WEBVTT - Before The Whistle: Minnesota

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<v Speaker 1>Previewing UCLA at Minnesota. Josh Lewin, Matt Stephens with you.

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<v Speaker 1>The ungodly kickoff hour of 9 a.m. Pacific. That's where

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<v Speaker 1>the Bruins will have a chance to go 9-0. So

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<v Speaker 1>maybe 9 is probably the right number. It's better than 8,

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<v Speaker 1>which is where the Bruins are currently in that college

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<v Speaker 1>football playoff ranking system, which is quite bizarre. We'll get

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<v Speaker 1>to that a little bit, I suppose. But, Matt, bottom

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<v Speaker 1>line is you win this game, go to 9-0. There's

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<v Speaker 1>enough other nonsense going on with top ten teams competing

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<v Speaker 1>against each other in this crazy weekend of college football.

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<v Speaker 1>You win, and things are going to start to take

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<v Speaker 1>care of themselves, right?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, and so for UCLA fans, for them to know, UCLA,

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<v Speaker 2>they practice early in the morning. So this isn't going

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<v Speaker 2>to be a big change. on their bodies in terms

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<v Speaker 2>of playing this game so early. UCLA still has a

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<v Speaker 2>lot of meat on the bone. They're going to play

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<v Speaker 2>a Minnesota team coached by P.J. Fleck, Ben Don't Break,

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<v Speaker 2>big guys on defense, and an offensive sort of chugs

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<v Speaker 2>along great special teams.

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<v Speaker 3>They don't make mistakes.

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<v Speaker 2>So this victory would be really big on UCLA's resume.

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<v Speaker 1>And UCLA has already done some good things. I mean, heck,

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<v Speaker 1>every team that's been on their schedule, they have beaten.

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<v Speaker 1>That's all you can control. And I think the thing

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<v Speaker 1>that people are starting to get a handle on is

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<v Speaker 1>this defense is elite. The Bruins lead the country with

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<v Speaker 1>26 takeaways. They've allowed the fifth-fewest points per game. It's

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<v Speaker 1>about 13 points a game. It is seven points a

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<v Speaker 1>game ever since the Purdue debacle, where they gave up

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<v Speaker 1>38 but scored 52. They haven't missed a beat since

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<v Speaker 1>Nico Amaliava was lost for the year at that Oregon game.

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<v Speaker 1>Ty Dieffenbach has had a deft touch since taking over.

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<v Speaker 1>You still have Wayne Knight, so there's enough offense there.

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<v Speaker 1>This is kind of, and you hinted at it, Matt,

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<v Speaker 1>this is a proven month of November here. They're in

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<v Speaker 1>contention for their first conference championship of any sort since

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<v Speaker 1>1998 and a playoff spot. I know Oregon and Wisconsin

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<v Speaker 1>are their only wins right now over teams that have

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<v Speaker 1>winning records. The five Big Ten teams the Bruins have

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<v Speaker 1>beaten are a combined 8-17 in conference play, but they've

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<v Speaker 1>won those games. You win this game, and you can

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<v Speaker 1>point to something, because Minnesota is actually sneaky good.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, Minnesota, like I said, they're pretty big, and this

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<v Speaker 2>defense is going to be licking their chops. They're going

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<v Speaker 2>to go and get a quarterback in Drew Lindsey that

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<v Speaker 2>is very stationary, and this UCLA defense, they get out

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<v Speaker 2>for the quarterback, and They're also, I didn't know this stat, Josh,

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<v Speaker 2>but listening to a Colin Hichler interview, the defensive coordinator

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<v Speaker 2>for UCLA, he said UCLA not only do they have

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<v Speaker 2>a lot of turnovers, but they lead the Big Ten

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<v Speaker 2>in dropped interceptions. So imagine if they didn't drop so

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<v Speaker 2>many interceptions, how many turnovers they would have.

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<v Speaker 1>And it's so funny because last year at this time,

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<v Speaker 1>the Bruins had two interceptions. That was it. And now

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<v Speaker 1>we're seeing games where they have three literally in one quarter.

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<v Speaker 1>So Minnesota is used to facing dominant defense. They played Iowa.

