Both UCLA and Oklahoma’s football programs have something to prove.
UCLA, coming off blowout wins against San Diego State and Rice, is trying to confirm Karl Dorrell as a quality coach and a legitimate contender in the backyard of two-time national champion USC.
Oklahoma is trying to revive its chances for a major Bowl Championship Series appearance after a stunning season-opening loss to Texas Christian University, 17-10. It improved last Saturday, beating Tulsa 31-15 behind standout running back Adrian Peterson and his 220 yards and three touchdowns.
The two programs meet Saturday in Pasadena, Calif., 12:30 p.m. at the Rose Bowl. It will be an ABC telecast, with Keith Jackson and Dan Fouts describing the action.
The winner of this game could come down to Peterson versus UCLA’s defense. New quarterback Paul Thompson, expected to take over for 2003 Heisman trophy winner Jason White, failed to last against TCU, going 11-for-26 for 109 yards and an interception. His backup Rhett Bomar wasn’t much better, completing two of five passes for 19 yards.
Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops, who had been undefeated in September, switched to Bomar as his game-two starter against Tulsa. Bomar struggled again, going 5-for-13 for 42 yards and two interceptions in the first half.
Stoops then did the next most logical thing, relying solely on Peterson in the second half – not throwing a single pass – as the sophomore back gained 180 of his 220 yards for Oklahoma in a 31-15 win. His rushing total moved him passed 2,000 yards for his young Oklahoma career, currently registering 2,208 yards.
Some of his plays, which were feature on ESPN, elicited an ESPN announcer to refer to his moves as “Xbox-like” with his ability to spin and turn and break tackles for extra yards.
“I feel like as the weeks go on we’re going to get better and better,” Peterson said. “As you keep pounding the defense, they’re going to eventually wear down.”
Whether they continue to improve depends on establishing a passing game and getting quality performances from their wide receivers, Stoops said, who lost graduating senior Mark Clayton to the NFL draft.
Junior wide receiver Travis Wilson has steadily made progress, starting the season opener with five receptions for 52 yards, despite the quarterback struggles. Last season, Wilson totaled 50 receptions for 660 yards and a team-high 11 touchdowns.
“What we are asking (the quarterbacks) to do needs to be assessed to see if they can actually do it,” Stoops said. “Can our receivers do what we have been doing the last few years? We need to adjust and make some modifications.”
Bomar is taking a diplomatic approach to his ongoing quarterback battle with Thompson.
“It’s up to the coaches,” Bomar said. “I don’t have any control over anything. It goes on. So whatever they want to do, they can do.”
UCLA has avoided any quarterback controversy so far, starting Drew Olson over highly touted recruit Ben Olson. Part of that was due to a hairline fracture in Ben Olson’s left throwing hand and Drew Olson’s status as a senior with a strong preseason.
Drew Olson threw for three touchdowns against Rice, completing 18-of-25 passes for 296 yards. UCLA’s diminutive, multitalented back Maurice Drew at 5-foot-8, ran for 95 yards and a touchdown a week after he had 114 yards and two touchdowns in the season opener. The 6-foot-6 versatile tight end Marcedes Lewis poses a threat across the middle, catching two passes for 27 yards against Rice and seven passes for 131 yards against San Diego State.
It wouldn’t be surprising if Oklahoma pays extra attention to the position. Tulsa’s tight end Garrett Mills had 13 catches for 152 yards last week.
The offensive numbers are nice, but the defense has allowed averages of 21 points, 174 yards rushing and 154.5 yards passing and is charged with stopping Peterson. Inside linebacker Spencer Havner is a key figure on defense as one of the best in the nation at his position. The redshirt senior is a candidate for All-America honors and has accumulated 14 tackles, a sack and an interception returned for 27 yards. Alongside him is linebacker Justin London, who joins Havner as a candidate for the Butkus award.
Behind Havner, two-sport star Jarrad Page is an important part of UCLA’s secondary. The explosive 6-foot-1, 222-pound Page had 79 tackles last season and six through two games.
Oklahoma is returning to the Rose Bowl for the first time since winning the 2003 Rose Bowl against Washington State, 34-14. UCLA is hoping to avenge a 59-24 loss in Norman, Okla., in 2003.
The challenge is welcomed by Dorrell, who looks forward to Saturday. This match-up also presents an opportunity for UCLA to gain a foothold in the polls, currently unranked and undefeated, whereas Oklahoma (1-1) is No. 21 in the Associated Press Poll.
“It’s an opportunity to play a national game against a team that was contending for the national championship last season,” Dorrell said.