oregon, the game of the week in college football. Well, some of them can't wait. "I got enough to worry about," California Coach Jeff Tedford said Tuesday during the league's weekly coaches' conference call. "Before you said that, I didn't really know who was playing to tell you the truth." Forgive Tedford for having amnesia about USC and Oregon. His Golden Bears lost to the Ducks and Trojans, on consecutive weekends, by a combined 72-3.

UCLA Coach Bob Toledo, ending the uncertainty, said that embattled defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti will be retained for next season. Toledo had said he would not make final evaluations of his staff until after the Rose Bowl and had avoided making any long-term commitment to Aliotti. But Saturday night, as the Bruins arrived at their Century City hotel to officially kick off festivities leading up to Friday's game against Wisconsin, Toledo said: "Nick's going to be with us."

Coach Bob Toledo, having run out of players to blame for UCLA's overwhelmed and still-faltering defense, Monday conceded that blame for the Bruins' frequent misalignment and apparent confusion falls on first-year defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti and the other assistants. "I want them to realize that I'm not pleased with them as well," Toledo said. "And I've told them. I'm not saying anything I haven't told them. I think we need to do a better coaching job.

USC could see it coming. All it took was a glance at the schedule. The Trojans traveled for five of their first eight games but knew the last third of the season would be the homestretch -- with the emphasis on home. USC's next three opponents are coming to the Coliseum, where the Trojans have won 30 consecutive games. Oregon will be in town on Saturday. California and Notre Dame will follow in successive weeks. The Trojans play their season finale in the Rose Bowl against UCLA.

While Cal State Northridge football Coach Dave Baldwin has been pursuing Division I-A coaching opportunities, Athletic Director Paul Bubb has been telling Baldwin he'd like to keep him. For the right price. Bubb said Tuesday that Northridge can't afford to get into a bidding war for its coach. Baldwin, who led the Matadors to a 7-4 record this season, has been interviewed for vacancies at New Mexico State and San Jose State, Division I-A teams with bigger budgets than Northridge.

The UCLA Bruins threw another block party Saturday, this time at least showing enough consideration to do it in their own neighborhood. As opposed to the last game, when, as the visiting team, they stuffed Houston punter Joey Saavedra deep in Cougar territory. This time, when Washington State came to the Rose Bowl, they blocked two more punts, giving the Bruins three in two games. "If you average one a game, that's unheard of," said Nick Aliotti, UCLA's defensive coordinator. "So we feel great."

Cal State Northridge's nonconference football game at Southwest Missouri State on Saturday represents more than just a schedule-filler for the Matadors. Northridge (6-3) would likely receive an invitation to the Division I-AA playoffs by defeating the Bears (5-4) and Idaho State the following week in its Big Sky Conference finale. "The kids know we have to win the next two games to ensure [a playoff spot]," Northridge Coach Ron Ponciano said.

Defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti apologized Saturday. To everyone. The UCLA seniors. All the Bruin players. The rest of the coaching staff. And he didn't stop there. To the alumni too. The teachers on campus. Even the chancellor, Albert Carnesale. "For letting this slip away," Aliotti said. For presiding over this defense.

Longtime UCLA football assistant Bob Field was named defensive coordinator Tuesday, returning to the post he held for 14 years. Field became the Bruins' assistant head coach when Bob Toledo took over as coach. For the last three seasons, Field oversaw the outside linebackers, strong safeties and kickers. He replaces Nick Aliotti, who resigned last week to become the defensive coordinator at Oregon.

UCLA kicker Justin Medlock, USC receiver Dwayne Jarrett and former Long Beach Poly High standout DeSean Jackson each doubled up on All-America teams announced Tuesday. Medlock, a senior who made 26 of 30 field goals and all 26 point-after kicks, was a first-team selection by the Associated Press and the Sporting News. Jarrett, a junior who made 59 catches for 810 yards and 10 touchdowns, made the AP's top squad for the second consecutive season.