"I know UCLA has had a difficult season with injuries, but having grown up a UCLA fan, I have great respect for their football program, coaches and players," said Holmoe, a former head coach at Cal. "I know they have great talent on their team and are capable of beating anyone anytime."

Poppinga said he expects BYU fans to show up en masse in Sam Boyd Stadium and provide the same home field advantage as a year ago when the Cougars beat Oregon 38-8.

"It's awesome to have that many of your fans in the stands. They did that for Oregon, and they did it for the UNLV game. I think 65 percent of the crowd in the stands were from BYU, and that makes a huge difference for our team, knowing you have that kind of support."

Holmoe said BYU has received 12,000 tickets from the bowl and UCLA has the same number to sell. "We will sell ours, and I can promise you we will sell any remaining tickets that the other team turns back."

COUGAR NOTES: Holmoe said BYU has a contract to play UCLA in Provo on Sept. 6, 2008, but acknowledged that because Nevada canceled the Cougar opener even with a contract in hand, "anything can happen." He said he and UCLA's athletic director are communicating over next year's game. "Right now we're scheduled to play." ... Holmoe said the Las Vegas Bowl never had the Cougars off their radar and did not consider giving up its first choice to take the MWC champs for a trade with the Poinsettia Bowl for a matchup with 8-4 Navy. "They love BYU and what its done for their bowl the past two years." ... Poppinga told reporters he considered BYU capable of playing in the upper tier of the Pac-10 after wins over Arizona and Oregon the past two seasons and that theory would be forwarded with a win over the Bruins. ... Mendenhall said he realizes he can lose a member of his staff as coaching changes take place this month. "All I ask," he said, "is they tell me first."

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E-mail: dharmon@desnews.com