Las Vegas Bowl Review

DeWayne Walker should be the next coach of UCLA. His team was well prepared for this bowl game and looked the best they have since they beat, well BYU earlier in the year. They held one the best freshman running backs in the country to less yards as he had carries (17rushes for 16yards), despite being without their top run stopper. Someone named McLeod Bethel-Thompson made his first start of the season and played well, making the right throws when given time, and the offensive line, which underachieved all season long, came together to give Chris Markey enough room to grind for 117 yards on 27 carries.

But unfortunately it most likely won't be enough. Even if BYU hadn't blocked the game winning field goal I don't think that UCLA will stick with Walker, which is too bad. That was his defense that held BYU to it's worst offensive output of the season. Too often athletic director's at prominent programs like UCLA want someone with either previous head coaching experience, or that at least looks like and sounds like the boosters that shell out millions to the program. Neither are in Walker's favor, and while the latter may sound ridiculous and somewhat racist, it's true. It really shouldn't matter what DeWayne Walker looks like, but the fact is UCLA would feel much better about having someone like Rick Neuhiesel run their team than a black defensive coordinator whose never served as a head coach.

It's sad and unfortunate, but more often than not these decisions have little to do with the x's and o's that actually win football games.

MY GRADES:

UNDER THE RADAR -
Dominque Johnson never caught a pass. Not good.
Manase Tonoga didn't fare much better, 3car 21y, 0catches. Not good.
F

MVP-
Unga had less yards than carries. Not good.
F

FINAL SCORE-
Prediction: UCLA, 16 BYU, 33
Final Score: UCLA, 16 BYU, 17
(at least we got one right)
C

OVERALL GRADE: D-

FOR THE SEASON-
Straight Up: 4-1
Against the Spread: 1-4
Over/Under: 3-2