WEBVTT - The Verdict: SDSU 0:00:06.730 --> 0:00:08.869 It started out as a hot day and ended it 0:00:08.970 --> 0:00:12.350 with a hot night. It was Wayne Knight once again 0:00:12.369 --> 0:00:15.770 scoring three times for UCLA. That's two games he's played 0:00:15.810 --> 0:00:17.989 as a Bruin. Two times he's come up with the 0:00:18.030 --> 0:00:18.790 hat trick, Mr. 0:00:18.829 --> 0:00:19.229 Stevens. 0:00:19.610 --> 0:00:22.810 Six total touchdowns for that man. That's incredible. And in 0:00:22.850 --> 0:00:26.430 a game that was scoreless at halftime, the Bruins pull away. 0:00:26.489 --> 0:00:26.980 They win it 28-10. 0:00:28.210 --> 0:00:30.670 In the TV booth, Brett Hundley was here, his first 0:00:30.730 --> 0:00:33.150 ever game doing TV, and I'm sure he did great. 0:00:33.490 --> 0:00:35.409 For a while, we're thinking, why can't Brett be down 0:00:35.440 --> 0:00:38.760 there on the field? Bruins would score, right? He's my 0:00:38.820 --> 0:00:39.979 favorite quarterback ever. 0:00:40.100 --> 0:00:40.599 But you know what? 0:00:40.659 --> 0:00:43.839 Niko Iamaliava turned it on in that second half. He 0:00:44.220 --> 0:00:47.040 ended up 14 out of 22 for 151, almost identical 0:00:47.100 --> 0:00:50.120 numbers to what he had at Cal. And he used 0:00:50.159 --> 0:00:53.279 his legs again. 13 carries for 57 yards. He didn't 0:00:53.300 --> 0:00:56.110 get a touchdown this time, but Knight got three. Jet 0:00:56.170 --> 0:00:58.850 Thomas got one. The Bruins win it going away 28-10. 0:00:58.930 --> 0:01:03.090 Yeah, Nico Imaliaba, I thought he did great ball handling. 0:01:03.510 --> 0:01:06.490 A lot of fakes, misdirections, where he did a great 0:01:06.530 --> 0:01:09.450 job doing that. And then in the second half, mostly 0:01:09.470 --> 0:01:13.060 the fourth quarter, intermediate throws. We saw him throw with 0:01:13.160 --> 0:01:17.090 touch to Saj Morgan. And also Morgan had a big game, 0:01:17.130 --> 0:01:20.700 six catches, 73 yards. The injuries at wide receiver, that's 0:01:20.720 --> 0:01:22.240 really going to be the story of this game. I mean, 0:01:22.520 --> 0:01:24.480 who's going to be left? Who's going to be coming back? 0:01:25.140 --> 0:01:28.380 But to have that many injuries at wide receiver and 0:01:28.420 --> 0:01:31.430 get all these different guys in the game and for 0:01:31.490 --> 0:01:34.370 them to win this football game, that's a testimony of 0:01:34.430 --> 0:01:37.369 how strong that unit is. And the offensive line and 0:01:37.390 --> 0:01:39.750 the defense of UCLA, they prevailed. 0:01:40.380 --> 0:01:42.980 Now, I'm just looking at this kind of big picture, 0:01:43.000 --> 0:01:45.140 and I know it's only two weeks, but the Bruins 0:01:45.190 --> 0:01:48.390 have not passed for a touchdown yet. There wasn't a 0:01:48.430 --> 0:01:50.530 single tight end. They caught a ball in this game. 0:01:50.570 --> 0:01:53.169 As you mentioned, the Bruins were hemorrhaging wide receivers. They 0:01:53.190 --> 0:01:56.170 were already without Landon Ellis. A bunch of guys went down. 0:01:56.630 --> 0:01:59.810 But you're 2-0. You don't have a touchdown pass yet. 0:01:59.850 --> 0:02:02.730 What you do have is 10 rushing touchdowns. That is 0:02:02.790 --> 0:02:05.540 two more than they had all of last year. It 0:02:05.600 --> 0:02:08.080 is six more than they had all of the year before. 0:02:08.200 --> 0:02:11.119 So at least you've got a ground game, and we 0:02:11.180 --> 0:02:13.639 knew Bob Chesney was big on that. But, I mean, 0:02:13.660 --> 0:02:15.950 if it wasn't for that, Bruins might be in some 0:02:15.970 --> 0:02:16.589 trouble right now. 0:02:16.630 --> 0:02:19.540 You didn't hear tight ends at UCLA don't have fingers. Yeah, 0:02:19.580 --> 0:02:20.240 they're just blockers. 