Mitchell Can’t Believe He Lost Award

Freddie Mitchell said he was “shocked” to lose the Biletnikoff Award, presented to the top receiver in college football, to Antonio Bryant of Pittsburgh.

Mitchell caught 68 passes for a school-record 1,314 yards. Bryant caught 62 passes for 1,154 yards.

“He’s a great receiver, and I’m not trying to belittle him,” Mitchell said Saturday after returning from the award presentation. “But I haven’t seen any of Pitt’s highlights on ESPN. It’s crazy.

“As an all-around receiver, hands down, I should have won the award. But you’ve got old dudes on the East Coast who [vote and who] fall asleep by 11, when our games are still going on.”

Mitchell said he has not ruled out returning to UCLA for his senior season, although his teammates and coaches generally believe he will turn pro.

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Offensive coordinator Al Borges said he has not heard from San Jose State officials since he applied for the Spartans’ head coaching vacancy last week and that he does not expect to be interviewed for the position. . . . The Bruins will take this week off for finals, then resume practice next Saturday. They will work out next week, take Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off, then fly to El Paso on Dec. 26 and play Wisconsin in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 29.