2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, UCLA Vs. Illinois: Worst Bowl Ever Mercifully Ends

Illinois Vs. UCLA Recap, Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl 2011: The Numerical

The stats that mattered in Illinois' 20-14 win over UCLA in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, from A.J. Jenkins' receptions, to merciless Mercilus, to the DERP scale.

VIDEO: Illinois' Gatorade Bath Fittingly Caps Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl

2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl Final Score: Illinois 20, UCLA 14, All Of Us Zero

The 2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl is over, and awareness has been raised both for the pressing cases of the millions who are underfed and the thousands (dozens?) of people who suffered through Illinois' 20-14 victory.

Nathan Scheelhaase starred for Illinois, throwing for 139 yards and a touchdown and running for another 110 yards, but he was the best part about a game that featured two interim coaches and two teams too mediocre to either be compellingly good or bad. UCLA fell to 6-8 with the loss, and became the first bowl team of the modern era to finish its season two games under .500.

UCLA quarterback Kevin Prince threw for 202 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but completed just 14 of his 29 attempts. Oh, and UCLA ran for 18 yards on 30 carries.

On the bright side, Illinois' victory means the Illini did win bowl games in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history, and also won their first game since October 8. Which is nice.

Additionally, Western Kentucky will not play in a bowl game. No word on if that is because Illinois and UCLA did, and the Hilltoppers don't want to be part of a group that calls those two entities a member.

For more on the 2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, if you're really sure you can handle it, head to UCLA blog Bruins Nation and Illinois blog Hail to the Orange, plus SB Nation Los Angeles and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.

UCLA Vs. Illinois Halftime Score: End Zones Hungry For Points

The UCLA Bruins and Illinois Fighting Illini have now combined for 10 points in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, as a buzzer-beating Derek Dimke field goal makes it 7-3, Bruins. The drive was spurred by a Kevin Prince fumble that gave Illinois choice field position.

Head here for up-to-the-minute UCLA-Illinois stats and score.

Nathan Scheelhaase has passed 14 times for 33 yards and rushed 12 for 25, and turned the ball over once. Prince is four-of-10 for 58 and a touchdown. The box score hero so far might be Illinois' Donovonn Young, who's rushed for 23 yards. Really not exaggerating his status at all. He's made the most of his six carries.

Meanwhile, Western Kentucky is not in a bowl game.

For more on the 2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, if you're really sure you can handle it, head to UCLA blog Bruins Nation and Illinois blog Hail to the Orange, plus SB Nation Los Angeles and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.

2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl Score Update: Yes, There's Actually A Score To Update

The UCLA Bruins and Illinois Fighting Illini, teams which combined to post 13 losses on the year and fire two head coaches, took a while to do anything interesting in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. This may not surprise you. Nevertheless, we now have points to record for posterity, so let's be sure to pounce on them.

Head here for up-to-the-minute UCLA-Illinois stats and score.

Taylor Embree took in a 16-yard touchdown pass from Kevin Prince early in the second quarter, and that's about that. We've enjoyed 157 combined offensive yards so far.

Elsewhere, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers are just sitting around, having a winning record and a star running back and no bowl game in which to play.

For more on the 2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, if you're really sure you can handle it, head to UCLA blog Bruins Nation and Illinois blog Hail to the Orange, plus SB Nation Los Angeles and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.

Illinois Vs. UCLA, Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl 2011: Interims And Athletes

With interim coaches outnumbering players (give or take) in this one, good luck figuring out what's going to happen. But with players like Whitney Mercilus, Tevin McDonald, A.J. Jenkins and Nelson Rosario, this game does still feature quite a bit of talent. So there's that.

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl 2011, Illinois Vs. UCLA: Time, TV Schedule, Odds And More

The UCLA Bruins and the Illinois Fighting Illinis are set to clash in the 2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, in a battle of interim head coaches.

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl 2011, Illinois Vs. UCLA: Briuns Look To Be First Team In A Decade With A Losing Record To Win A Bowl Game

The UCLA Bruins are the first team in the last decade to make it to a bowl game with a losing record. It helped a bit back dooring into the Pac-12 championship game due to the fact that USC was ineligible. Offensive coordinator Mike Johnson will replace Rick Neuheisel as the interim head coach for the bowl game. "I think it's going to be a good matchup," Johnson said. "It's two teams that have gone down similar paths." The Bruins have one of the worst offenses in the country, averaging just over 20 points a game. They continued to have quarterback issues throughout the season.

Not to be outdone by UCLA, the Illinois Fighting Illini are the first team in FBS history to start the season with six consecutive wins, only to follow it up with six consecutive losses. The Illini will also have an interim coach after firing Ron Zook after the conclusion of the regular season. "We're extremely excited," interim head coach Vic Koenning said. "It's an opportunity that, you know, we hoped very much to have a chance to play again. We have a lot of redemption to do." While Illinois did have a very disappointing season, they do have some exciting players to watch on offense in wide receiver A.J. Wright and quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase.