0:02:20.740 --> 0:02:23.359 No, I'll tell you what, they're great blockers. And they're 0:02:23.400 --> 0:02:25.859 really paving the way for that running game. I'm sure 0:02:25.880 --> 0:02:28.840 they're going to get incorporated into the offense. And I 0:02:28.860 --> 0:02:31.840 think UCLA, the passing game will come around. There's a 0:02:31.970 --> 0:02:35.030 lot of different faces for Nico Yamaliaba. He'll get it 0:02:35.070 --> 0:02:35.810 all figured out. 0:02:36.550 --> 0:02:39.690 But UCLA... You know, it's all up front. 0:02:39.850 --> 0:02:43.690 And those guys are just pounding people in the depth 0:02:43.710 --> 0:02:46.790 to put in different guys, a different center in a game. 0:02:46.850 --> 0:02:49.390 I had the same center one time the entire year. 0:02:49.790 --> 0:02:53.370 You don't change centers. It's like a little love relationship 0:02:53.410 --> 0:02:56.010 between the quarterback and the center. You know, they're married 0:02:56.050 --> 0:02:58.690 for the entire season. And to alternate them like that 0:02:58.850 --> 0:03:01.210 and still be effective up front, that's impressive. 0:03:01.790 --> 0:03:04.490 So the Bruins, for two straight weeks now, only two 0:03:04.530 --> 0:03:07.710 weeks into the season, break open a tight game with 0:03:07.750 --> 0:03:11.700 a 21-point fourth quarter. If that's a trend, I think 0:03:11.720 --> 0:03:14.060 that's something everybody could live with. I know you want 0:03:14.080 --> 0:03:16.260 to clean things up a little earlier in games. It's 0:03:16.300 --> 0:03:19.100 the second straight week. The Bruins got into some penalty trouble. 0:03:19.440 --> 0:03:22.060 This time it was eight of them. For 70 yards, 0:03:22.080 --> 0:03:24.760 that's a little bit better than 12 for 110 against Cal. 0:03:25.160 --> 0:03:27.220 But for a while, Matt, to me it was like 0:03:27.240 --> 0:03:29.919 when you're on hold with the cable company and you're 0:03:29.940 --> 0:03:32.500 just listening to that dippy music for 10 minutes or whatever. 0:03:32.900 --> 0:03:35.880 That's what this game felt like until the fourth quarter. Yeah, 0:03:35.930 --> 0:03:38.830 until the fourth quarter. I mean, UCLA, they missed that touchdown. 0:03:38.870 --> 0:03:42.950 The ball was underthrown by Niki Amaliava. Really, that could 0:03:42.970 --> 0:03:44.530 have set the tone for the entire game. This could 0:03:44.550 --> 0:03:47.780 have been a blowout, 35 to nothing. Because San Diego State, 0:03:47.840 --> 0:03:50.900 they just were not effective throwing the ball. And give credit, 0:03:50.920 --> 0:03:53.380 you know, again, to the defense of UCLA. They're putting 0:03:53.420 --> 0:03:56.720 pressure on the quarterback. He's getting knocked around. The great 0:03:56.760 --> 0:04:00.230 coverage by the corners and the safeties were so aggressive today. 0:04:00.930 --> 0:04:02.590 LaShawn James had another good game. 0:04:02.650 --> 0:04:04.790 I know we didn't say his name much, but he 0:04:04.830 --> 0:04:08.530 was in on a lot of plays along with Malik Hartford. 0:04:08.570 --> 0:04:11.800 I mean, these two guys fly around the field and 0:04:11.820 --> 0:04:12.560 they make a difference. 0:04:13.050 --> 0:04:17.110 San Diego State, in the second half, went 2 of 0:04:17.110 --> 0:04:21.080 11 through the air. Obviously, Denigal has had better days. 0:04:21.080 --> 0:04:27.000 45 total yards through the air. And the much-heralded Mr. Sutton, 0:04:27.040 --> 0:04:30.120 Lucky Sutton, wasn't exactly his first name in this game. 0:04:30.440 --> 0:04:34.010 He got his number called 19 times. Gained 81 yards. 0:04:34.050 --> 0:04:36.890 That's not bad. But he never did shake free for 0:04:36.930 --> 0:04:40.850 that big touchdown. 12 yards was the longest gain he 0:04:40.890 --> 0:04:41.450 had all day. 0:04:41.750 --> 0:04:43.050 Most of them were threes and fours. 