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<v Speaker 1>They played Indiana. And now when they play UCLA, that

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<v Speaker 1>means they'll have faced three of the top five teams

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<v Speaker 1>in the FBS in points allowed. And Michigan is just

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<v Speaker 1>outside that. They're starting center Ashton Beers. That is such

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<v Speaker 1>a great name for the upper Midwest, by the way.

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<v Speaker 1>He's out for the season because of a leg injury.

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<v Speaker 1>And they've been vulnerable to.

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<v Speaker 3>The pass rush.

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<v Speaker 1>Lindsey has struggled to avoid sacks. He doesn't throw a

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<v Speaker 1>lot of interceptions, but he can go down.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I mean, he's a big guy. He's got a

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<v Speaker 2>quick release. But when the pocket collapsed, he gets a

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<v Speaker 2>little bit rattled. And you've seen Minnesota struggle in terms

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<v Speaker 2>of putting the passing game and the run game together.

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<v Speaker 2>And they haven't even averaged over 300 yards in the

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<v Speaker 2>last four games of offense so they struggle a bit

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<v Speaker 2>a bit but they don't make mistakes they're okay punting

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<v Speaker 2>the ball they're only 32 percent on third down conversions

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<v Speaker 2>um but they're gonna slog it out and they're gonna

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<v Speaker 2>let their defense sort of dictate the tempo and win

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<v Speaker 2>it that way and also in special teams.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah i'm glad you brought up special teams because that

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<v Speaker 1>really is a strength for them they've got a 25

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<v Speaker 1>year old australian punter who basically wears jorts out there.

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<v Speaker 1>You know, he's got these crazy leg tattoos and quite

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<v Speaker 1>a character. They've got a kicker who just doesn't miss.

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<v Speaker 1>I mean, he hit from 60 yards to save their

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<v Speaker 1>bacon for a while at Indiana. So you couple that

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<v Speaker 1>with a terrific punt return game. I mean, there's a

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<v Speaker 1>lot to be scared of on their special teams. And

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<v Speaker 1>let's face it, this could be a closed game. And

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<v Speaker 1>the special team stuff, that's one of those on-the-margins things

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<v Speaker 1>that I think you just have to be cognizant of.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, Luke Dreswicky. is their field goal kicker. And he

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<v Speaker 2>kicked that 60-yard field goal against Indiana. I mean, he's

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<v Speaker 2>probably the best kicker not only in college football, but

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<v Speaker 2>maybe the NFL.

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<v Speaker 3>I mean, I hope the Rams are taking a good

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<v Speaker 3>look at him. He's that good.

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<v Speaker 2>And, you know, against Iowa, there were three turnovers. They

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<v Speaker 2>blocked a kick. I mean, every phase of special teams

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<v Speaker 2>is good. And, you know, that's the formula for Minnesota.

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<v Speaker 2>I mean, they're competing against Ohio State and Michigan when

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<v Speaker 2>it comes to recruits. So, you know, they're not going

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<v Speaker 2>to get the four and five stars. They're going to

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<v Speaker 2>get a three and four stars. They've got to play

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<v Speaker 2>a perfect game. They've got to win it with special teams,

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<v Speaker 2>and they can't make mistakes.

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<v Speaker 1>So, Minnesota, I'm looking at their offense, Matt. 132nd best

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<v Speaker 1>run game in the nation, not even 100 yards a game.

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<v Speaker 1>Their last three games, 81 carries to get 200 yards.

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<v Speaker 1>That's two and a half yards a carry. That doesn't

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<v Speaker 1>scare me a lot. Third downs, they're 126th in the nation.

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<v Speaker 1>They did open the season with a 10 out of 15.

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<v Speaker 1>Since then, they're 23%. And the Bruins, of course, have been...

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<v Speaker 1>one of the great third-down defenses in the country all

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<v Speaker 1>year long. So that's got to be a big Bruins advantage, yeah?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, but what Minnesota does offensively, they take their time.

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<v Speaker 2>They use the entire play clock to run a play.

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<v Speaker 2>They want to limit the opposing team's offense time of possession.

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<v Speaker 3>That's their key.

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<v Speaker 2>And they're not real good in terms of all those

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<v Speaker 2>stats that you just mentioned, but they can't make mistakes,

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<v Speaker 2>and they don't rarely.

