UCLA vows to avoid letdown as Bob Chesney makes

UCLA soccer coach Bob Chesney called the halftime rating the most meaningless statistic in all of school sports activities.

The second most insignificant statistic would possibly be a workforce’s document after Game 1.

Chesney recalled some dramatic swings in 2024 during his tenure at James Madison.

“We beat UNC 70-50, and we were about to play Ball State, and that weekend Memphis beat Florida State and the next week lost. NIU beat Notre Dame, then lost,” Chesney said. “How are we going to handle that little bit of success that we just had? It’s in their hands to hold each other to the standard. I know our coaches will not relent. I know our captains will not relent, and I really know the players won’t relent.”

After an emotional season-opening victory over in-state rival California, the likelihood of a letdown recreation looms as UCLA performs San Diego State on Saturday at the Rose Bowl — the first home recreation of the Chesney period.

Most lure video games turn out to be upsets thanks to momentum-swinging turnovers or surprising scores, and San Diego State is coming off a Week 1 victory over Portland State in which it blocked two punts and returned a 100-yard kickoff for a landing — the first workforce to have all three in the same recreation since 2012.

“They are as aggressive as they can be, and then if you really go back historically through the head coach and the coordinators, there’s onside kicks, there’s little kick passes, there’s pump fakes, there’s different formations in punt that lead to double passes,” Chesney said. “They apply a lot of pressure, and that’s something that we’re excited to see how we stand up to.”

Outside of making ready for a relentless particular groups unit, the Bruins will face a deep dashing assault that ran for 237 yards and 4 scores on 5.6 yards per carry against Portland State.

The Aztecs return their beginning tailback from last season, Lucky Sutton, who rushed for 1,297 yards and 10 touchdowns, and added three operating backs who contributed against Portland State.

“A really good player running the ball, and now they have a stable of them. For the first time, the quarterback’s really healthy, so you have to assume he’s going to carry the ball more,” UCLA defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler said of San Diego State coach Sean Lewis’ offense. “The creativity from the head coach, the offensive staff — I have a lot of respect for him. He was a Wisconsin grad in the glory days of the downhill run game scheme, and you feel it on film.”

Aztecs quarterback Jayden Denegal struggled in the opener, passing for 137 yards and an interception, culminating in a 46.8 ranking. The senior from Apple Valley will face a stalwart UCLA protection that pressured three turnovers against Cal’s Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, a projected 2028 first-round choose.

UCLA senior quarterback Nico Iamaleava may face related adversity against an SDSU protection that ranked sixth in scoring and passing protection last season.

Given the Aztecs’ tendency to run Cover Zero on protection, and their probability to stack the box against a potent Bruins dashing assault, UCLA most seemingly will flip to the passing recreation.

It is unclear whether or not receiver Landon Ellis will probably be ready to play because of a head injury suffered against Cal, doubtlessly limiting the Bruins’ receiving choices. Offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy emphasised a receiver-by-committee mentality — related to the Bruins’ operating back room. He also added that Iamaleava may have to play within his wheelhouse.

“If the shots aren’t there, you have to be willing to take what they give you — that’s the biggest thing,” Kennedy said. “When they get aggressive, we get aggressive. If they’re going to force us to take four, five, six yards across the board, we have to be willing to take what they give us, and then at the same point in time, if we do call those shots, manage those downfield shots.”

Kennedy confused that if receivers get open-field one-on-ones, they may have to flip five-yard receptions into 10-, 15- or 20-yard performs to keep the protection trustworthy.

UCLA has been urging followers to attend Chesney’s first home recreation. While the bulk of college students is not going to be on campus yet because fall courses haven’t began, new athletic director Tim Harris donated 300 tickets to Bruins followers — a present matched by Champion of Westwood chief government Ken Graiwer — to encourage them to show up.

Regardless of the attendance, UCLA’s first home recreation will symbolize one thing greater for Chesney.

“Having a chance to play the spring game there was pretty cool. We had that one practice out there, but to go out, be in a hotel, Friday night walk-through, all the stuff has to become the norm. This is the start of it,” Chesney said. “Looking forward to being out there, and we all know what that place means and the history behind it, and it’s a proud moment to even pull up there and consider that that’s your home field right now.”