UCLA Football: Duke Clemens Reveals Importance of Bruins Winning LA Bowl

Senior lineman Duke Clemens states what it would mean for the Bruins to win the LA Bowl.

The UCLA Bruins may not have gone far enough to reach the College Football Playoffs, but they are still set to appear in a bowl game. The team is set to take on Boise State this Saturday during the LA Bowl. 

Chip Kelly was retained as head coach of the Bruins, despite many believing that his time would be up after the end of the season. Though the consensus is not pleased with Kelly, he could garner favor by leading his team to a victory. 

Winning the LA Bowl would be huge for the team's confidence, especially considering it's going to be in front of a home crowd. This fact is not lost on players like senior lineman Duke Clemens, who revealed the importance of the team bringing home the win. 

“The whole thing is just to finish strong, finish with a win,” redshirt senior offensive lineman Duke Clemens said. “We couldn’t get that in our last Pac-12 game. So the big emphasis this week is just finish strong and really what we’ve been doing all year: working hard, trying to get better and go get that ‘dub’ on Saturday, especially for the home crowd being in LA.”

Via 

Duke Clemens, Los Angeles Daily News

Clemens stating the Bruins could not get that in their last win is about the final regular season game which saw the team crumble with a disappointing loss to Cal 33-7, while at home. 

That loss was the one that should have sealed the fate of Kelly, but he has since been retained. 

Despite how everyone feels currently, the Bruins can march into Sofi Stadium and stake their claim as the winners of the LA Bowl. A win is needed to reinspire confidence in the players. Several players entered the Transfer Portal and are being held out of the game by Coach Kelly. 

There are also stellar players like renowned defensive stalwart Laiatu Latu, who has won several awards. Latu will sit out the game to focus on graduating, along with his eventual entrance into the NFL Draft. 

The hope right now is that Clemens and company can take home a big win, as the Bruins prepare to leave behind the Pac-12 for the Big Ten conference next season. 

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