By Melissa Anderson
and Ross BersotSummer Bruin Staff
An occasional earthquake is a fact of life in the Southland.
Even fires are expected to flare up every once in a while. But
hurricanes are about as common as a Clippers victory. Nevertheless,
UCLA football kicks off its season Saturday at 5 p.m. when the
perennially powerful University of Miami Hurricanes blow into the
Rose Bowl.
After three weeks of fall practice, the No. 16 Bruins don¹t
quite ease into the season. Miami returns 12 starters from a 10-2
1994 campaign that ended in a 24-17 Orange Bowl loss to national
champion Nebraska.
UCLA head coach Terry Donahue isn¹t exactly delighted with
the prospect of facing the No. 11 ŒCanes¹ in the season
opener.
³If I had my druthers, I would play Long Beach State, but
they don¹t have a team,² Donahue said.
Lured away from the defensive coordinator position he held for
two years with the Dallas Cowboys, Butch Davis replaces Dennis
Erickson as the Hurricanes¹ head coach. Davis is charged not
only with continuing the on-field success of his team, but
rehabilitating its reputation, plagued in the off-season by
controversy and an NCAA investigation.
At the eye of Davis¹ new two-back offense is fifth-year
senior Ryan Collins. Last year¹s No. 2 quarterback assumes the
starting role due to the graduation of two-year starter Frank
Costa. In eight appearances last season, Collins threw for three
touchdowns and 266 yards.
Although Davis opted from a one-back to a two-back system on
offense, he has no intention of changing the Hurricanes attacking
style of defense.
Two juniors will anchor the Miami defense. Middle linebacker Ray
Lewis led the team in tackles last season with 92, a school record
for his position. Cornerback Carlos Jones¹ five interceptions
were also a team high.
With 17 returning starters, UCLA – which finished last season a
disappointing 5-6 – is not lacking in experience, except at
quarterback, where junior Ryan Fien is expected to get the nod.
Though he sat out last weekend¹s scrimmage because of a thigh
injury, he will be ready to start against the Hurricanes.
³I started thinking about Miami right after I stepped off
the field after playing ŒSC last year,² junior Abdul
McCullough said. ³This is what college football is all about –
butting heads against the ŒCanes.¹ ³
Hurricanes storm into football season opener