0:04:43.170 --> 0:04:46.310 Well, the safeties for UCLA, they didn't have to respect 0:04:46.330 --> 0:04:48.420 the pass. I mean, on the outside, you've got Pleasant 0:04:48.800 --> 0:04:51.560 and also Jackson, so they're not worried about covering the 0:04:51.640 --> 0:04:54.300 outside guys. They're worried about getting to the line of 0:04:54.339 --> 0:04:57.680 scrimmage and beating up Sutton. And I think Kennard came in, 0:04:57.700 --> 0:05:00.240 and he gave that San Diego State offense a real 0:05:00.480 --> 0:05:03.540 boost because he's quick, he can get through the hole, 0:05:04.580 --> 0:05:05.480 and he was impressive. 0:05:05.520 --> 0:05:05.719 But. 0:05:06.440 --> 0:05:10.150 UCLA defensively, I mean, they are a brick wall when 0:05:10.190 --> 0:05:11.250 it comes to that front seven. 0:05:11.310 --> 0:05:14.270 Well, only 70 yards of offense for a desperate San 0:05:14.290 --> 0:05:17.430 Diego State team the entire second half. So that's something 0:05:17.450 --> 0:05:20.979 to really shout about. 2-0, obviously, is something to feel 0:05:21.000 --> 0:05:23.200 good about. You've got Purdue coming in for an 8 0:05:23.200 --> 0:05:27.349 o'clock kickoff here at the Rose Bowl. Next Saturday, Purdue 0:05:27.390 --> 0:05:31.090 lost to Wake Forest at home, and that's a double 0:05:31.180 --> 0:05:33.400 overtime game, so they played a little bit extra, got 0:05:33.420 --> 0:05:34.409 maybe a little bit banged up. 0:05:34.900 --> 0:05:36.720 This one could have been 28-3 for UCLA. 0:05:37.100 --> 0:05:39.760 It would have been the last time the Bruins had 0:05:39.779 --> 0:05:41.980 held an opponent without a touchdown since a game in 0:05:42.000 --> 0:05:45.740 the snow at Utah 11 years ago. The only thing 0:05:45.760 --> 0:05:49.110 that prevented it from being 28-3, there was one blown coverage, 0:05:49.150 --> 0:05:51.150 a wide-open tight end late in the game for San 0:05:51.170 --> 0:05:51.710 Diego State. 0:05:51.850 --> 0:05:53.730 Yeah, that was a good play by San Diego State. 0:05:53.890 --> 0:05:57.430 Caught UCLA off guard, but Again, I mean, the depth 0:05:57.470 --> 0:06:00.210 of UCLA to alternate players in and out on that 0:06:00.310 --> 0:06:03.250 offensive line wore down that San Diego State defense. You 0:06:03.410 --> 0:06:06.610 saw that late touchdown run by Wayne Knight. I mean, 0:06:06.630 --> 0:06:09.060 he didn't need much, but once he gets through the hole, 0:06:09.450 --> 0:06:10.120 he's gone. 0:06:11.020 --> 0:06:16.719 Nico Iamaliaba, consecutive weeks going exactly 14 for 22. And again, 0:06:16.779 --> 0:06:20.880 it's no touchdowns, one interception. He basically had the exact 0:06:20.940 --> 0:06:23.520 same game. It's just it wasn't in Berkley. It was 0:06:23.560 --> 0:06:26.720 here at home in Pasadena. The running backs carried the load. 0:06:26.720 --> 0:06:32.620 43 carries for 214. On only one play did a 0:06:32.730 --> 0:06:37.390 running back get stuffed. There was minus one in terms 0:06:37.450 --> 0:06:37.770 of a net. 0:06:39.110 --> 0:06:39.530 One time. 0:06:40.010 --> 0:06:42.870 Everything else was a positive play. Yeah, UCLA, I mean, 0:06:43.070 --> 0:06:46.410 they got to clean some things up offensively. Obviously, they 0:06:46.430 --> 0:06:48.150 were getting out of the huddle a little late, and 0:06:48.470 --> 0:06:50.930 Bob Chesney had to waste three or four tight ends 0:06:50.990 --> 0:06:54.510 in this football game. In fact, Bob Chesney almost called 0:06:54.589 --> 0:06:58.270 a timeout on a Wayne Knight touchdown run. That was, 0:06:58.310 --> 0:07:01.830 I think, a six-yarder because the clock was right at one, 0:07:02.310 --> 0:07:04.390 and he let the play go, and they got it off, 0:07:04.430 --> 0:07:04.970 and they scored. 