The Wiz of Odds

The Curious Case of Robert Toma

Notre Dame scored a late recruiting victory when Honolulu Punahou High receiver Robert Toma said no to UCLA and yes to Crewcut Charlie Weis.

Toma, the Honolulu Advertiser offensive co-player of the year, had given the Bruins a commitment in October. He was expected to sign with them on Wednesday, but had a last-minute change of heart. On Thursday night, Toma announced that he would join friend and Punahou teammate Manti Te'o at Notre Dame despite having never visited South Bend. So what happened?

Te'o, the hotshot linebacker recruit who had narrowed his list of teams to USC, Notre Dame and UCLA, apparently ruled out the Bruins on Monday night. According to Scott Wolf of the Los Angeles Daily News, Te'o had "an unpleasant conversation" with the Bruins when he told them the news.

Wolf writes: "That was followed by a sudden scholarship offer from Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis. Did Te'o secure an offer for his best friend? Or did Weis tell Te'o he would take his best friend if Te'o committed to the Irish? Questions, questions?"

1990 ABC Sports College Football Intro

This is entertaining on several fronts. It's believed to be one of Brent Musburger's first assignments for ABC after his dismissal from CBS. You have to love the glasses he's wearing and, as always, he mentions the pointspread. Some things never change.

And check the size of that Michigan offensive line. A bunch of lightweights by today's standards.

It was Gary Moeller's home debut as Wolverine coach and yes, Michigan covered, 38-15.

There's No Place Like So Cali

It simply can't be beat. USC vs. UCLA at the Rose Bowl last Saturday. The wine, the weather, the women ...

Wiz correspondent Greg make the trip to Pasadena to soak it all in. Now a word of caution if you decide to click the continue reading link. There are pictures of Song Girls. Proceed at your own risk.

Tommy Trojan Victim of Prank

USC and UCLA don't play until Dec. 6, but a prankster — likely from Westwood — nailed Tommy Trojan overnight.

Adam Rose of All Things Trojans has the details, but from the looks of it, the bronze statue in the middle of the USC campus was in need of a cleaning anyway.

Craft's Signal to Jack Off

UCLA's Kevin Craft has a rather unusual way of signaling a play to his receivers.

UCLA Has the Finishing Touch

Derrick Coleman (above) and the UCLA Bruins stiff-armed their way past Chris Evans and the Stanford Cardinal. The Bruins went 87 yards in 11 plays to score the winning touchdown with 10 seconds left.

The gang from Image of Sport, a one-stop sports photography wire service and digital archive to meet the demands of daily newspapers and editorial publications, was at the Rose Bowl to chronicle UCLA's 23-20 victory.

View the gallery from Saturday's game by clicking here.

Stanford quarterback Alex Loukas ran for 51 yards, including one scamper of 29 yards.

The Bruins emerge from the tunnel for the start of the second half.

Stanford's Toby Gerhart ran for 138 yards and two touchdowns.

Slick Rick Neuheisel leads Bruin fans in an 8 clap after the victory.