On the same day UCLA football coach Karl Dorrell said strong
safety Jarrad Page would be concentrating on football, Page injured
himself playing baseball.
Page, starting in center field, dove for a ball in the sixth
inning of UCLA’s 3-2 win at Pepperdine on Tuesday, but
crashed head-first into the left-center field chain-link fence.
Page, who was taken off the field by ambulance, eventually
checked out of a nearby hospital suffering from back spasms,
according to baseball coach Gary Adams. It is unknown whether he
will participate in football practices beginning today.
“He’s banged up,” Adams said. “Jarrad
plays baseball a little like football ““ at full speed willing
to hit anything.”
Dorrell declared earlier Tuesday at a press conference that he
had expected Page, a two-year starter at strong safety, to practice
twice a week, but Page informed him he would be practicing
full-time.
“I’m encouraging him to do both (baseball and
football), because that’s what he started doing,”
Dorrell said. “But he’s in the mindset that he wants to
concentrate on football. That’s his ultimate decision.
“His mindset is to be with us this spring, to solidly
himself at safety,”
Page, a fifth-round draft pick of the Milwaukee Brewers, faced a
similar dilemma last spring when he chose to play baseball before
injuring his throwing shoulder and participating in spring
football.
MORE INJURIES: Running back Manuel White was
cleared for practice after fracturing his shoulder blade last
season, but will not participate in any contact drills. The
coaching staff will be very careful not to overwhelm him this
spring.
Center Mike McCloskey will practice after recovering from a
fractured left ankle last season. Dorrell said he was unsure of how
much contact McCloskey will take, and they would be approaching his
spring with caution.
Offensive tackle Steven Vieira underwent surgery this offseason
to clean up his knee and will also practice, but similar to
McCloskey he could be limited and will be watched carefully.
Cornerback Nnamdi Ohaeri had knee surgery last month, and he
could be out until the last week of spring practice.
Receiver Junior Taylor had surgery for a hernia in the
offseason. Dorrell said Taylor’s hernia takes longer to
recover from, and he would not practice this spring. Taylor will be
hopeful for the summer, and for now, he is doing rehabilitation. He
is currently unable to make any quick movements.
Tight end Keith Carter’s prognosis is still unknown after
suffering a hip injury during an offseason motorcycle crash last
year. Carter, who sat at the entire 2003 season and had a second
surgery last fall, will not know his status until at least late
May.
BURGESS SUSPENDED AGAIN: Linebacker Xavier
Burgess was suspended indefinitely Monday by Dorrell for violations
of team policies. The redshirt freshman had been suspended in
November following his arrest after alleged altercations with a
campus parking enforcement officer.
Dorrell said Tuesday that this latest suspension had nothing to
do with Burgess’ November arrest and April 15th trial and
that he would reevaluate his status at the end of spring
quarter.
“He has a small window to prove that he belongs, to prove
that he is willing to do the necessary requirements to stay within
our football program,” Dorrell said.