Finally, it’s here. After two bye weeks, two weeks of
waiting, the UCLA football team has entered USC week. And, well,
this game is a pretty big one. Even at yesterday’s press
conference, something felt different. Coach Karl Dorrell was a
little more animated, a little more passionate, a little more
excited. He certainly appears to understand the magnitude of facing
the No. 1 Trojans. “As far as I’m concerned, this is a
big-ass game,” Dorrell said. Big indeed, as it’s not
every week that you get to face the No. 1 team in the nation at
home. But playing their best football may be a little more
difficult than it would typically be, simply because it’s
been so long since the Bruins played a game. UCLA last took the
field Nov. 13 in the team’s 34-26 win at Oregon. “If
you ask any coach across the country, no one wants three weeks
off,” Dorrell said. “No one wants that. It’s too
much time off. But you know what, that’s what we have, and we
made the best of it. “It’s all about getting our
timing, our rhythm, and making sure we don’t have that
rustiness with that type of lay-off.” Though the time off has
given the Bruins time to get healthy, particularly tight end
Marcedes Lewis and safety Jarrad Page, Dorrell is particularly
concerned that his team’s timing could be less than perfect.
He also has to be concerned about tailback Maurice Drew, who
tweaked his ankle in practice Monday and missed the remainder of
the team’s drills. Drew had almost fully recovered after
spraining his ankle Nov. 6 against Washington State and not playing
against Oregon. Dorrell said that he would need to see how
Drew’s ankle responds in the next few days. Regardless of the
severity of Drew’s injury, the Bruins will pay extra
attention this week to making sure everything is as crisp as it
should be. “We’ve got to do a great job of preparing
this football team to play its best football, and we will,”
Dorrell said. In the end, their performance Saturday will
ultimately decide how the Bruins view the consecutive bye weeks.
“I think guys are more anxious to get after it after this
long wait and with this big game,” quarterback Drew Olson
said. “I don’t know if I’m a fan of it. It
depends how we play on Saturday.”
CONFERENCE HONORS: Cornerback Matt Clark and
kicker Justin Medlock were named to the Pac-10’s
All-Conference First Team yesterday. Medlock, a sophomore, has made
14-of-17 field goals this season, including two from over 50 yards
against Oregon. Clark, a senior, has been a steady presence at left
cornerback, consistently making big plays and shutting down
receivers. He has 11 pass breakups and two interceptions this
season. “I put in a lot of work this summer to try to change
some things and prove to everybody that I am a legit corner out
there,” Clark said. “It feels good.” Lewis, Drew,
center Mike McCloskey, guard Steven Vieira and linebacker Spencer
Havner were named to the conference’s second team.