Willmer Wants Michigan

So much for this one-at-a-time business.

Washington on Saturday? Get it over with.

USC next week? A quick leap and on to more important things.

“I want to play in the Rose Bowl,” UCLA linebacker Brian Willmer said. “And I want to play Michigan there.”

It’s pride for Willmer, a senior who was a redshirt freshman the last time the Bruins played on New Year’s Day in Pasadena.

“I think we can play with them,” he said of the Wolverines.

Defensively?

“Yes,” he said.

And it’s also personal.

“We played with them last year for a little over a quarter, and then they scored on us,” Willmer said.

Chris Howard rolled left out of the backfield while everybody else rolled right on the play. Scott Dreisbach found Howard open for the first of his four touchdowns in a 38-9 decision, the Bruins’ worst loss of last season.

“He was my man,” said Willmer, who led the team with 15 tackles that day but still has problems with the one he missed.

“I’d like to play them again.”

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The Football News has beaten the postseason All-American rush and named UCLA tackle Chad Overhauser, kicker Chris Sailer and safety Larry Atkins to its second team. UCLA running back Skip Hicks was named to its third team. USC cornerback Brian Kelly also made the third team.