PASADENA — UCLA true freshman Kwazi Gilmer earned his first start as a Bruin on Saturday evening against Oregon.
The Sierra Canyon product had two receptions for 61 yards in the previous week’s game against LSU. He had two catches for 20 yards at halftime against the Ducks. Tight end Moliki Matavao was the only player ahead of him in receiving yards with a 21-yard reception.
Defensive back Ramon Henderson left the field with roughly three minutes remaining in the opening quarter after suffering an apparent injury.
The Notre Dame transfer had one interception, three pass breakups, 13 tackles and a sack in his three games this season.
The Den embraces its new section
UCLA installed a new student section prior to the start of football season, but it wasn’t until Saturday night that it truly came to life.
Students and recent grads filed into the Den to cheer on the Bruins and heckle Oregon from the 50-yard line.
“It’s awesome,” Den president Nick Brown said. “It gets us closer to the action, which I think is something that we all want, right? We’re in a new conference, we got new seats, so it’s been a lot of new things to adjust to.”
A live look at the UCLA's new student section for the Den. Students are back on campus now, so it's filling up about an hour before kickoff. pic.twitter.com/6t8fUiQ2Vb
— Haley Sawyer (@haleymsawyer) September 29, 2024
Planning for game days in the Den is a months-long endeavor and is an ever-evolving process. The giant flag that waves above the den has unfurled from different locations. A separate committee puts together the Dirt, the Den’s trash-talking publication.
Former UCLA quarterback Dante Moore, who transferred to Oregon, made the front page of the Dirt and was a primary target for heckling.
The Den was filled to the brim at kickoff with recent grads and students who traveled from campus to support their football team — and get a true college football experience.
“You’re going be more grouped together and you’re going learn about people that so deeply care about this sport (in the Den),” Mary Gallo, a recent grad and former UCLA lacrosse player, said.
Gallo said that she will be yelling positive phrases like “4’s up” and “Go Bruins,” while Brown admitted that he’ll be letting some expletives fly.
The Den is loud and the Den has arrived to the Rose Bowl just as head coach DeShaun Foster wanted.
“The Rose Bowl should be rocking at eight o’clock,” Foster said on Monday.
Jaime Jaquez returns
UCLA basketball alumnus and current Miami Heat player Jaime Jaquez was at the Rose Bowl for Saturday night’s game along with his sister Gabriela, who currently plays women’s basketball at UCLA and also had a stint with the softball team.
Jaquez was hugging assistant coach Shea Pitts prior to the game and snapped selfies on the sideline. He left UCLA ranked No. 8 on the career scoring list with 1,802 points and No. 11 in career rebounds with 842.
FSU commit visits UCLA
Newbury Park junior quarterback Brady Smigiel, an FSU commit, was on the sideline among other recruits prior to UCLA’s game against Oregon.
Smigiel has already surpassed 1,000 yards in five games this season. He has completed 94 of 146 passes for 1,249 yards and 19 touchdowns with two interceptions.
Newbury Park’s top receiver, Shane Rosenthal, was also in attendance. The Princeton commit has 30 receptions for 521 yards and 11 touchdowns in five games and an additional five interceptions on defense.
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