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<v Speaker 3>So that's going to be the key for them.

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<v Speaker 1>UCLA prides itself on taking the ball away. We've talked

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<v Speaker 1>about that, but here's the Minnesota team that has not

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<v Speaker 1>fumbled in its last seven Big Ten home games. I mean,

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<v Speaker 1>that's really tough to do because a lot of times

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<v Speaker 1>the weather up there doesn't exactly cooperate. We should get

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<v Speaker 1>a bit of a break, I guess. I mean, with

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<v Speaker 1>the early kick time, 11 a.m. Minnesota time, it won't

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<v Speaker 1>be as warm as it will get to be by, say,

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<v Speaker 1>the fourth quarter, but We're not talking about starting the

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<v Speaker 1>game at 30 degrees. It'll be probably mid 40s and

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<v Speaker 1>doesn't look like any rain, doesn't look like a lot

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<v Speaker 1>of wind, kind of a nice crisp Midwest football day.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm just horrified of those temperatures. You know, I'm a

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<v Speaker 2>UCLA grad. You're a Northwestern grad. You're okay with 45

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<v Speaker 2>and 50. I'm not. I got a bundle up. You know,

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<v Speaker 2>I got to have a, you know, a hoodie. Also,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, whatever I can get so I can stay warm.

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<v Speaker 1>We'll get you a toque and have your ears covered

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<v Speaker 1>and everything. So we got to start getting used to

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<v Speaker 1>the Minnesota vernacular. You and I have not been there

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<v Speaker 1>together yet. This rallying cry, which we'll hear over and over,

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<v Speaker 1>Sky Yuma. which has a kind of a convoluted origin

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<v Speaker 1>story about a coach with the last name of Peebles,

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<v Speaker 1>a misheard chant from the local Dakota Indian tribe. But anyway,

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<v Speaker 1>since the early 1900s, that's what they say, Skyuma. And

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<v Speaker 1>now there's this whole row the boat thing that P.J.

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<v Speaker 1>Fleck has brought, and he's written a book by that title.

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<v Speaker 1>And I get it. I mean, it's, you know, we're

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<v Speaker 1>all in this together. The oar represents the energy. The

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<v Speaker 1>boat is a sacrifice. You got a compass that Obviously,

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<v Speaker 1>it's for direction. It's never give up mantra. He calls

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<v Speaker 1>it row the boat. And look, it sold some books.

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<v Speaker 1>It's gotten a lot of T-shirts printed up. But there

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<v Speaker 1>must be something to it because Minnesota tends to win

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<v Speaker 1>a lot of close games. They did that against the

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<v Speaker 1>Bruins when they came to Pasadena a couple of years ago.

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<v Speaker 3>You know, P.J.

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<v Speaker 2>Flex, a really good coach. I mean, he's a perfectionist.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, he likes everything really organized. You can see

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<v Speaker 2>their sidelines. Everybody's in the right spot.

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<v Speaker 1>P.J.

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<v Speaker 2>Flex, the only guy that's in that little white zone

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<v Speaker 2>area on the sideline walking up and down.

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<v Speaker 3>He knows what he's doing. I mean. he's got a

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<v Speaker 3>lot of buy-in by the players. They stick around.

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<v Speaker 2>In fact, you know, Anthony Smith, their star defensive end,

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<v Speaker 2>he could have gone to the NFL. I mean, everybody

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<v Speaker 2>was projecting him first or second rounder. He liked P.J.

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<v Speaker 2>Flex so much. He wanted to win. He came back.

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<v Speaker 2>So it's all about their coach. And also when you're

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<v Speaker 2>talking about names, they got a linebacker, Maverick Brzenowski. Maverick

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<v Speaker 2>for a linebacker, leading tackler. I'll tell you what, you

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<v Speaker 2>got to watch out for that guy.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, I mean, he's the genuine article, and his dad

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<v Speaker 1>was actually an offensive lineman at Purdue back when Drew

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<v Speaker 1>Brees was a quarterback there. So comes from a great

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<v Speaker 1>football family and must be committed to this thing because

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<v Speaker 1>he's from a beach town in Florida, and he goes

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<v Speaker 1>up to Minnesota to play football. He's a redshirt senior.

