Just wondering about UCLA's motivation against Stanford

"You know how to coach a game so that you don't reveal things," I suggest.

"You're making a statement; I don't know, is there a question in there somewhere?" Mora says.

I've never thought reporters were just stenographers to ask questions and write everything down without offering some feedback. Often the feedback leads to better answers, a coach taken out of his automatic-pilot response to most questions.

"I'll comment on a question," Mora says.

So someone else asks if Mora would say his players were "as emotionally into this game as they were against USC?"

"I would," Mora says.

OK, so everyone in the room knows now they aren't going to get the truth, Mora just going coach-speak on everyone.

"We're trying to develop a culture about winning," Mora says. "And the way you try to win, you go for that every single time you step on the field, and if you don't you cheat everybody. We're trying to be great."

Yeah, and win one for the Gipper while you're at it.

How about a reality check here?

If UCLA wants to develop a culture of winning and be great, how about playing in the Rose Bowl, a date with Stanford on Friday providing the best path.

"Is that a question or a statement?" Mora says. "If you're asking me a question, I'll be happy to answer it. If you're going to make statements, then make them."

"So we can put it in first-grade terms, do you agree or disagree the best way to get to the Rose Bowl is playing Stanford again?"

"I hadn't thought about it," Mora says, and how many believe that?

"All I had thought about was beating Stanford; that was the end of the world for us."

Gosh, then he must be really devastated, and I sure hope UCLA is able to pick up the pieces.

"I'm just trying to give you the benefit of the doubt, maybe you held things back and there's reason to believe UCLA can win next week," I say, and I think I know what's coming.

"Is this a press conference? If you want to come up here and take the mike and make all your statements, I'd love to have you up here with me."

He does struggle with the truth at times.

"No, you wouldn't," I say before realizing it wasn't delivered in the form of a question. I bet Mora grew up watching a lot of Jeopardy!

"Sure, I would," Mora says. "You don't scare me."

The question is: Can UCLA throw a scare into Stanford?

t.j.simers@latimes.com