0:07:05.529 --> 0:07:08.410 Wayne Knight has set himself a very high bar to clear. 0:07:08.470 --> 0:07:11.380 He was already a Horning Award winner in Week 1. 0:07:11.380 --> 0:07:13.690 Don't think he'll get any national awards in Week 2, 0:07:13.680 --> 0:07:16.640 but it's tough to look away from six rushing touchdowns 0:07:16.760 --> 0:07:20.140 in two games. The Bruins are 2-0. They beat San 0:07:20.160 --> 0:07:24.070 Diego State by the final of 28-10. Matt Stevens, great 0:07:24.130 --> 0:07:25.810 job in this one. We're going to be hearing from 0:07:25.870 --> 0:07:27.890 Wayne Cook and Nick Cope the rest of the way. 0:07:28.290 --> 0:07:31.630 The Bruins take it here despite a scoreless first half. Again, 0:07:31.650 --> 0:07:34.110 they win by 18 against the Aztecs. 0:07:36.480 --> 0:07:42.040 UCLA football 2-0 in 2026 after a scoreless first half 0:07:42.080 --> 0:07:46.260 between the Bruins and the San Diego State Aztecs. UCLA 0:07:46.760 --> 0:07:49.160 finds its offense in the second half. They run away 0:07:49.260 --> 0:07:53.690 from SDSU 28-10, the final score here at the Rose Bowl. 0:07:53.810 --> 0:07:54.560 Nick Cope with you. 0:07:54.580 --> 0:07:57.550 We got Wayne Cook down in the locker room, and 0:07:57.590 --> 0:07:59.990 he's going to catch up with the head coach, Bob Chesney, 0:08:00.110 --> 0:08:02.130 in just a few moments. Perhaps we'll hear from a 0:08:02.170 --> 0:08:05.890 couple more players as well. Wayne, you know, oftentimes we 0:08:05.910 --> 0:08:08.150 talk about a tale of two halves in these games, 0:08:08.430 --> 0:08:11.530 and that was certainly it. A lot working against UCLA 0:08:11.550 --> 0:08:15.110 when you factor in the injuries. But my wife texted 0:08:15.130 --> 0:08:18.560 me that, Wayne, your wife was correct. We said that 0:08:18.680 --> 0:08:23.320 Sue pointed out that Nico Yamaliaba was a second-half quarterback, 0:08:23.940 --> 0:08:26.720 and he made some great plays down the stretch for UCLA. 0:08:27.060 --> 0:08:30.180 Wayne Knight, of course, with another hat trick. But Sue 0:08:30.200 --> 0:08:30.940 was right, Wayne. 0:08:31.350 --> 0:08:33.510 Well, she usually is. I mean, I've known that and 0:08:33.530 --> 0:08:35.230 we're almost been married for 30 years and I don't 0:08:35.250 --> 0:08:36.850 know if I've ever been right. I think she's right 0:08:36.890 --> 0:08:40.490 every time, but she, she is correct because Nico, what 0:08:40.510 --> 0:08:43.160 he has going for him is just how tough he is. 0:08:43.580 --> 0:08:45.220 There's just not a whole lot of quit at him. 0:08:45.300 --> 0:08:47.280 You know, sometimes I get anxious when he runs and 0:08:47.300 --> 0:08:49.580 gets hit the way he does, but you know, when 0:08:49.620 --> 0:08:51.620 you have a quarterback that's willing to do whatever it 0:08:51.660 --> 0:08:54.470 takes to And to be honest with you, to lose receivers, 0:08:55.010 --> 0:08:57.449 because you get so comfortable with the guys that you 0:08:57.510 --> 0:08:59.170 run with. And I know the one thing I love 0:08:59.210 --> 0:09:01.520 about this team is how many guys rotate. So they 0:09:01.559 --> 0:09:04.199 shouldn't drop off as much because so many of these 0:09:04.220 --> 0:09:07.099 guys get practice reps. But, you know, when you start getting, 0:09:07.120 --> 0:09:09.870 there's a reason why guys are first string. And, and you, 0:09:09.890 --> 0:09:12.030 when you start losing those guys and you're down a 0:09:12.050 --> 0:09:14.670 tight end, you're down, you know, both of your starting receivers, 0:09:14.710 --> 0:09:18.170 luckily Brian road jr. Came back. Um, you know, it's hard. 0:09:18.210 --> 0:09:20.170 It's hard to get into a rhythm, but I don't 0:09:20.190 --> 0:09:21.750 know about you, but we've been doing this for a 0:09:21.770 --> 0:09:24.489 long time. Nick, I can, I can get used to 0:09:24.530 --> 0:09:27.230 being a fourth quarter team. I would love to play 0:09:27.250 --> 0:09:29.530 better before that, but the way this team has been 0:09:29.570 --> 0:09:31.189 playing in the fourth quarter has been fantastic. 