Poli-Dixon Should Be Inspired

There are several reasons to believe Brian Poli-Dixon will make an impact today.

To begin with, he’s confident. The senior receiver snapped out of a three-game funk two weeks ago against Oregon State, making six catches for 107 yards and two long touchdowns.

Secondly, he had a career day last season against Washington, making eight catches for 165 yards and a touchdown.

And finally, he is slightly miffed at the attention given Washington freshman receiver Reggie Williams, hailed as the next Randy Moss.

At 6-foot-5, 216 pounds, Poli-Dixon has one inch and one pound on Williams. He also ranks among UCLA leaders with 125 career catches for 1,877 yards and 20 touchdowns.

“I’m proud of my career and I’ve still got work to do,” Poli-Dixon said. “It’s all about getting it done on the field.”

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Rick Neuheisel is not the only Washington coach with ties to UCLA. Tim Hundley was a linebacker coach for the Bruins from 1990-95, Steve Axman was the offensive coordinator in 1987-88 and Bobby Hauck was a graduate assistant in 1992.

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Washington has not lost a fumble, and it might be more than a statistical quirk.

Running back coach Tony Alford was at Iowa State last season and the Cyclones did not have a running back lose a fumble all season.

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Curtis Williams, the Husky safety paralyzed from the neck down, recently had a pacemaker-type device implanted that enables him to breathe without the use of a respirator.

He suffered a spinal cord injury in a game against Stanford last October. Washington has raised more than $370,000 for Williams’ expenses not covered by NCAA insurance.

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Philadelphia Eagle and former Bruin receiver Freddie Mitchell plans to watch from the UCLA sideline. The Eagles are idle Sunday ....A UCLA spokesman said air space over the Rose Bowl will be closed and security will be heightened. No large bags or backpacks will be allowed and everyone is subject to search.