The honeymoon for UCLA head coach Karl Dorrell has long been
over, replaced by the reality of the state of the football program.
Dorrell drew the ire of critics with his team’s inconsistent
play, coupled with the rise of crosstown USC to co-national
champion status. The 2003 campaign finished at 6-7 after a 17-9
loss to Fresno State in the Silicon Valley Classic ““ the
fifth straight loss for the Bruins.
“Offensively, we didn’t get a chance to capitalize
on some things,” Dorrell said after the loss.
“That’s kind of been the story of our year and the kind
of thing that’s going to have to change.”
And change will be the theme for UCLA’s offseason ““
again. As the Trojans re-stock with prized recruits, the Bruins
will look to tinker with its coaching staff. Already, offensive
line coach Mark Weber and tight ends coach Gary Bernardi were let
go following the bowl loss.
Shortly thereafter, Dorrell hired Tom Cable as his new offensive
line coach. Cable spent the last four years as the head coach at
the University of Idaho and worked under Dorrell at the University
of Colorado in 1998. He will spearhead an effort to revamp an
offensive line that has all its starters returning, but struggled
to open holes in the running game and failed to protect its
quarterback in the passing game.
“Tom is an outstanding line coach,” Dorrell said in
a statement. “He has a great passion for coaching this
position and has a wealth of experience, having coached in both the
Pac-10 and the Big 12. I feel he is just what we need to energize
and improve the performance of our offensive line.”
Furthermore, Dorrell has said he will have discussions with
offensive coordinator Steve Axman regarding Axman’s role in
the future of the program. Should Axman be released or demoted,
speculation suggests that wide receiver coach Jon Embree could take
over, or that Dorrell might appoint himself to that position.
UCLA returns everyone on offense, with the exception of wide
receiver Ryan Smith. However, the Bruins get fullback Manuel White
back from injury and wide receiver Tab Perry if he gets his
academics in order.
Defensively, UCLA will lose its entire defensive line and
All-Pac-10 linebacker Brandon Chillar to graduation. Thus, it may
be difficult for the Bruins to rely on the defense as much as it
has this season.
Next year will be Dorrell’s key year and could very well
dictate the future of the UCLA football program. Similarly, there
were moments in USC head coach Pete Carroll’s first season
when fans were calling for his head, especially after an
embarrassing 10-6 loss to Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl.
It was Carroll’s second season that springboarded his team
to its national championship season, and likewise, Dorrell’s
second season will be his moment of truth. The Bruins are already
playing catchup to their crosstown rivals, and another poor showing
in the 2004 season could place UCLA squarely behind USC for a long
period of time.
“We’ll get things fixed,” Dorrell said.
“I promise you that. This is going to be a great off-season.
I really want to do some great things to help bring this team back
to the level where it should be.”
It’s a promise that UCLA fans have heard before, and
should Dorrell fail, his stay in Westwood could be short.