Tuesday practice report: 'We just can’t make mistakes'

UCLA interim head coach DeWayne Walker knows what it will take to beat favored BYU in the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl on Saturday: "Just executing, because they [BYU] don’t make mistakes. They’re an older group, they are well coached, they live right, so they have good karma. We’re going to have our hands full; we just can’t make mistakes."

Ben Olson is set to start at quarterback for UCLA, with Osaar Rashaan as backup. Right tackle Brian Abraham is out with an injured ankle, with Noah Sutherland the likely starter, but receiver Joe Cowan is likely to play despite some recurring hamstring issues. Defensive tackle Jess Ward is definitely out, but Kevin Brown looks likely to play alongside Brian Price at the tackle spots.

Asked if he was worried about Bruin players getting into "trouble" in Las Vegas, Walker said " I would be shocked if any of these guys did something like that. These are smart kids, they know right from wrong. Just act in a respectful manner; if they don’t, we’ll just send ‘em home."

He was also asked if he sees the bowl game as his final audition for the vacant head-coaching job at UCLA. "I’m more worried about just doing a good job," he said, "and helping these players and the coaches doing a good job. There’s been a lot of distractions. I just think we have a lot more to worry about than that. I think all that will take care of itself."

UCLA will have a walk-through on campus tomorrow, then head to Las Vegas and practice again on Wednesday and Thursday at UNLV's practice facility prior to Saturday's game.

DeWayne Walker photo courtesy of UCLA

Comments

[Pat Albright]

I have a question about this statement on your blog, "... UCLA has sold all but about 400 of its 12,000-ticket allotment for the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl ..."

According to the Salt Lake City Tribune, UCLA gave BYU several thousand tickets which would mean that UCLA did not sell "all but about 400 of its 12,000-ticket allotment" as you state. Instead, it would mean that UCLA sold all but 400 of it 12,000 minus the several thousand it gave to BYU. Which is it?

Here's the link to the Salt Lake Tribune article:
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_7684250?source=rss

[Rich Perelman]

My understanding is that UCLA sold some of its allotment to BYU and did not give them away. The face value of the tickets is $50, but BYU is selling them for $75 and UCLA matched the price in order to keep from having BYU fans intermixed with UCLA fans at the game. For the tickets in UCLA's original allotment that BYU is selling, the sections have been separated.