0:09:31.190 --> 0:09:35.020 21 points last week in Berkeley, 21 points in the 0:09:35.059 --> 0:09:37.140 fourth quarter here tonight at the Rose Bowl. 0:09:37.200 --> 0:09:38.920 And yet you do feel that. 0:09:39.120 --> 0:09:41.880 And I wonder, I brought this up with Coach during 0:09:41.900 --> 0:09:45.680 the week, that just that all the rotations, it'll show 0:09:45.730 --> 0:09:47.469 up in the fourth quarter and that's going to show 0:09:47.510 --> 0:09:50.870 up throughout the season as well. Something that extends as 0:09:50.890 --> 0:09:54.090 you get later on into the year, into November. And 0:09:54.350 --> 0:09:56.929 for the second straight week, when UCLA is trying to 0:09:56.950 --> 0:09:59.510 close the game out, you know, the passing game is 0:09:59.530 --> 0:10:02.660 not quantifiable. where you want it to be UCLA is 0:10:02.720 --> 0:10:04.679 able to run the football in the fourth quarter that 0:10:04.740 --> 0:10:08.020 is so incredibly valuable trying to win football games. 0:10:07.900 --> 0:10:10.719 Well and I will give myself credit for being right 0:10:10.760 --> 0:10:12.220 because do you remember who I picked. 0:10:12.059 --> 0:10:14.560 For the receiver today You said Samaj Morgan. 0:10:14.700 --> 0:10:15.020 I did. 0:10:15.160 --> 0:10:18.130 And he had a career night, six catches, 73 yards. 0:10:18.210 --> 0:10:20.349 He's a really good player, and he's another guy that's tough. 0:10:20.490 --> 0:10:23.850 I just think that when you have tough players, you– 0:10:24.410 --> 0:10:26.650 and again, I mean, I talked to Riley Robel after 0:10:26.690 --> 0:10:28.429 the game, and I even went up to Wayne Knight, 0:10:29.130 --> 0:10:31.030 who I'm hopefully going to get. But I went up 0:10:31.050 --> 0:10:32.620 to Wayne Knight, and I went up to Jet on 0:10:32.640 --> 0:10:34.640 the bench, and I said, hey, guys, you played great, 0:10:34.679 --> 0:10:36.400 but I'm going to get one of your linemen. And 0:10:36.420 --> 0:10:39.400 they both just were like, yeah. Because, you know, you 0:10:39.480 --> 0:10:41.490 can't win at this level and those guys aren't going 0:10:41.510 --> 0:10:43.770 to be as good as they are without the guys 0:10:43.809 --> 0:10:47.480 up front. And you nailed it. The rotation. It's incredible. 0:10:47.700 --> 0:10:49.840 Matt Stevens was like in shock a couple of times. 0:10:49.860 --> 0:10:53.680 He's like, they're taking out the starting center, not because 0:10:53.700 --> 0:10:55.980 he's doing anything wrong, but just to give them a 0:10:56.000 --> 0:10:57.900 little bit of a breather. And it just has a 0:10:57.960 --> 0:11:01.000 huge impact because you do not see that very often. 0:11:01.320 --> 0:11:03.340 That's a position where you want to make sure the 0:11:03.400 --> 0:11:06.120 snap exchange is so important. But if you don't let 0:11:06.160 --> 0:11:08.760 those guys practice and play the way they do in practice, 0:11:09.100 --> 0:11:10.640 they would never get in the game. So you've got 0:11:10.660 --> 0:11:12.120 to give a lot of credit to the way this 0:11:12.160 --> 0:11:13.780 team practices and prepares. 0:11:14.820 --> 0:11:16.300 It was like watching hockey. 0:11:16.540 --> 0:11:20.699 You'd have three offensive linemen, including the center, get changed 0:11:20.820 --> 0:11:21.880 after a first down. 0:11:21.900 --> 0:11:22.820 It was remarkable. 