Florida State to be bowl foe

Four days before playing No. 2-ranked USC, UCLA accepted a bid to play Florida State in the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco on Dec. 27.

For the Bruins, 6-5 overall and 4-4 in the Pacific 10 Conference, it will be their fifth consecutive bowl appearance and fourth in a row under Coach Karl Dorrell.

“It’s great for Coach Dorrell, going to a bowl every year that he’s been the head coach,” junior receiver Marcus Everett said. “It’s a great accomplishment for the program.

“But although we’re thankful to be going to a bowl, we’re really not worried about that right now. We’re more concerned about beating SC this week.”

UCLA received the bid for the Emerald Bowl, which is played at AT&T; Park, over Arizona State, Washington State and Arizona even though the Bruins could finish the regular season 6-6 overall and under .500 in conference play.

“Obviously, we would like to be playing in a BCS bowl,” Athletic Director Dan Guerrero said. “But the opportunity to play in a great city against a marquee team is a real plus for our program.”

Last year, the Bruins defeated Northwestern in the Sun Bowl and finished with a 10-2 record. In 2004, UCLA lost to Wyoming in the Las Vegas Bowl and ended 6-6, and in 2003, the Bruins lost to Fresno State in the Silicon Valley Classic and finished 6-7.

“Facing Bobby Bowden and the Florida State Seminoles has a lot of star power attached to that,” Guerrero said. “This will not just be an intriguing matchup for us but also for the fans here on the West Coast and a national TV audience.”

The Emerald Bowl, which began in 2003 and is televised on ESPN, is the only bowl matchup between the Atlantic Coast Conference and Pac-10 and pays $750,000 to each school.

*

Dorrell on the growing pains UCLA has experienced this season: “It’s still a learning process for us. We learned how to win last year through some difficult circumstances. This year, we’ve had some difficult circumstances that didn’t go our way, but we’ve been able to finish the season pretty strong and we’re hoping to finish it even stronger on Saturday.

“We’re getting a better feel of what it takes. It takes a certain mind-set and attitude in your approach in how you go about your business. How you practice, how you train, how you do all of those things. We’re gradually picking up the pieces in understanding that process.”

*

Six times this year, UCLA has held an opponent under 20 points. The Bruins won every game but lost all five games in which they gave up 20 points or more.

USC has scored at least 20 points in an NCAA-record 63 consecutive games.

*

Freshman receiver-kick returner Jeremy McGee returned to practice, the first time he has worked out with teammates since his mother died Nov. 17.... UCLA ranks 14th nationally and first in the Pac-10 in rushing defense at 93.09 yards a game.... Senior end Justin Hickman is among six finalists for the 2006 Hendricks Award, given to the nation’s top defensive lineman.... Assistant coaches Jim Colletto and Chuck Bullough, along with former UCLA quarterback John Barnes, will be featured Friday at the Westwood Bruin Touchdown Club breakfast at the Westwood Hotel (formerly the Doubletree) at 7 a.m. Information: Claudia Hart, (310) 348-8252.

lonnie.white@latimes.com