Chip Kelly doesn’t do load management. UCLA starters will play this week

SEPT. 11, 2023 2:30 PM PT A year later, “unavailable” was finally decoded. UCLA coach Chip Kelly said he did not hold out players against an overmatched Football Championship Series opponent last September because of load management but because of injuries.

The topic came up because the No. 24 Bruins (2-0) are facing another FCS opponent Saturday when North Carolina Central (2-0) comes to the Rose Bowl. The Eagles can expect to face all of UCLA’s top players, according to Kelly, and if things go well for the Bruins, a lot of reserves as well.

Five takeaways from the UCLA-San Diego State football game Saturday: One issue is the quarterback rotation with freshman Dante Moore in control. Sept. 10, 2023 “Load management, that’s an NBA term,” Kelly said Monday.

“We’ve got 12 games a year — there’s no load management in college football, at least not in this program. ” Of course, Kelly could have avoided unnecessary speculation had he more directly addressed the issue a year ago. Asked immediately after UCLA’s 45-7 rout of Alabama State if running back Zach Charbonnet and quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson were injured, Kelly replied, “Unavailable.

” Charbonnet did not play and Thompson-Robinson was taken out in the second quarter. Thompson-Robinson appeared to tweak an ankle shortly before leaving the game but said the next week that he was fine, leading reporters to theorize he had been taken out because he wasn’t needed during a blowout. Kelly said Thompson-Robinson’s removal was a trainer’s decision, not his.

“If you know Dorian Thompson-Robinson like I know Dorian Thompson-Robinson,” Kelly said, “in the five years he was here, Dorian’s never been hurt because he’s a tough S. O. B.

He’s as tough as I’ve ever coached and so if you ask Dorian, ‘How do you feel?’ [he would respond] ‘I feel great’ and his helmet would be sideways and he’d be looking out through the hole. ” Dante Moore put on a commanding, three-touchdown performance, solidifying his place as UCLA’s top quarterback in a 35-10 win over San Diego State. Sept.

9, 2023 The Bruins used 88 players against Alabama State, including walk-ons and third- and fourth-stringers, but are bracing for a more robust challenge Saturday. The Eagles, ranked No. 17 in the FCS coaches poll, are coming off a 30-16 victory over rival North Carolina A&T in which running back Latrell Collier and quarterback Davius Richard combined for 190 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

“They have our utmost respect,” Kelly said. “Their quarterback is an NFL prospect, they have a safety who is an NFL prospect, this is a good football team. ” A star turn UCLA defensive back Alex Johnson makes an interception in the second half against San Diego State.

There was some extra celebrating in the shared home of two former walk-ons this weekend. Defensive back Alex Johnson intercepted two passes against San Diego State on Saturday and wide receiver Josiah Norwood made an 81-yard touchdown catch, the longest reception of his career. Norwood’s catch fulfilled a hunch that former teammate and current defensive analyst Shea Pitts had the night before the game, when he told Norwood that he would go for 70 yards against the Aztecs.

Once Norwood caught a pass over the middle from quarterback Dante Moore, he said, “I was like, ‘I might as well go for 80 now. ’ It was a fun moment. ” Commentary: Amid the Pac-12 ruins, one big question emerges — why does the NCAA still exist? The money-driven implosion of the Pac-12 has shown how toothless the NCAA has become in supporting ‘student athletes’ and fans.

It’s all about the money. Sept. 5, 2023 Norwood and Johnson are among a small group of sixth-year seniors on the team that also includes starting safety Kenny Churchwell III.

Their perseverance has paid off in more than a scholarship. “As a walk-on, you’re striving to get better but at the same time to earn that scholarship and you want to be validated for your efforts and things like that,” Norwood said. “But even when we weren’t on scholarship, it didn’t change the way that we worked and I think that’s what’s really important now, it’s like our work habits have been the same and eventually it will catch up to you, as they say.

It’s been awesome. ” Etc. Moore was selected the Pac-12’s freshman of the week after throwing for 290 yards and three touchdowns in only three quarters.

… Wide receiver Jadyn Marshall, who has not appeared in a game this season, worked out with the defensive backs during the early part of practice, though he was still wearing the blue jersey of an offensive player. … Linebacker Ale Kaho, who did not play Saturday and was spotted wearing a protective boot, was “unavailable,” Kelly said. The coach used the same term to describe the status of receiver Titus Mokiao-Atimalala and running back Deshun Murrell.

Mokiao-Atimalala has not played this season and Murrell did not participate in training camp. … Right tackle Garrett DiGiorgio on UCLA’s occasional use of tempo on offense: “Well, I weigh 300 pounds, so I do get tired, but tempo’s good for us. It gets the other team tired and allows us to impose our will against them.

” … UCLA’s game against Utah on Sept. 23 in Salt Lake City will start at 12:30 p. m.

PDT and will air on Fox. .

BY BEN BOLCH
·
Filed 09.12.2023

Latest Player Notes

How a Wisconsin legend got his German protégé into Badgers pro day

Mar 15, 2024 Marlon Werthmann put his life on hold for the opportunity in front of him Friday at the McClain Center.Werthmann ...

Why former Wisconsin football running back Braelon Allen didn't run the 40 at pro day

Mar 15, 2024 Braelon Allen’s sweat covered his shirt and dripped off his beard as he approached a group of reporters Friday.The ...

How can UW recruit its best class ever? It starts with these five prospects

By Andy Yamashita Seattle Times staff reporter Jedd Fisch has lofty recruiting goals at Washington. He didn’t waste any ...

Texas football kicks off spring practice Tuesday. We answer 24 questions for the 2024 team

Things certainly look fresh for the 2024 college football season, especially on the Texas campus.There’s a new conference ...

College Football Playoff: Conferences solve their differences (for now) and agree on general framework for 2026 and beyond

The FBS conferences and Notre Dame agreed on Friday to continue the College Football Playoff beyond the 2025 season, signing ...

Ball security, leadership key as Aztecs look to identify starting quarterback

San Diego State seemingly auditions a new starting quarterback on an annual basis.In the past 12 years, the Aztecs have opened ...

Results and more: A look at what happened at Penn State football’s Pro Day inside Holuba Hall

Most of those at Penn State’s Pro Day Friday were relatively quiet throughout the afternoon’s workouts, but there was one ...

Defense dominates first two weeks of Oregon State spring practice as Beavers ready for 2-week breather

CORVALLIS – Oregon State hit the break of spring practices Saturday, not exactly the midpoint but a good place to assess ...

Dillon Gabriel to have similar input, autonomy as Bo Nix had in Oregon’s offense

Published Mar. 16, 2024, 6:26 p.m.By James CrepeaEUGENE — Dillon Gabriel will have much of the same autonomy as Bo Nix did ...

Two transfers, one underclassman who impressed in Missouri football's spring game

With that, spring camp’s a wrap.Missouri football held its Black & Gold spring game Saturday in front of a healthy crowd ...
See More Player Notes