0:11:22.860 --> 0:11:25.500 And then this is just a little thing I noticed, 0:11:26.000 --> 0:11:28.600 but I'd be curious yourself as a former quarterback, not 0:11:28.640 --> 0:11:31.199 to get too in the weeds here, but Robel, he 0:11:31.260 --> 0:11:35.380 holds the football like anybody would throwing it when he snaps, right? Well, 0:11:35.500 --> 0:11:38.150 Osman comes in and he cones it and sort of 0:11:38.210 --> 0:11:41.010 flips it back end over end. So if you're the quarterback, 0:11:41.270 --> 0:11:44.150 you've got to handle two different types of snaps coming 0:11:44.190 --> 0:11:44.630 back to you. 0:11:44.770 --> 0:11:48.390 Yeah, I will say that that's better than two different 0:11:48.450 --> 0:11:51.170 snaps from under center. To me, that's a little bit 0:11:51.210 --> 0:11:54.949 more complicated. But, yeah, like I said, you practice it enough, 0:11:55.530 --> 0:11:57.630 and you're not just with the first guy because you 0:11:57.670 --> 0:11:59.830 know the second guy is going to play too. It 0:11:59.850 --> 0:12:03.010 just really sets you up for being prepared. And, again, 0:12:03.510 --> 0:12:05.590 as Coach Chesney is walking my way right now, he 0:12:05.630 --> 0:12:08.290 might stop and see some recruits first. But the way 0:12:08.350 --> 0:12:15.580 this team practices– Those guys are absolutely 100% prepared to 0:12:15.620 --> 0:12:18.840 go in the game. And coach, we listened. We got 0:12:18.860 --> 0:12:19.520 your headphones. 0:12:19.900 --> 0:12:20.120 Yes. 0:12:22.160 --> 0:12:24.520 And say hi to Nick upstairs. He's up there. 0:12:24.760 --> 0:12:26.130 What's up, coach? Congrats on the win. 0:12:26.290 --> 0:12:27.410 Yeah, thank you. Thank you. 0:12:27.450 --> 0:12:29.910 Not pretty, but sometimes you need a gritty one. And 0:12:30.050 --> 0:12:31.270 that's what we found ourselves in today. 0:12:31.620 --> 0:12:33.319 What Nick and I were talking about before you got 0:12:33.360 --> 0:12:35.870 here is we were just like, they're rotating a center in. 0:12:36.250 --> 0:12:38.569 So all the rotation and you've had two great fourth 0:12:38.590 --> 0:12:41.070 quarters in a row where you got, you know, where 0:12:41.110 --> 0:12:42.949 you're kicking their butt. And I think that has a 0:12:43.010 --> 0:12:44.350 lot to do with it. And I was just talking 0:12:44.370 --> 0:12:48.050 about the way you practice. A center is not easy 0:12:48.080 --> 0:12:50.040 to just throw in there, but you can do that 0:12:50.080 --> 0:12:50.720 because they're ready. 0:12:50.980 --> 0:12:53.260 Yeah, there's no doubt about it. And I think that, again, 0:12:53.300 --> 0:12:54.600 I said it to you before, if there's a giant 0:12:54.620 --> 0:12:56.800 drop off, we're not doing it. You know, but that's 0:12:56.840 --> 0:12:58.579 not the case right now. We can put some guys in. 0:12:58.950 --> 0:13:02.730 And then save people in 35 to 7, right, has 0:13:02.770 --> 0:13:06.120 been our fourth quarter over the past two weeks, right? So, again, 0:13:06.170 --> 0:13:07.319 at the end of the game, to be able to 0:13:07.360 --> 0:13:08.460 run in and be able to do what we need 0:13:08.480 --> 0:13:10.079 to do to close it out, we were able to 0:13:10.120 --> 0:13:13.180 do that because of that scenario. So, I think that we're, 0:13:13.360 --> 0:13:15.140 you know, just got to continue to do that. But 0:13:15.200 --> 0:13:16.559 there's a lot of guys that went down today, and 0:13:16.600 --> 0:13:18.280 there's a lot of guys that had to step up. 0:13:18.700 --> 0:13:21.179 And Samaj Morgan, just what a game. I mean, that 0:13:21.200 --> 0:13:24.079 kid is an absolute warrior. Other guys couldn't go. Other 0:13:24.120 --> 0:13:25.880 guys wanted to go. Other guys, you know, had trouble 0:13:25.900 --> 0:13:27.640 getting lined up. And this kid just said, keep giving 0:13:27.679 --> 0:13:29.280 me more. And he was phenomenal. 