Houston Showed It’s No Pushover

Despite claims from Houston players to the contrary, several UCLA players said after a tougher-than-expected, 42-24 victory Saturday the Bruins did not take their opponents too lightly.

“They just got after us, and we weren’t executing,” tailback Jermaine Lewis said.

UCLA was a four-touchdown favorite against a team that came in 0-2 and had only 477 yards of total offense, but struggled. The Cougars finished with 442 yards Saturday and were down by 11 in the fourth quarter before the Bruins scored a final touchdown.

“I’m sure they think we’re a better team now than what they thought coming in here,” Houston running back Mike Green said.

Added quarterback Jason McKinley: “They may have been expecting the same result as last season, but we’re a much better team than last year.”

They’d almost have to be. Last season, at the Rose Bowl, the score was 66-10.

“Nobody talked about their revenge factor,” UCLA guard Andy Meyers said. “Everybody was talking about Texas, but this team [Houston] also had something to prove.”

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A two-hour operation Saturday night in Houston on the left thigh bone of Freddie Mitchell confirmed good news, relatively speaking, that the Bruins’ top return man and backup flanker suffered a clean fracture.

He is still out for the season, but the report meant the injury was easier to repair and will heal faster.

“There’s a very good chance he will recover and be as good as he ever was,” UCLA team physician Gerald Finerman said before a rod and two interlocking screws were inserted in the left leg.

Mitchell, who is expected to return to Los Angeles on Tuesday or Wednesday, already has used his redshirt season and will be a sophomore next year.

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Next Up for UCLA

Who: Miami

Where: at Miami

When: Saturday, 9 a.m.

TV: Channel 2

Radio: AM 1150