It wasn’t supposed to be this way.
This was supposed to be the climax of Cory Paus’ career.
He is entering his fourth year after three years as a starter, he
could get as high as No. 2 on UCLA’s all-time passing yardage
list, and as late as the sixth game of last season, he was one of
the top quarterbacks in the nation.
And then it all fell apart.
Two DUIs and a thumb injury ““ not to mention UCLA’s
now-infamous on-field collapse at the end of last season ““
and Paus finds himself in a quarterback competition with three
freshmen.
“Whatever happened last year, I’ve dealt with
it,” Paus said. “Some people may not agree with it, and
I may not even agree with it, but it’s over and done with. I
feel horrible about what I put the fans and coaches and teammates
through, and the fact that I’m still here is
fantastic.”
For UCLA’s chances of a good season, success at the
quarterback position will be pivotal. It wasn’t by
coincidence that UCLA’s four-game losing streak last season
started when Paus went down with the thumb injury.
And it probably didn’t help that the revelation of
Paus’ two DUI arrests became known the week of the USC
game.
Toledo did suspend Paus for the team’s final game against
Arizona State, but Toledo has apparently carried the punishment
over to this season, refusing to name a starter possibly until the
week of the Colorado State game.
“Cory knows he doesn’t have a lot of room for
error,” head coach Bob Toledo said. “But he’s
done a great job of working in the community and getting himself
together. I’m proud of the way he’s handled himself
this summer.”
Apparently, Paus’ summer of hard work was enough to get
him out of the doghouse, as he has been working with the first-team
offense and appears to have regained control of the starting job
““ even if Toledo still hasn’t named a starter.
The battle now shifts toward the No. 2 role, which, if the past
three seasons are any indication, will be important as well. The
two likely candidates are redshirt freshman John Sciarra and true
freshman Drew Olson.
“John Sciarra came in as the young guy when there were
four veteran QBs a year ago,” quarterback coach John Pearce
said.
“He’s paid his dues, ran the scout team, gave a
great effort, and was great in spring training. I told him I
couldn’t have been more pleased with him. Among the coaches,
he’s not a forgotten man in this quarterback competition.
Everybody talks about the young freshmen; well, he’s a
freshman, too.”
Olson, on the other hand, has put in eye-opening workouts,
showing a good arm and knowledge of the game. He is inexperienced,
however, and it will be up to the coaches to determine whether his
pure talent will outweigh Sciarra’s experience.
“I just want to compete as hard as I can,” said
Olson, who stands in at 6-foot-2 and 188 pounds. “If I play,
I play. But my main goal for this year is just to learn the
game.”
Matt Moore, another true freshman, hails from Division I
quarterback factory Hart High School, but has only spent one year
at the position. As a result, while Moore is loaded with potential
and continues to be in the mix, it is likely that he will
redshirt.
“I would like to be the guy he chooses, but either way, I
still have to learn the playbook,” Moore said. “If
I’m not it this year, I’m willing to bide my time.
Either way, my chance will come.”
Is there a fear that a quarterback competition could turn into a
quarterback controversy, and thus, distract the team?
“I just think that the competition will make everyone
better,” Sciarra said. “It won’t hurt the team
because everyone realizes that only one guy can start. You just
have to deal with that and compete your butt off to put yourself in
a good position.”
There’s still a chance for Paus to redeem himself ““
this much Toledo has made clear to the senior.
“It’s basically make or break,” Paus said.
“Right now, I’m just Cory Paus, UCLA quarterback.
There’s nothing going on off the field. I’m entirely
focused for the next four months.”
“We’ve both been bashed in the papers for the past
few months,” Toledo said. “I understand where
he’s coming from, and he understands where I’m coming
from. We’ve both have our backs against the wall. We’re
not going to crawl into a hole; we’re going to come out
fighting.”
If Paus comes out swinging early and doesn’t let up, he
has a chance to etch his name among UCLA’s elite
quarterbacks. If not, if Toledo does what he says he’ll do,
it’ll be an early round knockout, and one lucky freshman
quarterback ““ be it Sciarra, Olson or Moore ““ will get
the chance of a lifetime.