0:13:29.420 --> 0:13:31.350 I had another question in mind, but I like what 0:13:31.370 --> 0:13:33.730 you just said. We talk about Nico's toughness. We talk 0:13:33.770 --> 0:13:36.430 about Samaj's toughness. We talk about Brian Rowe Jr. wanting 0:13:36.450 --> 0:13:37.569 to get back in the game and play in the 0:13:37.610 --> 0:13:40.050 second half. You win fourth quarters like that because you 0:13:40.070 --> 0:13:42.050 have tough players. Yeah, there's no doubt about it. There's 0:13:42.110 --> 0:13:42.630 no doubt about it. 0:13:42.630 --> 0:13:45.010 And I think that Nico... What a prime example. That's 0:13:45.030 --> 0:13:46.960 not a great game for him. He knows that it's 0:13:46.980 --> 0:13:48.579 not his favorite game that he's going to have ever 0:13:48.620 --> 0:13:50.360 played here. But at the same point in time, when 0:13:50.380 --> 0:13:51.830 he needs to put his body on the line and 0:13:51.850 --> 0:13:54.079 get a first down. He found a way to do that, 0:13:54.100 --> 0:13:56.120 you know, two or three times and kept drives alive, 0:13:56.140 --> 0:13:58.280 which allowed us to score. And that's not an easy 0:13:58.300 --> 0:14:00.400 thing to do for a quarterback, but he's not afraid 0:14:00.580 --> 0:14:02.400 and he plays with a warrior mentality. 0:14:02.720 --> 0:14:04.820 And I will keep working on my halftime questions, but 0:14:04.840 --> 0:14:07.219 your halftime answer was wonderful. You kind of looked at 0:14:07.240 --> 0:14:08.320 me and be like, we're going to find a way 0:14:08.360 --> 0:14:10.860 to run. I love that. I walked away going, yeah, 0:14:10.900 --> 0:14:13.140 because it looked like that's what they wanted to stop. 0:14:13.280 --> 0:14:15.450 They wanted to make you guys throw the football. And 0:14:15.490 --> 0:14:17.350 yet you found a way to run in the second half, 0:14:17.390 --> 0:14:17.890 got a lot better. 0:14:18.090 --> 0:14:19.210 Well, a lot of it had to do with this 0:14:19.250 --> 0:14:21.790 internal pressure that we're seeing. You know, everything was through 0:14:21.810 --> 0:14:23.690 the A's and B gaps and they were getting pretty 0:14:23.730 --> 0:14:26.170 blitzy in there, which is good. You catch them or 0:14:26.190 --> 0:14:27.590 wall one off and all of a sudden you had 0:14:27.610 --> 0:14:29.510 a big play. And then by the end, we just 0:14:29.610 --> 0:14:33.040 I think that our coaches, their ability to understand what 0:14:33.060 --> 0:14:35.140 the other team is doing, diagnose it and put ourselves 0:14:35.180 --> 0:14:37.300 in position to have success on that one touchdown. 0:14:37.320 --> 0:14:38.500 We're like, this is a touchdown. 0:14:38.540 --> 0:14:40.360 This is now two weeks in a row that we've 0:14:40.380 --> 0:14:42.620 said this is a touchdown before the ball is even snapped. 0:14:42.780 --> 0:14:45.670 And that happened. So how did I take this long 0:14:45.690 --> 0:14:48.530 to get to the defense? They were fantastic today, right? 0:14:48.550 --> 0:14:51.010 When you're struggling on offense, defense keeps you in the game. 0:14:51.190 --> 0:14:51.390 Yes. 0:14:51.570 --> 0:14:53.630 No, there's no doubt about it. We held them the 0:14:53.630 --> 0:14:56.510 45 yards through the air. And this running back got 0:14:56.550 --> 0:14:58.410 hot for a minute. They started pushing some tempo. And 0:14:58.970 --> 0:15:00.890 they just did a lot of things that just were 0:15:01.010 --> 0:15:03.080 physical up front. And you're going to watch it. It's 0:15:03.120 --> 0:15:05.030 not that we're beat up. It's that they were missing gaps, 0:15:05.250 --> 0:15:06.680 you know, had a wrong call. There were just some 0:15:07.260 --> 0:15:09.740 misfires on the defensive side. But at the same point 0:15:09.760 --> 0:15:12.180 in time, to hold them the really three, you know, 0:15:12.940 --> 0:15:14.360 in that entire game, that's a big deal. 0:15:14.770 --> 0:15:16.690 I saw mom out on the field. I said, man, 0:15:16.710 --> 0:15:18.210 we're a good fourth quarter team. And she goes, well, 0:15:18.230 --> 0:15:19.630 we need to be better on the first, second, and 0:15:19.650 --> 0:15:20.150 third quarter. 