UCLA coaches display confidence in tailback Johnathan Franklin

UCLA tailback Johnathan Franklin fumbled after being walloped by Texas defensive back Aaron Williams, and then trudged to the sideline, where he was met by Coach Rick Neuheisel.

Asked what he was told, Franklin said, “I’d rather not say,” then offered a sanitized version: “‘You can’t do that to the team. Keep your head up, keep working.’”

The “keep working” part was the key. Franklin was back on the field on the Bruins’ next possession and ground out a seven-yard run on the first play. He was off on a 118-yard rushing day.

“I am very thankful to have a coach who believes in me,” Franklin said.

A year ago, that scene probably would have played out differently. Franklin had issues with the football, mainly holding onto it. He fumbled eight times, with the Bruins losing five.

He spent the off-season working to solve the problem, which included carrying a football around campus, daring teammates to knock it loose.

This season, Franklin has fumbled twice — with the Bruins losing one — and perceptions have changed.

“You look at that last fumble and the guy just drilled him,” Neuheisel said. “Johnathan had the moniker of a fumbler, but he worked his tail off to shed that stigma.”

That has allowed Franklin to “be free and not think too much,” he said. “If I make a mistake, I make a mistake. I can just go out and play football and not worry.”

His production has helped coaches give him the benefit of the doubt.

Franklin, who came off the bench the first two games, is third in the Pacific 10 Conference with 409 yards rushing. He has had back-to-back 100-yard games — 158 against Houston before the Texas game.

The last UCLA back to have three consecutive 100-yard games was Maurice Jones-Drew in 2004.

“He’s our guy,” offensive coordinator Norm Chow said of Franklin. “He realized he had a problem. The problem went away.

“He’s a leader and he’s matured. That one in Texas was a perfect hit. It was important for Johnathan that we put him right back in.”

Cougars frown

Washington State Coach Paul Wulff seems to be setting the bar low, but what else can he do?

Assessing his offense in the 50-16 loss to USC, Wulff said, “We did not have one three-and-out in the first half. That’s progress, but it’s still not good enough.”

UCLA players spent the week brushing aside questions about playing a 1-3 Washington State team, nudged by Neuheisel’s repeat-after-me party line that no one expected Texas to lose to UCLA.

“I don’t think any of us are taking Washington State lightly,” linebacker Akeem Ayers said. “No one gave us a chance against Texas.”

By the numbers

Neuheisel has never lost to Washington State, with a 7-0 record. In fact, he has never lost to either Washington team, going 3-0 against the Huskies.

Before Neuheisel arrived in 2008, UCLA had lost six of seven games to Washington State.

The Cougars have lost 18 of their last 19 conference games, the only victory against a winless Washington team in 2008.

chris.foster@latimes.com

twitter.com/cfosterlatimes