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UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers talks with reporters during Big Ten conference media days at Lucas Oil Stadium on July 24. (Doug McSchooler / Associated Press)
It didn’t matter that this was just a practice in the early stages of preseason training camp, or that it was UCLA’s third-string offense going against the third-string defense.
Before the final snap Saturday morning, with the score tied in a competition between the opposing sides, the defensive players watching from the sideline hopped and hooted in anticipation.
Read more: DeShaun Foster pokes fun at himself as UCLA opens preseason camp with a jaunty vibe
Buoyed by his teammates, freshman linebacker Ty Lee surged into the backfield and blew up the play, causing the rest of the defense to converge around him in celebration.
Final score: Defense 52, Offense 51.
A few minutes later, tight end Moliki Matavao revealed the team’s ultimate motivation.
“Our thing is, we’re going to the Big Ten championship,” Matavao said. “That’s our goal.”
That would be quite the story for a program that has not won a conference championship since coach DeShaun Foster’s freshman season in 1998. Can the Bruins get there? Here are five takeaways from Saturday’s practice that was open to fans and the media:
Ethan Garbers looks like a top-tier quarterback
UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers, shown running with the ball during the Bruins’ spring showcase, delivered a strong performance during the team’s open practice Saturday. (Meg Oliphant / Los Angeles Times)
If there was one player who looked locked in on every play, it was Garbers.
The redshirt senior made more good throws than the rest of the quarterback group combined, connecting with Matavao, Titus Mokiao-Atimalala, Michael Churich and Rico Flores Jr. for touchdowns worthy of any highlight reel.
“Ethan’s the one,”…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/five-takeaways-uclas-open-practice-110028556.html
Author : LA Times
Publish date : 2024-08-11 11:00:28
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