For the latest updates on the Fight Hunger Bowl, follow this StoryStream. For more Illinois, be sure to check out Illinois blog Hail to the Orange. For more on UCLA, visit UCLA blog Bruins Nation.

The Fight Hunger Bowl Gift Bag Now Includes A Coaches' Boycott

The Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl already has its share of issues. Neither team has a head coach, the game is being played in a baseball stadium, and ticket sales have been less than robust. It is also saddled with the noble but clunky name of “The Fight Hunger Bowl,” which is either an anti-malnutrition campaign or an allusive promo for the UFC’s Overeem/Lesnar fight tonight.

A fight might be the more appropriate interpretation at this point. Due to the firing of Ron Zook, four members of the Illinois coaching staff are now in the midst of a contract dispute with Illini administrators, and might boycott the game altogether.

On Wednesday, Gilbert said he and the three other remaining offensive assistants — Smith, Brohm and Chip Long — might boycott the game if the school didn’t “step up and play in the next 48 hours.”

“We all have opportunities to go elsewhere,” Gilbert said. “So, if they want the bowl game to be coached, they better decide they want to treat us the right way.”

The players, meanwhile, are having a marvelous time. Bowl season magic! FEEL IT!

2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl: Illinois Will Be Without Jason Ford, Jake Kumerow

The Interim Coaches Bowl Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl lost a little more of its luster on Friday as Illinois confirmed leading rusher Jason Ford and wide receiver Jake Kumerow will miss the bowl due to academics. Both players were deemed academically ineligible, and were disciplined by the school accordingly.

Illinois released the news on this Friday before the holidays and the information can be found below (via College Football Talk).

The loss of Ford is a particularly significant blow for the Illini. The senior led the team with 600 yards rushing and seven touchdowns, and finishes his career second behind Howard Griffith (31) on the school’s all-time list 26 rushing touchdowns.

Kumerow played in seven games in 2011 and had three catches for 15 yards on the season.

UCLA will be without Richard Brehaut due to suspension, as well. Both teams made a coaching change prior to the bowl game, with Illinois firing Ron Zook and UCLA dropping Rick Neuheisel. Should be a blast!

For the latest updates on the Fight Hunger Bowl, follow this StoryStream. For more analysis of the Illini's running back situation, be sure to check out Illinois blog Hail to the Orange.

Illinois Will Likely Be Without Top Two RBs For 2011 Fight Hunger Bowl

The backfield situation is not looking so hot for the Illinois Fighting Illini as they get ready to take on UCLA in the 2011 Fight Hunger Bowl on Dec. 31. Illini head coach Vic Koenning revealed on Tuesday that his team will likely be without both of their starting running backs. Starting fullback Jay Prosch is currently hospitalized with a staph infection and starting tailback Jason Ford has been ruled academically ineligible.

Prosch has apparently been hospitalized since Dec. 14 and had surgery in an attempt to fight off the infection. He is apparently in good health, but there's no indication when he might be able to leave the hospital or how he might have contracted the infection. No other players have been infected.

The news is not much better for Ford. The team's leading rusher with 600 yards on 155 carries has not yet received word on whether or not he'll be able to play. That leaves Illinois with backups Troy Pollard (462 yards) and Donovonn Young (406 yards) as the most likely candidates to see extended action.

For the latest updates on the Fight Hunger Bowl, follow this StoryStream. For more analysis of the Illini's running back situation, be sure to check out Illinois blog Hail to the Orange.

Akron Interested In UCLA Interim Coach Mike Johnson, According To Report

UCLA interim coach Mike Johnson has been contacted about the head coaching position with the Akron Zips, according to ESPN.

Johnson is UCLA's offensive coordinator and is in charge of the team as it prepares for the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl where they will take on Illinois.

UCLA recently hired Jim L. Mora as its next head coach and it remains unclear if Johnson has a spot on his coaching staff.

Johnson played quarterback at Akron between 1988 and 1989. When asked about the position, he did not comment. He told reporters he was committed to staying at UCLA until after the bowl game, which takes place December 31.

Johnson has expressed interest in staying in Los Angeles on the UCLA staff:

"I love L.A.," Johnson said. "L.A. is a place I grew up and a place I've always called home and I like it here. I'm capable of doing the job if asked to do it. I'm very comfortable with that. I'm comfortable with Jim, I know who he is, I know the type of mentality he's going to bring."

For more on the Zips, visit MAC blog Hustle Belt.

