PASADENA, Calif. — Who said a trip to L.A. would be just fun and games?

It was actually a rather educational endeavor. I killed a few skin cells getting a tan, but I also grew a few brain cells.

I learned that a 6-3 game only becomes exciting in the final two minutes. Trading field goals and turnovers just isn't stimulating for me.

I learned that dropped interceptions actually matter. Travis Williams botched one because he tried to drill an opponent instead. Christian Morton dropped one that likely would have been returned for a touchdown because "I just didn't see it. I was trying to hit the guy."

I learned that interceptions can get you on a SportsCenter highlight just as easily as a big hit (see Marc Jackson).

I learned they speak a slightly different language on the West coast. Here is a sample of this new lingo I discovered:

Tight (adj. ty-ite) — a stellar act or gesture. Tight best describes the Illini defense against UCLA.

They allowed a season-low 204 yards. They recorded five sacks. They hurried UCLA QB Drew Olson numerous times. He completed just 11-of-31 passes for 94 yards — also a season-low.

The Illini defense showed its colors in pressure situations Saturday night. They were the dependable side of the ball for once, while the offense fluttered. The Illini held UCLA to only 12 first downs and 5 of 17 third down conversions. These were very un-Illini numbers.

"Our defense rose to the occasion," Illini head coach Ron Turner said. "The defensive coaches came up with a really good plan to do some things different. We threw some wrinkles at them, and our guys played great."

One of those new wrinkles was the man-to-man coverage used by the secondary. It was tight most of the night. UCLA got behind the Illini secondary twice, but dropped sure touchdown passes both times.

"We mixed it in and felt we needed to get pressure on the quarterback," Turner said. "We couldn't sit in a zone all day. We were going to have to play some man and be aggressive."

The Illini defense was aggressive, but not perfect. They were lucky sometimes. But lucky can be good, too (see 2001 Bears).

Sick (adj. sick) — A feat so extraordinary that it seems almost unfair. Unfortunately for the Illini, they experienced this term literally. Sick best describes their feeling as John Gockman's 43-yard field goal attempt skidded to the left with 27 seconds remaining.

"It's hard because the team lost," Gockman said while appearing pale and dazed during the post-game press conference. "We had a chance to tie the game and go to overtime and win the game with momentum."

The Illini are tired of losing close games. Their last three losses have come by a touchdown or less.

That's sick.

Snap (adj. SNAP!) — A feat that inspires a 'wow!' reaction from the crowd. Mark Kornfeld's receiving prowess Saturday was snap worthy. He caught a career-high six passes for a team-high 74 yards.

But like the defense on Saturday, Kornfeld saved his best for third downs. He converted three third-downs for the Illini. All three were tough catches across the middle and in double coverage.

He persevered despite the public address announcer routinely calling him "Cornfield."

"Mark's a guy that we said we've got to continue to get the ball to," Turner said about his latest conversion protégé. "He's a great competitor and a smart player. He catches everything near him. He stepped up and made some plays when we needed him."

Curse (noun. KUR-SE) — A spell cast over a person or persons. The Illini's last two trips to the Rose Bowl have been heart-rending losses. In 1983, it was a blow-out loss. On Saturday, it was a three-point loss.

In the last 20 years, the Illini have scored a total of 12 points against UCLA in the Rose Bowl.

I learned in L.A. there are two types of people: the haves and the have-nots. You're either a superstar or a struggling actor/model.

The Illini are the latter. Give'em another 20 years and maybe they too can be the superstar.

Chris Neubauer is a senior in communications. He can be reached at sports@dailyillini.com.