Today should be an easy win folks … we play winless in the conference Washington State at Pullman.  The coaches and players are sounding confident, focused, prepared and undaunted despite our recent troubles and Wazzu's domination of our game last year at home.   Even Karl Dorrell thinks the toughest part of the game today is simply getting there (from Brian Dohn)!

"I think the toughest part of the trip is getting there, but in terms of anything else, it's the same field, great crowd."

Ok coach.  What about the recent letdowns against Utah and Notre Dame?  Is the team ready with focus and effort (from Dohn)?

"Excellent practice," Dorrell said. "Good work (for) special teams, offense, defense. I think our focus is getting where I want it to be, and that's what we discussed (Wednesday) after practice, what we needed to have on a great Thursday, and we did that. I'm really happy with the progress."

Great.  What about the players (from Dohn)?

"I feel like people are waiting for us to lose, but I don't think it's going to happen," UCLA senior cornerback Rodney Van said. "I think the maturity has finally stepped up. Since the Notre Dame game, there's been a change in practice, there's been a change in the way we lift, there's been a change in all we do. And it's coming from our seniors."

What about our defense?  Is Walker ready to finally beat the spread, after being torched for 400+ yards in the air at home last year by this same QB and team (from Robert Kuwada, OC Register)?

"At least for me, I know them a little better, schematically, and I think obviously we'll be better prepared to defend them and give our guys a chance to be able to make plays," (Walker) said.

There you have it.  You can expect a good solid outing today and probably at least a 2 touchdown victory against a team that is dead last in the conference.  No excuses. 

We expect to win 37-20 as we said yesterday.  Be ready for another week of Dorrell mania.  But if we allow Wazzu QB Alex Brink to pass for more than 65% of his passes we will be in trouble.  That is our key stat of the week for this game.  Watch that stat during the game to gauge how well we are doing.  Last year Brink picked apart our much hyped defense for 405 yards completing 73.7% of his passes for 3 touchdowns.  We cannot allow that to happen again and expect to win.  But as the team, coaches and players have told us … it won't.  Go Bruins!!!

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