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<v Speaker 1>He stayed there for a while. Now, I look at

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<v Speaker 1>this guy, and he jumped off the tape to me, too.

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<v Speaker 1>We just saw that maniac from Nevada, Dylan LaBarbera, And

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<v Speaker 1>I think there's some of that there. I mean, a

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<v Speaker 1>guy that's just straight downhill all the time. Yeah.

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<v Speaker 2>And he comes downhill almost every play. I mean, he's

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<v Speaker 2>also good in pursuit and they've got two big defensive events.

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<v Speaker 2>I just mentioned Anthony Smith, but also TJ Bush. He really,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, when you're watching them play defense really shines.

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<v Speaker 2>I mean, these are two big guys. This is going

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<v Speaker 2>to be a huge test for the offensive tackles for UCLA.

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<v Speaker 2>And Jordan Davis is still doubtful that he might come back.

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<v Speaker 2>Looks like you, Brooks might come back for UCLA. And

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<v Speaker 2>that's going to be a boost at left guard. He's

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<v Speaker 2>really one of UCLA's best offensive linemen. But UCLA, this

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<v Speaker 2>is a test for their O-line. If their O-line can

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<v Speaker 2>establish this run, UCLA is going to win this game.

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<v Speaker 3>That's going to be the key.

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<v Speaker 1>Minnesota has allowed only one seven-minute scoring drive all year. So,

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<v Speaker 1>I mean, the stuff that the Bruins like to do,

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<v Speaker 1>when you talked about it, Minnesota does kind of the

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<v Speaker 1>same thing. They like to take their time, get down

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<v Speaker 1>the field and all of that. And they're the number

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<v Speaker 1>22 total defense in the country. So they've got some

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<v Speaker 1>bona fides there. And they're on this little mini Bruins

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<v Speaker 1>kind of kick where all of a sudden they've got

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<v Speaker 1>six takeaways in their last two games. So they're capable

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<v Speaker 1>of some defensive chaos.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, it's a bend-don't-break defense because they have such a

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<v Speaker 2>good front seven.

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<v Speaker 3>They're able to stop the run.

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<v Speaker 2>The secondary, what they don't want to happen is have

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<v Speaker 2>any receiver go deep. So a lot of teams have

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<v Speaker 2>to peck their way in the passing game down the

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<v Speaker 2>field if they can't run the ball. And Minnesota's fine

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<v Speaker 2>with that. They're going to make you have a long

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<v Speaker 2>drive in order to score, and they are anticipating that

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<v Speaker 2>you're going to make a mistake because of all the

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<v Speaker 2>pressure they're putting on the line of scrimmage.

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<v Speaker 1>UCLA, and you've talked about this a lot, they are

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<v Speaker 1>the time of possession kings. They're actually fourth in the nation,

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<v Speaker 1>so they are looking to kind of bleed the clock

0:11:24.610 --> 0:11:27.640
<v Speaker 1>sometimes too, and then punch it in with the run.

0:11:27.660 --> 0:11:31.620
<v Speaker 1>They've got the 25 rushing touchdowns that leads the Big Ten.

0:11:32.000 --> 0:11:34.860
<v Speaker 1>They're on pace for being in the 40s, and it's

0:11:34.900 --> 0:11:37.140
<v Speaker 1>just so alien to us because last year they had

0:11:37.360 --> 0:11:40.900
<v Speaker 1>eight rushing touchdowns. The year before it was four, so

0:11:40.940 --> 0:11:43.140
<v Speaker 1>if it's in the 40s, I mean it To your

0:11:43.179 --> 0:11:46.410
<v Speaker 1>point about the offensive line and these very talented running backs,

0:11:46.450 --> 0:11:47.370
<v Speaker 1>that's just such a jolt.

0:11:48.670 --> 0:11:51.490
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, you know, Wayne Knight gets all the recognition for

0:11:51.610 --> 0:11:54.210
<v Speaker 2>this running game for UCLA, and deservedly so when you

0:11:54.230 --> 0:11:56.700
<v Speaker 2>have that many touchdowns. But the last couple of games,

0:11:56.890 --> 0:11:59.460
<v Speaker 2>the guy that's really been getting it done is Anthony Woods.