0:15:20.370 --> 0:15:20.980 Yeah, she's right. 0:15:21.340 --> 0:15:24.720 Maybe I'll listen to my mom. Coach, great game. Great win. 0:15:24.760 --> 0:15:26.640 We'll see you next week. Yeah, thanks so much. Go Bruins. 0:15:26.720 --> 0:15:26.860 Yep. 0:15:27.140 --> 0:15:27.540 Thanks, Coach. 0:15:27.580 --> 0:15:29.980 All right, there you have it from the head coach, 0:15:30.060 --> 0:15:32.710 Bob Chesney, after UCLA opens the 2026 home slate with 0:15:32.730 --> 0:15:33.030 a 28-10 victory. 0:15:37.390 --> 0:15:38.630 Over San Diego State. 0:15:38.670 --> 0:15:40.350 By the way, on Monday next week, go to the 0:15:40.470 --> 0:15:44.100 UCLA store and you can score a 5% off discount 0:15:44.300 --> 0:15:48.300 off bear wear for every UCLA touchdown scored up to 25% off. 0:15:48.340 --> 0:15:53.060 So four touchdowns tonight. That means you can get 20% off. 0:15:53.100 --> 0:15:57.020 You can also take advantage online at uclastore.com using the 0:15:57.070 --> 0:16:00.890 promo code SCOREBIG. Thank you to the UCLA store, your 0:16:00.910 --> 0:16:05.930 destination for UCLA gear and apparel. Wayne Cook, does it 0:16:05.970 --> 0:16:08.140 sound like you're going to get some players here shortly? 0:16:08.160 --> 0:16:10.520 I sure hope so. Our man Vinny said he was 0:16:10.560 --> 0:16:12.440 going to try to get me Wayne Knight, which would 0:16:12.460 --> 0:16:14.120 be fun just because I like him so much. 0:16:14.140 --> 0:16:16.610 He's got a great first name. Let's talk about Wayne 0:16:16.630 --> 0:16:17.670 Knight here for a second. 0:16:17.710 --> 0:16:18.530 Just another. 0:16:18.900 --> 0:16:23.270 hat-trick performance getting into the end zone 13 carries 97 0:16:23.270 --> 0:16:26.510 yards phenomenal in the second half he's the first UCLA 0:16:26.550 --> 0:16:29.890 running back with multiple touchdowns and back-to-back games since Zach 0:16:29.970 --> 0:16:34.030 Charbonnet did so back in 2022 and like Zach Wayne 0:16:34.390 --> 0:16:37.960 he had six touchdowns in a two-game span so Wayne 0:16:38.000 --> 0:16:41.120 Knight just the acceleration when the hole is there he 0:16:41.200 --> 0:16:43.980 sees it boom he is gone in a flash. 0:16:44.200 --> 0:16:47.240 So, first of all, I love the three-headed running back 0:16:47.280 --> 0:16:48.880 team we had. Jed had a good game. It was 0:16:48.900 --> 0:16:51.300 great to see him get in the end zone. Anthony, 0:16:51.720 --> 0:16:53.370 I think he got a little banged up at the end, 0:16:53.400 --> 0:16:54.590 but I think he's going to be fine. But I 0:16:54.610 --> 0:16:57.390 thought he played pretty well, too. And Wayne Knight, and 0:16:57.430 --> 0:16:59.250 this is the thing that I love. We hear people 0:16:59.290 --> 0:17:03.190 talk about contact balance. Well, he's not very big. But 0:17:03.210 --> 0:17:04.890 when you're low to the ground and you have that 0:17:05.050 --> 0:17:07.110 center of gravity that's down to the ground, if you 0:17:07.150 --> 0:17:11.960 watch him play, he always has leverage. He's always on balance. 0:17:12.420 --> 0:17:15.020 So when you hit him, he kind of almost uses 0:17:15.080 --> 0:17:17.840 you to bounce off and get to the next hole. 0:17:17.900 --> 0:17:21.280 And then his acceleration, like he's got zero to 60, right? 0:17:21.340 --> 0:17:25.219 He gets there real quick. So he's got patience. But 0:17:25.290 --> 0:17:27.550 if he sees a window and he goes, he's gone. 0:17:27.609 --> 0:17:30.970 Like we saw in his last touchdown run. So. He's special. 0:17:31.530 --> 0:17:34.629 I'm happy he only had 13 carries, but there's a 0:17:34.650 --> 0:17:36.790