I don't know exactly how to put into words what I saw tonight so I'll just try.  We made a huge statement tonight at the Rose Bowl.  There were 68,000+ there and people were ready to see something from this team, hungry for change.  The team and the coaches delivered big time.  I haven't felt this good about a UCLA football game in years, since the Cade days with Skip Hicks and even then I wasn't cheering like I did tonight because I was busy chasing girls.  Our defense had a great game.  In fact I looked to my friend in the second half when it was 14-10 and said "God it's a good thing it's only 14-10 after the first half picks."  Brian Price and Brigham Harwell had unbelievable games; Price is a monster; he's so valuable.  Our front 7 just played lights out defense, putting pressure on the quarterback when we needed it.  The dbs played great pass coverage.  They stayed in the game the whole time.  There were a few breakdowns and Tennessee showed why they won their side of the SEC last year but we hung tough.

I haven't seen the stats but I doubt UT got much on the run.  They didn't play that badly, we just played well; we played resilient, tough football.  You could just see the change in the team and it started from the top.  Rick commanded that sideline and had a presence.  He was involved during time outs, made the great decision to keep Craft in and let him settle down.  Rick said we were going to be a great second half team and we showed it.  Ray Carter had that great touchdown to the right, Craft threw a beauty to Moya; Chow just produced drives like a master.  He is downright unbelievable.  It's incredible to see the difference.  Craft just threw medium range, accurate passes and guys like Dominique Johnson stepped up HUGE.  DJ was incredible!!  He is going to have an awesome season. 

I was listening to Tim Cates on the way home and he said the line played well because we weren't talking about them or complaining about loss of yardage from penalties, the qb getting sacked.  We only got 29 yards on the run but at least Chow was trying.  So the line played ok, they held their own.  Really impressive to see the coaches involved during time outs.  You would have all of the offensive coaches there involved during time outs.  Palcic was in the zone coaching that great game for the offensive line.  They were warriors.

This was special tonight, very special.  Things are changing, I can feel it.  We just need these coaches to stay together and keep the change going and keep up efforts like this.  The recruits there(I heard there were a bunch) saw something special, from the confident coaches, a tough team that held with and beat an SEC mainstay and to the end when the fans came together as one.  We cheered our hearts out for our Bruins.  When the lights went out, we all stood there together as Rick led the eight clap in the dark.  It was an unexpected moment but Rick was there taking us and leading us from the dark back into the light.

Memphis' starting five and which Bruin players can match up with them

Derrick Rose 6-3 guard:
    Collison 6-0, Westbrook 6-3, Shipp 6-5

Antonio Anderson 6-6 guard:
    Shipp 6-5, Westbrook 6-3, Mbah Moute 6-8, Stanback 6-7

Chris Douglas-Roberts 6-7 guard/forward:
    Westbrook 6-3, Shipp 6-5, Mbah Moute 6-8, Keefe 6-9

Robert Dozier 6-9 forward:
    Mbah Moute 6-8, Lorenzo Mata Real 6-9, Aboya 6-9, Keefe 6-9

Joey Dorsey 6-9 forward:
    Love 6-10, Mata-Real 6-9, Aboya 6-9, Keefe 6-9

Memphis' bench

Shawn Taggart 6-10 forward: Love, Lorenzo, Keefe
Peter Niles 6-8 forward: Lorenzo, Aboya, Keefe, Stanback
Willie Kemp 6-2 guard: Collison, Shipp, Westbrook, Stanback
Doneal Mack 6-5 guard: Collison, Shipp, Westbrook, Stanback

They have bigger guards but otherwise we match up pretty well in the front court.  We should keep a steady variation of Westbrook, Shipp, Luc Richard and Keefe on CDR and Westbrook, Collison, Shipp and Luc Richard on Rose since those are their best players and possible toughest match-ups.  Maybe we'll see Chace get in and see how he can do against Anderson and some of the reserve guards since our loss of Arron and Roll is highlighted in this match-up.

Going to be a close, good game.

There's something about Dewayne Walker that I really respect.  It's the way he handles himself on the sidelines, how he is accountable for his defense's performance, and his honesty.   Taken from Chris Foster's latimes article Walker takes the stern approach on defense

Always happy to share successes with players and other coaches, he stood straight-backed in the Notre Dame Stadium visitors' locker room last October and took the blame for a final 62 seconds that was like graffiti on the Mona Lisa.

Notre Dame went 80 yards in three pass plays for a 20-17 comeback victory, the likes of which even Touchdown Jesus had rarely seen.

Walker took the rap. He said he was waiting one more play to serve up his smorgasbord of blitzes.

A play that never came.

"I stood out there after the game was over," Walker said last week. "They were celebrating and I took it in. I just looked at the clock and learned something from it."

Now that is how a coach should be accountable after a disappointing loss like last year.  He doesn't speak in general terms, but tells us really how he was feeling after that game and what he was thinking; he's not ashamed to be honest and speak his mind.  We may have lost that heartbreaker, but I like the way he stands up to the loss, even though his players have said different, that it was their fault.  The players really respect him and respond to him.

With Walker, I have complete confidence that our defense is in good hands.  The effort might vary from game to game, but I know this guy really knows football and inspires our team.  Now our offense, that's another thing.  And what comes from our head coach in interviews and press conferences is just embarrassing.  

After seeing what he had to say about this weekend's game, I can't wait for this game and to see our Bruins and Walker get their revenge.  I'm proud to have this guy on our side, he's tough, competitive and hopefully has instilled that in our players:

Asked what he'd do Saturday if Notre Dame had the ball, trailing by four, with 1 minute 29 seconds remaining in the game, Walker beamed and said, "I'll let 'er rip. I might even yell across the field, 'Charlie, here we come.' "

Go Bruins

I think we're going to upset Notre Dame.  Dorrell is going to cut the B.S., show some toughness, fire up the team, and it's going to be the difference.  We're going to pass at the right times and our backs are going to contribute and have big games as well as our defense.  What does everyone think?