0:12:00.179 --> 0:12:04.199
<v Speaker 2>He's been really running hard and making some real big

0:12:04.260 --> 0:12:08.640
<v Speaker 2>plays when they've been needed. And then also Jets' Thomas

0:12:08.740 --> 0:12:12.100
<v Speaker 2>is catching the football out of the backfield. He's known

0:12:12.140 --> 0:12:14.880
<v Speaker 2>really for running in between the tackles. He made a

0:12:14.960 --> 0:12:17.420
<v Speaker 2>few catches last week, and I thought that was great.

0:12:17.780 --> 0:12:20.579
<v Speaker 2>And you're seeing UCLA also get the ball to the

0:12:20.679 --> 0:12:22.640
<v Speaker 2>running backs in a different way, not handing it off,

0:12:22.940 --> 0:12:25.210
<v Speaker 2>but getting them involved in the passing game.

0:12:25.950 --> 0:12:29.510
<v Speaker 1>And hopefully there won't be any kind of false start,

0:12:29.550 --> 0:12:33.670
<v Speaker 1>that kind of penalty situation, which has been a little

0:12:33.730 --> 0:12:37.890
<v Speaker 1>bit of a letdown, frankly. I thought that as much

0:12:37.970 --> 0:12:41.110
<v Speaker 1>as Bob Chesney is all about attention to detail, the

0:12:41.130 --> 0:12:44.060
<v Speaker 1>Bruins would not be a very penalized team. They actually

0:12:44.080 --> 0:12:47.350
<v Speaker 1>have been a very penalized team. They're 125th in the nation.

0:12:47.370 --> 0:12:50.230
<v Speaker 1>It's about eight and a half penalties per game for

0:12:50.230 --> 0:12:53.470
<v Speaker 1>74 yards. Historically, Minnesota has always been among the least

0:12:53.550 --> 0:12:55.730
<v Speaker 1>penalized teams in the country. That's kind of been a

0:12:55.790 --> 0:13:00.190
<v Speaker 1>thing under P.J. Fleck, although they've had their moments this year.

0:13:00.230 --> 0:13:03.050
<v Speaker 1>Their one loss at home, that was to Mississippi State

0:13:03.090 --> 0:13:07.340
<v Speaker 1>way back in September. It was 12 penalties for 115.

0:13:07.340 --> 0:13:10.260
<v Speaker 1>So maybe this isn't the kind of team that P.J.

0:13:10.340 --> 0:13:14.429
<v Speaker 1>Fleck usually has. Maybe there will be Kind of a flag-for-flag,

0:13:14.929 --> 0:13:17.339
<v Speaker 1>one-to-one ratio in this game. That would really help if

0:13:17.360 --> 0:13:17.959
<v Speaker 1>that's the case.

0:13:18.600 --> 0:13:20.920
<v Speaker 2>Well, it's going to be a capacity crowd, so UCLA's

0:13:20.940 --> 0:13:22.040
<v Speaker 2>going to have to deal with that.

0:13:22.100 --> 0:13:24.460
<v Speaker 3>They were able to handle that in Oregon.

0:13:25.620 --> 0:13:28.060
<v Speaker 2>I'm going to give Bob Chesney a little break when

0:13:28.080 --> 0:13:30.550
<v Speaker 2>it comes to the penalties. they've had to play so

0:13:30.570 --> 0:13:34.470
<v Speaker 2>many players in the depth chart because of injuries. And

0:13:34.490 --> 0:13:39.150
<v Speaker 2>people haven't noticed that. They just think UCLA, oh, yeah,

0:13:39.380 --> 0:13:41.800
<v Speaker 2>you're running along smoothly. But there's been a lot of

0:13:41.820 --> 0:13:43.900
<v Speaker 2>guys that have been hurt and a lot of backup guys.

0:13:44.300 --> 0:13:47.280
<v Speaker 2>And even a quarterback that has, you know, has been

0:13:47.300 --> 0:13:50.160
<v Speaker 2>a backup. And he's come in with a different cadence. So,

0:13:50.940 --> 0:13:54.140
<v Speaker 2>I mean, there's been a lot of variables that UCLA's

0:13:54.160 --> 0:13:54.719
<v Speaker 2>had to deal with.

