Patrick Larimore medically retired from the UCLA football team at the start of the year, citing concussion issues while playing linebacker. (Daily Bruin File Photo)
During the game-winning drive against USC last week, Arizona senior quarterback Matt Scott ran for a first down and went into a slide before he was hit by USC senior safety T.J. McDonald.
The quarterback laid on the ground for a few seconds before getting up and walking over to the sideline. On his way over, Scott vomited, an indicator of a possible concussion.
Arizona called a timeout. Following the break, Scott returned to the field and threw a game-winning touchdown.
After the game, his toughness and determination was hailed as one of the gutsiest performances of the year by the media and his teammates.
The NCAA’s concussion policy clearly states that it is the responsibility of the coaches to “take (an athlete) out of play immediately and allow adequate time for evaluation by a health care professional experienced in evaluating for concussion.”
UCLA has yet to be put in that kind of situation, but redshirt freshman quarterback Brett Hundley admitted that given the scenario, he would try to keep playing.
“To be honest, I’d probably do the same thing,” Hundley said.
“I’m always going to try and be in the game and help out my team to the best of my abilities.”
Coach Jim Mora has dealt with his fair share of concussions during his time as a coach, and he has already had three players ““ Patrick Larimore, Alex Mascarenas and Wade Yandall ““ medically retire due to concussions since he took over at UCLA.
“This game is a great game and it’s provided me with my life’s work, but at the end of the day these kids have to go on and live the rest of their lives,” said Mora after Larimore made the decision to medically retire.
Scott is expected to play this week against UCLA as the official ruling out of Arizona is that Scott was simply “winded” and the vomiting was caused by exhaustion rather than a concussion.
Homecoming, again
UCLA will play in its third homecoming game of the season, having already faced Cal and Arizona State in their homecoming games earlier this season.
The fact that this is the Bruins’ third homecoming game takes a bit of the luster out of the festivities, but Mora is still looking forward to the occasion.
“It’ll be exciting to be at home for homecoming in front of our own crowd,” Mora said.
For the second week in a row, Hundley will be facing a hometown team, as the Arizona product will face his father’s alma mater and the team he grew up rooting for.
Hundley, though, says that he has no real sentiments toward the Wildcats.
“Once I committed (to UCLA), everything I used to do went to trash,” Hundley said.
Kendricks stepping up
The linebacker situation has been a work in progress, dating back to summer practice in San Bernardino when Larimore medically retired.
The UCLA coaching staff has worked in safeties and moved players from inside linebacker to outside and back, but amid the shuffling in the rotation, redshirt sophomore inside linebacker Eric Kendricks has been the constant.
Kendricks leads the team with 74 tackles, including 17 last week against Arizona State.
“He just made plays,” Mora said. “He has a much better feel for what we’re trying to do schematically. … I think he’s getting to a point where he’s getting familiar with it.”
Line down
The offensive line has been a makeshift group this season with injuries springing up so often so that the coaching staff has basically been playing a game of whack-a-mole.
This past week, freshman starting right tackle Simon Goines went down with a minor knee injury and redshirt junior guard Albert Cid took the spot of redshirt senior Jeff Baca, who slid over from guard to tackle.
“We had been working (sophomore guard Alexandru Ceachir) and Cid out this past week because of (redshirt freshman tackle) Torian (White)’s heart procedure,” said offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone.
Goines is expected to be available this weekend against Arizona, but up to seven or eight linemen could potentially play against the Wildcats.