UCLA may be missing another defensive weapon this weekend
against Utah as redshirt senior Eric McNeal may not be cleared to
play due to academic reasons. McNeal received an incomplete grade
for an upper division history course in spring quarter, which under
the NCAA progress rule would make the linebacker ineligible until
he receives a passing grade in that class. According to McNeal, who
is close to graduating, his incomplete grade was due to a paper
which the professor never received, but claims that he turned in
"numerous times." Despite several attempts to contact the
professor, who McNeal said has been overseas, the matter has yet to
be resolved. "I’ve been e-mailing him for the past two months and
he hasn’t responded yet," McNeal said. "He is overseas, but I don’t
know what the situation is. It’s out of my hands. I’m just waiting
on the grade change." The problem with the grade may also explain
why redshirt freshman Reggie Carter is first on the depth chart in
front of McNeal for the season opener this Saturday, as the team
may have been preparing in advance for the senior’s absence. While
this matter has taken a while to resolve, if the grade change is
approved by Friday, McNeal could still suit up for the game the
following day, though he said the whole process has been
frustrating. "I’m still trying to get focused and help my teammates
out," McNeal said. "Just in case I don’t play, I’m making sure the
person behind me is ready to play." If McNeal is unable to play
against the Utes, the linebacker should be eligible for the next
week’s game against Rice.
Taylor Ready: Redshirt senior Junior Taylor,
recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee,
will have to wear a large protective brace for at least a few
games, according to UCLA coach Karl Dorrell. Though the wide
receiver is nearly back to full health, the brace he wears is still
bulky and uncomfortable, but necessary to protect against further
injury. "It’s a precautionary thing, the doctors know what they are
doing," Dorrell said. "They want to make sure that he is being as
well-protected as he can. But believe me, when it is time to throw
that thing away, he will probably throw it away without telling
me."