Haiti’s Aristide, a Likely Winner, Urges Peace

UCLA started the season with national championship dreams and finished with hopes of a bowl game in Hawaii. As expected, the Sun Bowl on Monday officially invited UCLA to face Wisconsin, and the Bruins insist they’ll be motivated despite losing their last two games and watching their bowl destination rerouted from Honolulu to El Paso.

“We’re excited about going to a bowl game,” receiver Freddie Mitchell said. “Last year, we didn’t do anything. It was horrible being at home and watching all those other teams play. I wouldn’t mind Hawaii, but it doesn’t really matter. You can’t be choosy.”

Both the Bruins (6-5) and Badgers (8-4) are unranked. UCLA climbed into the top 10 after victories over Alabama and Michigan, then finished 3-5 in the Pacific 10 Conference, tied for fifth place. Wisconsin started the season in the top 10 but lost consecutive games to Northwestern, Michigan and Ohio State and finished 4-4 in the Big Ten, tied for fifth place.

The Dec. 29 matchup is not favorable to UCLA. The Bruins have given up the most points in school history, and the Badgers have scored 118 points in their last three games. The Bruins have the worst rushing defense in the Pac-10, and the Badgers have Michael Bennett, who has averaged 153 yards rushing per game.

Those worries did not dampen the enthusiasm of the UCLA players when Coach Bob Toledo announced the bowl bid Monday.

“It’s exciting,” Toledo said. “One of our goals is always to play in a bowl game, and our seniors will have been in three bowl games.”

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With 14 coaching openings in Division I-A--including three in the Pac-10--and another three vacancies in Division I-AA, Toledo said he would encourage athletic directors and search committees to consider UCLA offensive coordinator Al Borges.

“I think he’s very worthy of a head coaching job,” Toledo said. “I would recommend him very strongly.”

Borges, 45, passed on his only chance to become a head coach, following the late Pokey Reese from Portland State to Boise State in 1993 instead of succeeding him in Portland. Borges interviewed for the Boise State vacancy in 1996 and at Texas El Paso last year.

“It’s an aspiration,” he said of making the step up. “At some point in time, I’d like to drive the ship.”