It’s been nine months since the UCLA football team hit
rock bottom. Today, the squad will have its first chance for
redemption and an opportunity to erase the memories of last
season’s 6-7 record. The season opener against Oklahoma State
will take on added importance, given the Bruins’ recent
history. Within the confines of the Rose Bowl, second-year coach
Karl Dorrell will have to prove his team has indeed progressed,
especially on offense. “We’re better prepared. We have
more experience in our systems from what we did a year ago,”
Dorrell said. “Plus I think we have a better team commitment.
Those are the things we’re building on and we hope to
showcase that on Saturday.” Dorrell will get his chance to
prove the offense has improved, feeling the pressure to show Bruin
fans how his team has come a long way from last season. Once the
team’s weakest link, the offense will now have to perform to
expectations and then some in order to balance out the depletion of
an already inexperienced defensive line. The Cowboys, fresh off
last season’s Cotton Bowl appearance, are returning all four
starting offensive linemen as the UCLA defensive line is sans three
of its projected starters, meaning the Bruin defensive linemen will
have a giant task ahead of them. Tackle C.J. Niusulu, the only
defensive lineman who saw playing time last season, will not suit
up, with defensive ends Kevin Brown and Kyle Morgan both being used
sparingly if at all. These injuries, combined with linebacker
Justin London’s absence, only add to the gigantic task facing
UCLA’s defense. “We’ll have to play some young
kids,” Dorrell said. “That’s what they want to do
when you’re recruiting them, play early in their careers, and
they’re going to have that experience. We’ll see how
they measure up with those experienced guys. That’s just the
state of where we are. We’re going to be fine. We have some
guys who can do a great job for us.” “We know its going
to be a tough game, with an experienced offensive line that played
in the Cotton Bowl last year,” lineman Justin Hickman said.
“We’re just going to have to go out and execute with a
full effort." The good news for the Bruins is that OSU will be
using inexperienced redshirt freshman quarterback Donovan Woods.
But Woods will be able to hand off the ball to tailback Vernand
Morency and one of the better fullbacks in the nation in Shawn
Willis. In order for UCLA to survive its injury-ridden problems,
the offense will have to put up a much better showing than anything
it produced during the 2003 season, in which it ranked near the
bottom of Division I schools. “We’re figuring like 60
points,” said quarterback Drew Olson, jokingly. “No,
we’re putting up points. That’s what we have to do.
“We’re not going to try to press ourselves to score
more than whatever or make bigger plays or something like that. We
just need to stay in our own game and go out there and put points
on the board.” For a game with implications of what’s
to come this season, mainly on the offensive side of the ball, the
Bruins feel the pressure to make a strong showing Saturday in order
to quell Dorrell’s critics. The game will be an opportunity
to showcase what the past month of training camp has shown ““
that the revamped offense has improved. The only question is
whether UCLA’s performance will be good enough to truly erase
those lasting memories from nine months ago.
“¢bull; The NCAA membership services approved UCLA’s appeal
of NCAA progress-toward-degree bylaws on behalf of Tab Perry late
Friday afternoon. The senior wide receiver is now eligible to
compete for the Bruins during the 2004 season, beginning with
today’s season-opening game against Oklahoma State at the
Rose Bowl.