University Of California At Los Angeles

Actor James Franco has won critical raves for his performances in films such as the 2008 stoner comedy "Pineapple Express" and the Oscar-nominated drama "Milk." But this spring, when he agreed to deliver a commencement speech at UCLA, Franco received a thumbs-down from many members of the student body. "[We] don't feel he is as esteemed as a commencement speaker of UCLA's caliber should be," said an editorial in the Daily Bruin.

Gas just doesn't seem to stretch as far on these California roads. Which is why Nikki Caldwell found herself stranded on the side of one last Friday night. Thankfully, the UCLA women's basketball coach had just finished eating dinner with her staff. A couple of quick calls and her assistant coaches hustled off to find a gallon to go. As Caldwell waited, she was approached by two police officers who wanted to know what a young woman was doing alone in a dark car near Marina del Rey.

With the state -- and their university -- struggling through difficult economic times, UCLA football Coach Rick Neuheisel and basketball Coach Ben Howland have agreed to take pay cuts, a school official said. Athletic Director Dan Guerrero, who has also agreed to a cut, said the details are still being negotiated but expects that he and the coaches will forgo as much as 10% of their salaries this year.

Even the best-laid plans are subject to the whim of UCLA sophomore linebacker Akeem Ayers. Stanford went with a safe-and-sane pass to receiver Chris Owusu, who was wrapped up by cornerback Alterraun Verner for a short gain. But Ayers swooped in from the left, knocked the ball free and recovered the fumble. Then there is the to-Ayers-is-human side. UCLA had San Diego State stopped on the seven-yard line when a third-down pass fell incomplete. Except that Ayers grabbed a chunk of jersey on the play, giving the Aztecs a second shot, which produced a touchdown.

UCLA and USC bashed each other's banners out Wednesday, in the two major revenue sports, from sunrise to well past Rick Neuheisel screaming to a pumped up halftime crowd at Pauley Pavilion. UCLA basketball was embarrassing USC basketball, 44-21. "We're going to the top!" said the man in the beige jacket who last year coached UCLA football to 4-8. Neuheisel didn't say exactly when his program was going to get there. With the Lakers literally out of the country, February in L.A.

Detectives investigating the case of a UCLA student who allegedly slashed the throat of a classmate have still not discovered what prompted the violence and are looking into reports that he showed erratic behavior in the past that had worried other students, authorities said Friday. Investigators said they will continue to examine the background and mental health of the suspect, Damon Thompson, 20, a senior who came from Belize to attend UCLA. But nothing so far points to a direct motive for what appeared to be an unprovoked knife attack in an organic chemistry lab class on Thursday afternoon.

More than 2,000 UCLA employees, including researchers, custodians, nurses and secretaries, gathered at Pauley Pavilion on Wednesday to protest plans for pay cuts and furloughs proposed by the University of California. Because of the state budget crisis, UC leaders are considering three proposals to reduce payroll spending by about $195 million in the next school year.

Richard Brehaut stood in the Rose Bowl tunnel with the rest of the UCLA team, waiting to take the field against San Diego State two weeks ago. Up to the moment, it had been business as usual. Then it hit him. This was his first college game. "I realized this was all I had worked for," said Brehaut, a freshman, who a year ago was playing for Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos High. "This feeling came over me that I can't even describe. I was proud and anxious and ready to get on with it."

UCLA tight end Logan Paulsen is awaiting results of a CT scan on his right foot, injured during Saturday's scrimmage. The injury left the Bruins short-handed at tight end in spring practice, resulting in the seemingly annual position switch for Nate Chandler, who was back at tight end Monday. "We'll probably leave him at that position," said Coach Rick Neuheisel. "It's imperative we have some depth at tight end."

Watching a Ben Howland team take the floor after consecutive losses is like watching a punished child take the backyard after standing in the corner. The sigh of relief is palpable. The need to please is visible. The energy expended is nuts. These Bruins may not be a Final Four team, but they are still a Last Straw team, pushing back hardest when they are pushed to the edge, capable of greatness even when on the verge of collapse.