There’s plenty of motivation this week for Bruins

There’s no shortage of motivation for UCLA’s senior class, who have lost two of the past three meetings against USC.

The Bruins appear to have two distinct advantages over the Trojans ahead of the fourth meeting: an experienced head coach and stability at quarterback.

Coach Chip Kelly will enter his fourth game against USC as the Bruins’ coach with a chance to work toward a vote of confidence from UCLA and the fan base as he concludes the fourth year of a five-year contract.

USC parted ways with Clay Helton early this season and tabbed Donte Williams as the man to lead the Trojans the rest of the season. While the result of the game may not carry significance in his status as the head coach going forward, it would be a positive in a season filled with uncertainty.

UCLA senior quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson has been with the team the past four seasons but hasn’t earned a victory as a starter against USC.

Across town, USC freshman Jaxson Dart will make his first career start Saturday, with Williams saying junior Kedon Slovis is still dealing with a leg injury.

Thompson-Robinson did participate in the Bruins’ last victory over the Trojans in 2017, albeit with a rush that resulted in a loss of 5 yards.

“It’s just like another home game,” ThompsonRobinson said about UCLA playing in the Coliseum. “(The game) turns out to have a really cool atmosphere and fun for the players to get the juices going. These games are the ones that are always sold out most of the time.”

The quarterback was quick to note that the team did have a little more excitement during practice Monday now that all the game planning being installed this week is going toward the big rivalry game.

“(They have) a lot of talented players,” Thompson-Robinson said. “They think their players are better than yours ... we have a good challenge in front of us and we’re going to have to be assignment sound or they’re going to make some big plays.”

One of the biggest aspects of the crosstown rivalry is the familiarity the players on both sides have with each other because of common friends or having played in high school.

Friendly conversations are held to a minimum during rivalry week, adding to the build-up and intensity displayed on game day as the Bruins look for their first win in the Coliseum since 2013.

“It’s just like any other game, but this one means just a little bit more,” UCLA senior linebacker Bo Calvert said. “You’re playing those guys across the street. A lot of them we played football with or grew up with and have close relationships with, so we are looking to take it to them when we get out there.”

Calvert, who verbally committed to the Trojans as a sophomore at Oaks Christian High, recognizes some of the fifth-year players on the roster from his experiences during the college recruiting process.

Calvert stayed true to then-USC coach Johnny Nasen and the Trojans throughout 2016, but an official visit to UCLA on Dec. 15, 2017, was enough for him to change course, flipping his commitment to the Bruins three days later and signing a letter of intent later that week.

Defensive lineman Jay Toia was the last Bruin to flip from the rival school.