The football team’s latest official practice was supposed
to be in preparation for the upcoming Silicon Valley Classic, but
all attention Saturday was turned to the tumultuous events off the
field. The announcement that quarterback Matt Moore will transfer
highlighted a week of speculation that a host of Bruins could leave
the program before their eligibility runs out. Perhaps the only
certainty to come out of Saturday’s practice was that Drew
Olson will be the Bruins’ starting quarterback. “There
is no quarterback controversy anymore,” Olson said.
“It’s just me now.” This season Moore and Olson
were in constant competition for the starting job, which resulted
in Olson’s landing the job that Moore had been given at the
beginning of the year. Faced with the possibility that he
could be a second stringer for the rest of his tenure at UCLA,
Moore asked for and was granted a release last week.
“I’m not going to hold anyone hostage here,”
coach Karl Dorrell said. Problems ensued after Moore suffered a
severely bruised bone in his leg in the season opener that put
Olson in command for the next six games. When Moore returned, he
lost the job again after the Bruins went 1-2 in his three games as
starter. Also, several newspaper reports noted Moore was upset when
he overheard a conversation between Dorrell and offensive
coordinator Steve Axman in which Dorrell said that Olson would
remain in the game against USC because he, Olson, needed the
experience. This seems to have signaled to Moore that Olson was the
quarterback of the future for the Bruins. “That was a
misinterpretation on (Moore’s) part,” Dorrell said.
“We wanted to keep the current quarterback in there to gain
valuable experience, and it was nothing more than that.”
Making matters worse, many close to the team indicate that backup
John Sciarra also will transfer after the conclusion of the Dec. 30
bowl game. Were Sciarra to transfer, Olson would be the only
scholarship quarterback left on UCLA’s roster, as
third-stringer Brian Callahan is a walk-on. Multiple newspapers
indicate that redshirt sophomore Sciarra may transfer to Delaware,
where he could play immediately, as NCAA rules allow full
eligibility when transferring to a Division I-AA school. “All
I can say is I’m focusing on the bowl game and on the
team,” Sciarra said. “After the bowl game, I’ll do a
self-evaluation and think everything through. After that, if I
stay, I stay. If I move on, I move on. But I will say I’m
happy with my coaches and my teammates, and I’ll do anything
I can to help the team.” Sources also indicate that junior
cornerback Matt Ware is pursuing an early entry to the NFL Draft,
where some have said he could be picked up in the late first or
early second round. Ware declined interview requests because he
said he had a doctor’s appointment.
BALL NAMED DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Senior
defensive end Dave Ball was named the ABC-Chevrolet National Player
of the Year on Saturday. The announcement was made during halftime
of the Big XII Championship between Oklahoma and Kansas State.
“It’s all so surreal right now,” Ball said.
“It was incredible to experience it. I don’t know if
it’s deserved or not,” he said, “because I
don’t know what other people have done or accomplished. I
don’t know if it’s deserved, but I appreciate it a
lot.” As one of the nation’s top defensive ends, Ball
already was named an All-American and Friday was awarded the Morris
Trophy, as was USC’s Jacob Rogers, for being the best lineman
in the Pac-10.
COACHING CHANGES: Talks of coaching changes
have surrounded the football program. Offensive-line coach Mark
Weber has been targeted and likely would be replaced after the bowl
game. The Bruins have discussed bringing in former Idaho coach Tom
Cable as a replacement, but he may want to look toward the NFL
instead.