Bruins have something brewing in Chai

Robert chai UCLA starting centerNewport Harbor High grad will make his fourth start of the season for UCLA in the Bruins’ annual clash with USC.With the annual UCLA-USC showdown looming this weekend, one Newport Harbor High alum will play a bigger role than expected.

Former Sailors lineman Robert Chai will make his fourth consecutive start at center for the Bruins. The redshirt junior stepped into the starting lineup after Mike McCloskey injured his shoulder in UCLA’s Oct. 22 win over Oregon State.

The Bruins, ranked No. 12 in the Bowl Championship Series standings, will travel to the Coliseum to face top-ranked USC on Saturday. The Trojans will attempt to extend their 33-game winning streak in the 1:30 p.m. game.

“It feels good to get back on the field, and in front of a bunch of people,” Chai said.

Chai, affectionately known as Panda by teammates, has been anything but a playful animal on the field. As the center, he is an important piece in a Bruins rushing attack that has averaged 137.3 yards per game in its last four contests.

During his first three seasons in Westwood, Chai had played sporadically at guard and center. In 2004, he started two games at center -- against Arizona and Washington.

But after McCloskey went down, Chai got the call from UCLA Coach Karl Dorrell. A reserve at guard, the junior moved to the first team and has remained there since.

“He has a pretty good background at center, even though he’s played guard” for most of the season, Dorrell told the Los Angeles Times earlier this month. “Guard and center really go hand-to-hand, so it is really not that difficult for him to go back there.”

Not only is the Newport Harbor graduate seeing more playing time, the Bruins are seeing more victories. After consecutive six-win seasons in 2003 and 2004, UCLA -- at 9-1 -- are off to their best season since the 1998 season.

“It feels real good to get the program back where it used to be,” Chai said. “This year has been the most fun I have ever had.”

With the team’s success this season, Chai said he has noticed a difference in the mood on campus.

“People are looking at our team differently and our players are getting their swagger back,” he said.

A victory over USC would give Chai and the rest of the UCLA campus that much more swagger. The Trojans have won the Victory Bell -- the trophy given to the rivalry game’s winner -- the last six times out.

“I have a lot of respect for those guys,” Chai said. “I had the opportunity to play with some of those guys in all-star games after high school.”

Not intimidated, the Sailors alum said he is confident in his team’s preparation for the game.