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Brown feels disrespected by BYU

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Times Staff Writers

UCLA cornerback Trey Brown was talking faster than the Bruins’ 20-0 lead was evaporating against Brigham Young on Saturday. Why not? He had a front seat to the struggles the Bruins went through on defense.

The Cougars decided to go at Brown, considered the Bruins’ best cover man. Sometimes it worked -- Austin Collie beat Brown for two touchdowns. Sometimes it didn’t -- Brown had an interception, which he returned for a touchdown, and broke up several passes.

“I take disrespect in that,” Brown said. “If they want to keep going over here, I’m going to keep making plays.

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“I’ll say it here and I’ll say again and I said it last week, if teams are going to throw the ball at No. 23, I’m going to continue to make plays.”

That swagger was evident early in the Bruins’ defense. Yet, as the game went on, BYU quarterback Max Hall (391 yards passing) began to slice up the secondary.

“I look at that as being not acceptable, especially with someone like myself,” Brown said. “My job each play is to not let the receiver touch the ball.”

Brown expects that to be addressed this week.

“We’ll evaluate the film and make the proper corrections,” he said. “[Defensive coordinator DeWayne] Walker isn’t gentle about this stuff. We need that.”

The Bruins, who came out of last week’s game against Stanford virtually injury free, were not so lucky against the Cougars.

Defensive tackle Brigham Harwell suffered a sprained left knee and will have an MRI exam on Monday.

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Defensive end Nikola Dragovic suffered a concussion on the kickoff return to start the second half.

Wide receiver Brandon Breazell had some teeth broken and suffered a concussion.

Strong safety Bret Lockett had a strained hamstring.

Tackle Micah Kia also sat out the last two series with a sprained left ankle, though he said he could have played.

All of which came from a physical opponent.

“I got jammed ribs,” guard Shannon Tevaga said. “One of their guys kicked me in my ribs, nice Mormon. I’m Mormon myself, but come on man, show me respect.”

Cornerback Rodney Van, who suffered a sprained ankle last week, played on special teams and one series of defense, then set out the rest of the game.

BYU linebacker Bryan Kehl snaked through the offensive line to sack Ben Olson in the first quarter. The significance? The two were roommates five years ago before Olson transferred to UCLA.

“I thought about it and planned it,” Kehl said. “I actually was worried it would be a late hit. I thought he had thrown the ball.”

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A week after hauling in two touchdown passes, wide receiver Joe Cowan finished with one reception for eight yards.

No, the grounds crew didn’t simply quit after painting the “C” in UCLA’s northern end zone powder blue while leaving the remaining letters gold.

To commemorate the university’s record 100 NCAA team titles, the “C,” which in Roman numerals stands for the century mark, will remain blue all season. The football team also wore helmet decals recognizing the achievement.

After missing two of three field goals in the season opener, UCLA kicker Kai Forbath made kicks of 37 and 40 yards Saturday.

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chris.foster@latimes.com

jonathan.abrams.latimes.com

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