0:13:54.740 --> 0:13:56.940
<v Speaker 3>And I think that's the reason for some of these penalties.

0:13:57.710 --> 0:14:00.010
<v Speaker 1>All right, so in the last few minutes that we have, Matt,

0:14:00.050 --> 0:14:02.330
<v Speaker 1>I just wanted to kind of wind you up, turn

0:14:02.370 --> 0:14:04.610
<v Speaker 1>you loose. I know you and I are both a

0:14:04.630 --> 0:14:08.069
<v Speaker 1>little stunned that currently there's a number eight next to

0:14:08.110 --> 0:14:10.510
<v Speaker 1>the Bruins and not a four or a five, with

0:14:10.630 --> 0:14:13.819
<v Speaker 1>Utah being a three. And I don't know why that

0:14:13.920 --> 0:14:16.700
<v Speaker 1>one bothers me so much. I mean, both teams are 8-0.

0:14:17.040 --> 0:14:20.680
<v Speaker 1>They're familiar with each other, obviously. But, you know, it's

0:14:20.700 --> 0:14:23.540
<v Speaker 1>funny with Tao Johnson coming back finally for the Bruins now.

0:14:23.570 --> 0:14:27.460
<v Speaker 1>The former Ute will play for the Bruins now. this weekend.

0:14:27.520 --> 0:14:31.500
<v Speaker 1>But two 8-0 teams. The Bruins have eight wins over

0:14:31.620 --> 0:14:35.070
<v Speaker 1>FBS opponents. Utah's got seven. Strength of schedule, it's basically

0:14:35.130 --> 0:14:37.270
<v Speaker 1>exactly the same. The Bruins are actually a little bit

0:14:37.630 --> 0:14:41.830
<v Speaker 1>stronger in that. Points allowed per game, Bruins are 13.5,

0:14:41.830 --> 0:14:44.730
<v Speaker 1>Utah is 16. I mean, we can go on and

0:14:44.830 --> 0:14:48.460
<v Speaker 1>on and on. I'm struggling to why there's this disparity

0:14:48.500 --> 0:14:51.760
<v Speaker 1>between the three for Utah and the eight for UCLA.

0:14:52.300 --> 0:14:54.160
<v Speaker 1>But as I know you're going to talk me down,

0:14:54.420 --> 0:14:56.440
<v Speaker 1>these things tend to take care of themselves if you

0:14:56.460 --> 0:14:57.060
<v Speaker 1>just keep winning.

0:14:57.680 --> 0:15:01.290
<v Speaker 2>Well, the Holy War is this Saturday between BYU and Utah.

0:15:01.330 --> 0:15:04.210
<v Speaker 2>So that's one thing that Utah is going to, you know,

0:15:04.570 --> 0:15:07.250
<v Speaker 2>have to get over. I mean, the fact that BYU,

0:15:07.370 --> 0:15:10.070
<v Speaker 2>they have one loss and it was a bad loss.

0:15:10.110 --> 0:15:13.359
<v Speaker 2>But this is a very good Cougar team. They play

0:15:13.420 --> 0:15:16.000
<v Speaker 2>great defense. So if they win that game, you know,

0:15:16.020 --> 0:15:18.680
<v Speaker 2>they deserve, you know, their ranking. And UCLA, there's not

0:15:18.740 --> 0:15:20.810
<v Speaker 2>a lot of meat on the bone. You know, USC

0:15:20.850 --> 0:15:23.450
<v Speaker 2>just got a victory against Ohio State. They're going to

0:15:23.690 --> 0:15:25.229
<v Speaker 2>have a bye this week, but then they're going to

0:15:25.250 --> 0:15:28.650
<v Speaker 2>play at Indiana. If they win that game and, you know,

0:15:28.750 --> 0:15:32.310
<v Speaker 2>win out and it's SC UCLA, that's really, you know,

0:15:32.350 --> 0:15:36.230
<v Speaker 2>going to be for that college football playoff position. So

0:15:36.710 --> 0:15:38.670
<v Speaker 2>there are so many games out there that have to

0:15:38.720 --> 0:15:42.680
<v Speaker 2>be played. You know, Miami, Notre Dame and Tony's out.

