Rosen’s growth evident in UCLA’s stunning comeback
PASADENA » A light rain fell on the Rose Bowl in muggy, 90-degree evening heat during the miserable first 40 minutes of UCLA’s season opener. Thousands of dampened fans had already hit the exits with their Bruins trailing by 34 points.
They missed nothing less than the greatest comeback in UCLA history and a defining moment in Josh Rosen’s three-year quest to reach his enormous potential.
Down 44-10 late in the third quarter, the Bruins scored touchdowns on five consecutive possessions. Rosen’s fake spike and ensuing 10-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Lasley with 34 seconds left capped one of the most flabbergasting victories in college football history, 45-44 over Texas A&M .
“It got real bleak at a certain point,” said Rosen, who passed for 292 yards and four TDs in that frantic fourth quarter alone. “Real, real bleak. It’s not that we lost hope, because obviously we never did. But we just wanted to play good football. We wanted to be proud. We wanted to give our fans something to be proud of.”
The ones who stayed were proud, all right: In the first college football game ever played at the Rose Bowl on a Sunday, UCLA (10) made the second-biggest comeback in FBS history, surpassed only by Michigan State’s rally past Northwestern from a 35-point deficit in 2006.
Rosen was at the center of it all, shaking off several early sacks and stalled drives to lead an epic rally in the first game of his junior season. After beginning his career in 2015 as the nation’s most prized quarterback prospect, Rosen missed half of UCLA’s miserable 2016 season with an injury and became better known for his off-field candor than his onfield brilliance.
No. 1 Alabama loses 2 key linebackers for season to injuries
TUSCALOOSA, ALA. » No. 1 Alabama has lost two key linebackers to season-ending injuries.
Terrell Lewis and Christian Miller were hurt in the season-opening 24-7 win over No. 3 Florida State. Coach Nick Saban said Monday both are set for surgery.
Saban also says the son of receivers coach Mike Locksley has been killed. No details were immediately available.
Lewis had five tackles and Miller three against the Seminoles. Both had a tackle for loss.
Two other starting linebackers also missed the second half with injuries. Rashaan Evans had a groin injury and Anfernee Jennings sprained an ankle. Saban says the injuries are significant but won’t keep the players out long.
The Tide next hosts Fresno State and Colorado State.
Narduzzi puts Pitt players on mute as Penn State looms
PITTSBURGH » Pittsburgh wide receiver/return specialist Quadree Henderson learned a year ago that it’s probably wise to turn off your Twitter notifications when the Panthers Penn State.
“If I mention Penn State, my Twitter blows up for 25 hours and there’s only 24 hours in a day,” Henderson said with a laugh. “I think I’m going to go off social media this week.”
While Henderson was still posting as Pitt (1-0) prepared for a trip to Happy Valley to take on the No. 6 Nittany Lions (1-0) on Saturday, head coach Pat Narduzzi did take one variable out of the equation when he made players and members of his coaching staff off limits to the media in the runup to the Panthers’ most anticipated game of the season. play