No. 15 Bruins Get a Reality Check

The Bruins skidded to No. 15 in the Associated Press rankings released Sunday, down from No. 6 last week. In the wake of Saturday’s 29-10 loss at Oregon, this week’s talking points shift radically from the dream of a national championship to the necessity of avoiding an 0-2 start in the Pacific 10 Conference.

But, for wide receiver Freddie Mitchell, this is no time to lower his sights. “We still have goals, long-term goals,” Mitchell said. “I still want to win the national championship.”

Mitchell cited Florida State, which won the 1993 national championship with one loss, and said: “We have a stronger schedule than they did.”

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Oregon rode its victory over UCLA into the national rankings at No. 20. Duck tailback Maurice Morris, who rushed for 139 yards and two touchdowns, said he was not motivated by the prospect of outshining UCLA’s star runner, DeShaun Foster.

“The only motivation I had was that UCLA was ranked No. 8 [in the coaches’ poll],” Morris said.

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Mitchell and teammate Ryan Nece had to help persuade Brian Poli-Dixon to keep walking after he paused to return fire in a verbal skirmish with several Oregon fans after the game. The locker rooms are in a building adjacent to Autzen Stadium. As players leave the stadium, fans are so close they can reach through a fence and touch an opposing player--or simply shout into his ear.

“They have some drunk people out here,” Poli-Dixon said. “They’re fans. I’m a poor sport. I really don’t respond to that too well.”