0:15:43.440 --> 0:15:45.850
<v Speaker 2>that's a big game and someone's going to get knocked

0:15:45.880 --> 0:15:48.130
<v Speaker 2>out of the college football playoff. So it's a month

0:15:48.210 --> 0:15:51.070
<v Speaker 2>left and then you've got the conference championship. So we

0:15:51.110 --> 0:15:53.010
<v Speaker 2>can talk about it. We can argue about it, but

0:15:53.050 --> 0:15:54.790
<v Speaker 2>I think it's going to work itself out in the end.

0:15:55.230 --> 0:15:55.730
<v Speaker 3>I do too.

0:15:55.770 --> 0:15:58.130
<v Speaker 1>What was crazy though, is I think you and I

0:15:58.250 --> 0:16:02.530
<v Speaker 1>both looked at this particular weekend and thought Oregon at

0:16:02.620 --> 0:16:05.300
<v Speaker 1>Ohio state sounded like not just the game of the weekend,

0:16:05.320 --> 0:16:08.020
<v Speaker 1>but maybe the game of the year. And instead of,

0:16:08.510 --> 0:16:10.690
<v Speaker 1>I'll name you, I don't know, six or seven games

0:16:10.730 --> 0:16:13.420
<v Speaker 1>that are more important. You talked about Miami at Notre Dame,

0:16:13.820 --> 0:16:17.359
<v Speaker 1>Georgia Ole Miss. You mentioned BYU at Utah. Alabama to

0:16:17.500 --> 0:16:21.020
<v Speaker 1>LSU is a huge game. Kentucky at Tennessee is just

0:16:21.080 --> 0:16:23.000
<v Speaker 1>as big. Texas at Missouri.

0:16:23.320 --> 0:16:23.720
<v Speaker 3>What is that?

0:16:23.760 --> 0:16:25.940
<v Speaker 1>I think that is seven games that are more important

0:16:25.980 --> 0:16:28.040
<v Speaker 1>than Oregon and Ohio State, which is nuts.

0:16:28.740 --> 0:16:31.470
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, Oregon and Ohio State, though, the loser is going

0:16:31.490 --> 0:16:33.370
<v Speaker 2>to be knocked out of the college football playoffs and

0:16:33.390 --> 0:16:36.610
<v Speaker 2>not have any chance. And Ohio State is obviously suffering

0:16:36.630 --> 0:16:39.990
<v Speaker 2>without their star quarterback, Julian Sane. And you've got Dante

0:16:40.030 --> 0:16:42.390
<v Speaker 2>Moore at Oregon out for the remainder of the season.

0:16:42.430 --> 0:16:45.860
<v Speaker 2>But that's a real significant part about that game.

0:16:45.880 --> 0:16:46.360
<v Speaker 3>But you're right.

0:16:46.380 --> 0:16:48.979
<v Speaker 2>There's some great football left to be played.

0:16:49.640 --> 0:16:51.740
<v Speaker 1>And we're looking forward to doing our part. We will

0:16:51.760 --> 0:16:55.300
<v Speaker 1>be in the booth in the, I would say, chilly weather,

0:16:55.380 --> 0:16:57.500
<v Speaker 1>not the ice-cold weather. But it'll be a little on

0:16:57.520 --> 0:17:00.140
<v Speaker 1>the chilly side. We will have the early kickoff for

0:17:00.180 --> 0:17:03.600
<v Speaker 1>you Saturday. The Bruins are not quite a touchdown favorite,

0:17:03.620 --> 0:17:06.640
<v Speaker 1>about a five- or six-point favorite, and hopefully, indeed, they

0:17:06.660 --> 0:17:10.570
<v Speaker 1>can get to 9-0. Mr. Stevens, thank you so much.

0:17:10.650 --> 0:17:11.970
<v Speaker 1>Travel safe. See you soon.

0:17:12.850 --> 0:17:14.090
<v Speaker 3>At late for Saturday.

0:17:14.830 --> 0:17:18.730
<v Speaker 1>As always. And we appreciate everybody listening, appreciate the support.

0:17:18.750 --> 0:17:20.970
<v Speaker 1>We say fours up, and take care.

0:17:21.690 --> 0:17:33.609
<v Speaker 3>U-C-L-A U-C-L-A Fight, fight, fight © transcript Emily Beynon