Better Rose Bowl trips for AD
Greg Byrne has been to his fair share of games at Rose Bowl Stadium.
By his count, the UA athletic director has attended 15 to 20 games in the last 25 or 30 years, dating back to when he was in middle school.
Byrne was working as a regional fundraiser in Oregon’s athletic department when the Ducks played in the 1994 Rose Bowl — they lost 38-20 to Penn State.
“That was probably the most memorable,” he said.
That game was perhaps best known for the standout performance from Ki-Jana Carter, Penn State’s running back who was the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft that year. Carter rushed for 156 yards and three touchdowns that night.
Face-paint, face-palm
For some reason, UCLA coach Jim Mora thought getting his players and assistant coaches to paint their faces black — a la war paint — would inspire … confidence? Or something?
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At one point, the TV cameras caught Mora yelling at UCLA assistant Angus McClure. With the black paint spattered below his eyes, he looked like a crying mime.
It’s unclear if Mora was yelling at him for messing up a substitution, or his shoddy face-painting performance.
Tweet of the night
“UCLA kicker must have gotten some paint in his eye.” — Levi Walton, a UA freshman offensive lineman who is redshirting this season, after UCLA kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn missed a 37-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter. Walton wasn’t on this week’s travel roster.
Cade Mc-Not Anymore
Cade McNown is perhaps better known for his flop of an NFL career with the Chicago Bears, but at UCLA he was a star.
All-American. Third place in 1998 Heisman race. UCLA’s all-time passing leader.
He has company.
Brett Hundley connected with Jordan Payton on a 70-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, tying McNown’s career touchdown passing record with 68.
Pride of Salpointe
Without an injured Jarvis McCall at corner, the Wildcats gave Cam Denson his first career start opposite senior Jonathan McKnight.
Denson, a true freshman from Salpointe Catholic, had good moments (a pass breakup and near-interception in the end zone in the third quarter), and bad (Payton beat him for that 70-yard score).
Still, as a freshman on the road in the Rose Bowl, Lancer nation can certainly be proud.
The big number
18 Anu Solomon switched to jersey No. 18 after his No. 12 shirt was ripped in the second half. The “blood jersey,” typically worn by players who bleed on their original gear, didn’t have a last name on back.
Grandon with the DQ
Late in the second quarter, Arizona fell victim to its first “targeting” ejection since the new rule was established last season.
Jourdon Grandon hit a UCLA receiver helmet-to-helmet, and was removed from the game. It forced the Wildcats to insert a less-than-100 percent Tra’Mayne Bondurant back into the lineup.
Zack Rosenblatt
