Word Is Out: UCLA Is Better

A year ago, with a new coaching staff learning new players, it was an A-B-C process when UCLA began fall football practice.

As the Bruins begin two-a-day drills today?

“Somewhere in the middle of the alphabet,” offensive coordinator Al Borges said.

“Maybe M,” Coach Bob Toledo said.

Maybe QB.

“I feel there’s a lot more potential there,” said Cade McNown, a junior who is the only Bruin quarterback who has taken a snap in a college game. “With so many offensive starters back, I feel comfortable just being in the huddle with them. There are no new faces in the offense, and that’s fun. They all know what it’s like and how to get ready for the Washington State game [Aug. 30].”

UCLA lists nine offensive starters returning, but actually there are 10, because tight end Mike Grieb started last season’s opener at Tennessee, a game in which he was injured. And Danny Farmer rotated in and out at receiver enough to assume starter status.

It’s a far cry from Toledo’s first season in charge. “We didn’t know the snap count,” he said. “We didn’t even know how to huddle up.”

The Bruins learned, and they wound up with a 5-6 record.

“We’ve made a lot of strides since the last game of the season,” McNown said. “There are three things you can do: You can go back and start over, or you can stay stagnant or you can get better. I think in the off-season, we got better and I think we’ll be better this year.”

To do that, the Bruins will need to shore up a defense that was ranked sixth in the Pac-10 overall and gave up more big plays than coordinator Rocky Long liked.

Six defensive starters return, and UCLA will be working this fall on a slightly new look, occasionally showing two down linemen and four linebackers, seeking to use defensive end Weldon Forde--beefed up 13 pounds to 242--much as a linebacker to improve the pass rush.

Bruin Notes

UCLA has suspended defensive end Vae Tata, injured after an accident in the spring in which he was cited for drunk driving, and offensive tackle David Plenty Hawk and defensive back Tod McBride for what Coach Bob Toledo called “failure to conform to team policies.” McBride may be back as early as next week, but Plenty Hawk probably won’t play this season. . . . Fullback Jarvis Watson has quit football.