UCLA football becomes bowl eligible for first time since 2017
PASADENA — The UCLA football program has officially become bowl eligible for the first time during Chip Kelly’s coaching tenure.
While the Bruins have had an opportunity to secure eligibility since they obtained a 5-2 overall record following the win over Washington on Oct. 16, the Bruins had lost the last two games against Oregon and Utah.
If UCLA continues to win, it would improve the team’s chances at a quality bowl and opponent at the end of the season.
It would be the first bowl game appearance for most of the Bruins’ roster, including senior quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, defensive lineman Otito Ogbonnia, receiver Kyle Philips, who all joined the program as members of the 2018 recruiting class for Kelly’s first year.
UCLA has not played in a bowl game since the 35-17 loss to Kansas State in the 2017 Cactus Bowl. Current Arizona football coach Jedd Fisch was the interim head coach for the bowl game, after Jim Mora was relieved of his coaching duties earlier that season.
“It would be huge,” Ogbonnia said. “Anytime you get to go to any type of bowl game it’s really important from what’s here and is an extremely cool experience and something unforgettable. Having the opportunity to do that, especially in my fourth year would be amazing.”
Ogbonnia believes it would be great for the seniors and others who haven’t had a chance to play in a bowl game during their college careers.
The Bruins have 22 players listed as seniors on the two-deep depth chart for this week. Some of those players include “super seniors,” after the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility because of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
The Bruins roster does have a small group of players who did play in bowl games with their previous programs before transferring to UCLA.
Linebackers Jordan Genmark Heath (Notre Dame), Ale Kaho (Alabama) and defensive back Qwuantrezz Knight (Kent State) are among players who have bowl experience.
Kaho joined the Bruins before this season after playing for Alabama in the Rose Bowl Game (in Texas) against Notre Dame, and against Ohio State in the National Championship Game in 2020.
“Obviously, it’s different,” Kaho said. “It’s a different experience for me but I’m just focused on getting my teammates better and controlling what I can. What we can control is getting that sixth win.”
Barr-Mira struggles again
UCLA kicker Nicholas Barr-Mira had a 47-yard field goal attempt go wide left on fourth-and-12. He has now missed field goals in five of the last six UCLA games, including the last three games.
The redshirt sophomore would avenge his missed field goal in the second quarter against Colorado, making a 41-yard field goal before halftime.
Barr-Mira would continue to struggle, missing an extra point attempt after running back Zach Charbonnet scored a touchdown on the opening drive of the third quarter.
Barr-Mira was voted as the Pac-12 Conference special teams player of the week last month when he made field goals of 23 and 43 yards and made all four of his extra point attempts against Arizona.
He joined punt returner Kyle Philips as the second Bruin to win the honor this season.
Barr-Mira joined the Bruins as a walk-on and hasn’t been awarded a scholarship. He took over the starting role after J.J. Molson’s final season in 2019. Molson is currently a member of the Green Bay Packers.
AVAILABLE
Right tackle Alec Anderson and linebacker Caleb Johnson did play for the Bruins, after both were unavailable and didn’t travel with the team for the Oct. 30 game against Utah. Their injury status was not disclosed.
Anderson was seen as a limited participant in practice to start the week.
Defensive lineman Jay Toia participated on defense and special teams against Colorado.
Kelly announced earlier this week that Toia would still be a full participant after a video surfaced on social media of the freshman standing in front of an elevator door and verbally threatening a group of people.
Kelly and UCLA Athletic Director Martin Jarmond decided not to disclose the disciplinary action and will handle it internally with Toia.
The freshman briefly deactivated his Twitter account but reactivated it at the beginning of the week to release a statement apologizing for the incident.
HONORARY CAPTAIN
Brendon Ayanbadejo was UCLA’s honorary captain Saturday at the Rose Bowl.
The former UCLA linebacker was a member of two Pac-10 championship teams and an all-conference player for the Bruins before graduating in 1999.
He went undrafted in the 1999 NFL draft but went on to have a 13-year career and played for several teams, including the Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins and the Baltimore Ravens. Ayanbadejo was a member of the Ravens’ Super Bowl XLVII championship team.
GARCIA HONORED
Pitcher Rachel Garcia was recognized by UCLA during the second quarter for receiving the Honda Cup and being named the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year for a second consecutive year.
Garcia, who led Team USA to a silver medal in the 2020 Olympics, joins basketball player Maya Moore (2010, 2011) and swimmer Tracy Caulkins (1982, 1984) as the third student-athlete to receive the award twice.
Previous winners of the award include swimmers Simone Manuel, Katie Ledecky and basketball player Breanna Stewart.
Garcia was named the Pac-12 softball player of the year in 2018, 2019 and 2021 (most of the 2020 season was canceled due to the pandemic.)
This post first appeared on ocregister.com
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