UCLA's Kelly looking to make strides in second season
Chip Kelly doesn't generally put much stock in momentum but the UCLA coach acknowledges the Bruins' performance over the second half of last season, which included a win over crosstown rival USC, provided a boost coming into this year.
However, Kelly said his group has turned the page as he begins his second season in Westwood.
"You learn from the past, and you can study it a little bit," Kelly said. "But I think if you spend too much time in the past, you become irrelevant in the future."
The Kelly Era did not get off to a fast start. UCLA lost its first five games — its worst start since 1943— and finished 3-9, the few est wins since 1989.
UCLA has another difficult nonconference schedule. After facing Cincinnati, the Bruins host San Diego State on Sept. 7 and Oklahoma on Sept. 14 before opening Pac-12 play at Washington State on Sept. 21.
Washington State may go with another graduate transfer at QB
There' s a good chance Washington State coach Mike Leach will once again turn the Cougars' Air Raid offense
over to a graduate transfer quarterback.
The conventional wisdom is that former Eastern Washington quarterback Gage Gubrud is likely to succeed Gardner Minshew. Gubrud has a big edge on experience over quarterbacks Trey Tinsley and Anthony Gordon, who have barely seen the field in their careers with the Cougars.
Gubrud, who was granted a rare sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA, threw for nearly 10,000 yards and 87 touchdowns at FCS Eastern Washington. He led the Eagles to a memorable upset of
Washington State in his first game as a starter in 2016.
Leach has insisted the starting quarterback job is wide open.
The Cougars were in a similar situation in 2018.
Minshew emerged as t he starter during fall camp last year after transferring from East Carolina. He ended up as the Pac-12 offensive player of the year. Minshew threw for 4,779 yards and 38 touchdowns in leading Washington State to an 11-2 mark, a school record for victories.