Morning Wrap: UCLA Holds off K-State in Alamo Bowl

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((ht: espn.com))

The UCLA Bruins jumped out to a quick 31-6 lead in the Alamo Bowl Friday night. But they had to hold on for dear life to get the win.

The Kansas State Wildcats didn't give up and stormed back closing within 6 early in the 4th quarter. But a 67 yard touchdown run by Paul Perkins sealed the deal and the Bruins got a 40-35 win.

Perkins ran for 194 yards and a pair of TD's for UCLA who finished the season 10-3. Kansas State struggled to run the ball but QB Jake Waters through for 338 yards and a pair of TD's to receiver Tyler Lockett. The Wildcats finished their season at 9-4.

However, most aren't talking about the game the next morning. The big conversation surrounds UCLA coach Jim Mora and his near brush off of Kansas State coach Bill Snyder after the game. Mora was angry because Snyder called a timeout before the last play of the game and the Wildcats took a shot at UCLA coach Brett Hundley as he kneeled down afterwards.

In A Day Of CFB Upsets #8 UCLA Gets Stunned By Utah

In a week of college football upsets that began out West Thursday night in Eugene, Oregon it ends
down the West Coast in Pasadena, California.

"We said, ‘Hey, have you seen what’s going on last Thursday with Arizona and Oregon, and the upsets that were taking place?’" Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said. "We have a chance to be right in that same conversation. Our players knew it. They knew that there were upsets going on.”

The Utah Utes came to the Rose Bowl and thanks to an Andy Phillips 29 yard field goal with 34 seconds left shocked UCLA 30-28 capping off a week where the college football spun out of control.


“I’m proud of our players and our coaches." Whittingham said.  "That was a gutsy performance. It was a tough, hard-fought win."

"Obviously, this is a disappointing loss." UCLA head coach Jim Mora said.  "My hat is off to Utah. They played a great game and beat us. We all take responsibility for that loss."

UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns.

In a close game Utah was able to put together the final scoring drive late in the fourth quarter.

Behind the rushing of Kendal Thompson and Devontae Booker the Utes were able to put together a 10 play 63 yard drive that took just under four minutes to set up game winning kick by Phillips.




"I’m trying to put our guys in position to win." Whittingham said.  "It’s a great job by our players. I can’t say enough about them."

“And Andy Phillips, I mean, what more can you say about him? He’s got ice water in his veins."  Whittingham said.

Is Texas Longhorn Strong...???

So, after Baylor head coach Art Briles tweeted his disinterest in the Texas job and UCLA head coach Jim Mora said he was staying in Westwood, it came down to Louisville's Charlie Strong to be the new head coach for the Longhorns...

The reported salary figure is 5 years at $25-million...

Strong's record at Louisville was 37-15 and he is set to accept the position if asked...

Strong, apparently, still wanted to speak with Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich and his university president first.
“He will be the coach,” a well-place source told Kirk Bohls and Brian Davis at the Austin American-Statesman.

Strong seemed to have survived a four-hour interview with AD Steve Patterson...

Here's Brett McMurphy discussing briefly with Kenny Mayne
((HT: ESPN))

Jim Mora Gets Rightfully Ticked at Dumbass Reporter (UPDATED)

(Update at bottom of story))

It's rare when a coach is right for getting angry and walking out of a press conference, but in this case, UCLA coach Jim Mora did exactly the right thing.

Mora was rightfully angry during his Monday press conference that he began by talking about what he and the team were dealing with after the early Sunday morning death of walk-on WR Nick Pasquale.

You can read more about what happened to Pasquale RIGHT HERE

An emotional and difficult thing for a team to deal with as they begin another season.

That's when a reporter, whom to this point is un-named interrupted the proceedings by taking a call, then talking while Mora was trying to convey his thoughts.

You can very plainly see Mora trying to compose himself, admonish the reporter for interrupting and then rather than saying something he'd regret, he got up and left.

Bravo!



We've seen Mora during his time in Atlanta stick his foot in his mouth--a lot. But props to him for handling this the only way he could.

We hope he does not get grief for walking out, and don't think he will.

It's amazing to us how many reporters still don't get that whole common courtesy thing nor realize, the entire world does not revolve around them. We covered Sports for 20-years and are well aware that too many Sports Media members don't understand whatever access they get is a privilege, not a right.

And yet so many will leave their phone on, engage in other conversation, complain when it's "Too Cold" to cover a game (NFL Writers) and other inconveniences 1 billion others would gladly put up with.

((UPDATE--Per Ryan Kartje @ryan_Kartje--of the Orange County Register: 20 minutes after walking out of the presser, Mora spent time with the beat writers finishing his thoughts about Pasquale and how the team was handling the situation.

Kartje also tweeted that the offending phone talker during the presser was believed to be a photographer from the local NBC affiliate))