UCLA May Have Misunderstood Its Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl Bid

2011 Bowl Game Snubs: 6-7 UCLA Means No 7-5 Western Kentucky

Seventy bowl game bids, 72 bowl-eligible teams. It's not quite the crowd that got left out last year, but two teams will still be home for the holidays despite meeting postseason requirements. This is where we point out the 6-7 UCLA Bruins, who don't even have a head coach, are going to the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, where they'll play the 6-6 Illinois Fighting Illini, who also don't have a head coach.

The 7-5 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, eligible for the first time in their history and coming off two wins over their past two years, didn't make it in, but 6-7 UCLA did. WKU has never gotten to go to a bowl and finished with a winning record, but they'll watch UCLA, which has been to dozens. And finished with a losing record. We'll keep saying it.

Ball State, at 6-6, doesn't earn quite the same sympathy, since their regular season mark matches UCLA's and, well, they would've gotten run over if they'd had to play Oregon in a 13th game too.

For more on each bowl game pairing, check out  SB Nation's college football bowl game bids coverage.

Fight Hunger Bowl 2011: UCLA Will Face Illinois In A Matchup Of Beleaguered Teams

The UCLA Bruins will face off against Illinois Fighting Illini in San Francisco for the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, in a matchup of beleaguered teams looking for new head coaches for the 2012 season. Illinois fired Ron Zook after the Illini went 0-6 to close the season after starting the season 6-0. UCLA actually made the PAC-12 Championship Game under Rick Neuheisal, but only because the USC Trojans were ineligible. Neuheisal was fired by the Bruins prior to the game against the Oregon Ducks.

The Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl has been played annually since 2002 at AT&T Park, the home of the San Francisco Giants. It was previously known as the Emerald Bowl with an ACC tie-in, but now pits a Pac-12 and WAC opponent against each other. It is one of three bowl games played in a baseball stadium. The bowl is unique in the sense that because of the field configuration, it requires both teams to be on the same sideline, separated by a barrier at the 50-yard line.

The Kraft Fight Hunter Bowl will be called by Carter Blackburn, Brock Huard & Shelley Smith and will be aired on ESPN, steamed live on ESPN3. 

Game date, time:3:30 pm ET, Saturday, December 31st

Location:AT&T Park, San Francisco, CA

TV channel: ESPN/ESPN3

2010 winner and loser: Nevada, Boston College

For more on each bowl game as it’s announced, stay tuned to SB Nation’s 2011 college football bowl game bids coverage. And visit our many college football blogs.

UCLA Receives Bowl Waiver, Waves White Flag

Rick Neuheisel Reacts To Imminent Firing Report

All signs point to Rick Neuheisel no longer remaining the UCLA Bruins head coach after the Pac-12 Championship Game. After reports of his pending oust broke, the fourth-year UCLA coach cautioned against proclaiming his time in Westwood done just yet:

"I was told we needed to move the needle, and if the needle moved, that we'd be fine," said Neuheisel, 21-29 in his fourth year in charge of his alma mater. "I'd get to continue along my five years of my five-year contract. We have won five conference games, as opposed to three last year. We have won the right to represent the South in the conference championship. We have certainly had some unfortunate evenings where things haven't gone our way, but I think the program is headed in the right direction."    

One such thing that hasn't gone the right way: losing 50-0 to the USC Trojans, the actual best team in the Pac-12 South. If not for the Trojans' NCAA postseason ban, Neuheisel would likely already be gone.

It would be pretty amazing if the Bruins manage to make it to a Rose Bowl with Neuheisel fired along the way. Or without him being fired. Just going to the Pac-12 title game as a .500 team is pretty remarkable stuff.

For more on the Bruins, visit UCLA blog Bruins Nation and SB Nation Los Angeles, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes.

VIDEO: Ron Zook Reacts To Being Fired By Illinois Football

The Illinois Fighting Illini fired seven-year head coach Ron Zook Sunday after an 0-6 conclusion to a promising 2011 season. The former Florida Gators coach went 34-50 in Champaign. In a brief message to media members after being fired, Zook thanked athletic department personnel before becoming emotional while thanking his players.

He declined to take any questions, out of respect for his now former players.

I want to thank coach Ron Guenther, former athletic director who gave us a chance and stood behind us during difficult times. To our current athletic director Mike Thomas and to president Hogan, I understand you have a job to do and that requires difficult decisions, and I respect that. 

I think our program is very close, I really do. We just didn't quite finish a few games here and there, but I'm proud of how close we are.

Finally, I want to thank our players. They know how I feel about them. I think you all know how I feel about them. They've come here, they've worked so hard, they tried hard to do what we've asked of them. I have a great appreciation for our players and the relationships we've shared. This is a family, it truly is.

For more on the Fighting Illini, visit Illinois blog Hail to the Orange.