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There’s no place like home as UCLA opens training camp in Westwood

Coach Jim Mora watches the Bruins go through drills during their training camp in Westwood.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Morning clouds hovered over UCLA’s intramural fields Monday as the Bruins opened training camp in Westwood.

The cooler weather was a welcome relief for players accustomed to traveling to San Bernardino for two weeks of practice in 100-degree heat.

When Jim Mora took over as coach he decided it was best for the team to leave campus and potential distractions to prepare for the season.

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But now in his fifth year, Mora said it made sense to spend the first week, when practice is limited to once a day, utilizing new campus facilities.

After a two-and-a-half-hour workout Monday, there was a noticeable difference in the energy among players.

“It’s a blessing,” said junior Jaleel Wadood. “Just getting a cool little breeze from being in the dying hot sun.”

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Ben Bolch and Lindsey Thiry discuss UCLA’s opening day of football training camp in Westwood. 

Said fourth-year junior Scott Quessenberry: “If we were out in San Bernardino for that practice it would have been brutal, but it’s good to get our feet under us now and kind of make a little splash and then next week we are really going to hit it hard out there.”

The Bruins will practice at UCLA until Saturday before traveling to San Bernardino for a week of two-a-day practices.

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lindsey.thiry@latimes.com

Follow Lindsey Thiry on Facebook and Twitter @LindseyThiry

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