In Dorrell Most Of Them Trust

UCLA head coach looks to keep Bruins on the rise

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Aug. 17, 2007

By Bob Holtzman

Special to CSTV.com

If Karl Dorrell was going to lead an orchestra of UCLA fans, he'd probably only get half to listen. But that doesn't mean he's lost his sense of humor worrying about it.

The UCLA football coach smiled and joked with reporters about his throwing arm, which got some work in the past few weeks.

Wide receivers coach Eric Scott was on administrative leave so there was Dorrell enjoying a solid practice beneath a clear August sky on a warm, sunny day.

"My arm is sore," Dorrell said. "You know what, it's getting in shape. The zip is coming back. I got the tight spiral going - as long as I keep it under 15 yards, I think I'm in good shape. I start throwing comebacks and posts and stuff like that, my arm might fall off."

Scott was arrested for suspicion of residential burglary but reinstated on Saturday after it was determined he wouldn't be charged. Dorrell's maneuvering concerning Scott seemed smooth as jazz, which is significant for a coach who has endured severe criticism during his first four years as his alma mater's head coach. Plenty of fans, such as those at DumpDorrell.com, are still grumbling even though Dorrell has shown signs he's developed his rhythm as a head coach.

It could mean that while many UCLA fans are already thinking ahead to basketball season after back-to-back Final Four appearances, the "Sons of Westwood" should be making plans for tailgating in the Arroyo Seco.

"We have great expectations as our team and coaches have worked very, very hard to get ourselves in the position to factor into the conference race," Dorrell explained at Pac-10 Media Day.

UCLA isn't the favorite to win the Pac-10 Conference - that's bitter crosstown rival USC - but it is the first time under Coach Karl Dorrell the Bruins are considered a serious contender for the crown.

"There are two differences from last year," senior defensive end Bruce Davis said. "One - we're more confident in our coaching staff. That's a big deal. Two - we have 25 seniors and some of us have been here for five years now. We stick together well. We know each other very well. It's definitely a different atmosphere in the locker room. We're more mature. We know what it takes to win games. And for us, obviously, we know we lost some games and we don't want to go back out there unless we're prepared to win."

Davis might be the poster boy for the swagger UCLA has gained with 19 returning starters. He didn't hesitate to challenge disparaging comments toward the Pac-10 made this past offseason by LSU coach Les Miles.

"If we're so soft, schedule us," said the senior defensive end. "Come check us out and let me know how your team feels after coming out here on the West Coast. And I'm sure he'll change that tune."

Talk like that would have been off beat a year ago. Not now, when UCLA is on the verge of giving their marching band plenty of opportunities to toot their horns this season.

"You know, that's the thing, that's why I came to this school, was for those expectations" quarterback Ben Olson said. "I wanted people to expect us to be good and that's something we expect."

If the Bruins are going to win their first Pac-10 title since 1998, it's going to start on the defensive side of the ball. Walker turned in an opus during his first year as defensive coordinator and the heart of his orchestra was his defensive line.

Davis had 12.5 sacks last season, the most for any returning player in the country. He'll miss Justin Hickman as the opposite defensive end but is happy to have Brigham Harwell and Kevin Brown back at defensive tackle.

"We own the keys to the kingdom," Harwell said of the defensive line. "We own the defense. Without us the defense would be nothing. It all starts up front. The trenches are where it begins and we know that. We have to move this team."

Harwell, Davis and the rest held teams to just over 91 yards rushing per game last season, which was tied for ninth nationally and first in the Pac-10.

Dorrell also made sure his offense would be in position to excel when he made a quick decision on a bubbling quarterback controversy.

It might have been Pat Cowan who played in the 13-9 win over USC but it will be Olson, who started the first five games last season before suffering a knee injury against Arizona, starting for the Bruins against Stanford in the season opener on Sept. 1.

"Those guys are competitors and we can see that," Davis said. "Ben pushed Pat and Pat pushes Ben and that's good for the team because now we see healthy competition and we see two players getting better and growing from that together. It just trickled down to all positions and all players on the team."

Dorrell made the decision to go with Olson in the spring, avoiding a sticky situation.

"It gives you a lot of confidence," Olson said. "You feel the coaches are behind you and they are supporting you and that you are the guy and you don't really have to play looking behind your shoulder so it just, it does a lot for a quarterback and his confidence. It really helps you be a leader too."

Players like Olson and the wide receivers, who handled the absence of Scott during the first few weeks of practice, have Dorrell confident his team is ready to emerge as one of the top teams in the country.

"We have the team that understands the pressure of what it means every game you walk into, you're not going to sneak in on anybody," Dorrell said.

It might not be all good vibrations for the Bruins, who allowed a win at Notre Dame to slip away like sand through an hourglass last season and suffered a disappointing loss to Florida State in the Emerald Bowl. It was USC, despite the loss to UCLA, winning another Rose Bowl game on New Year's Day.

Not everyone agrees UCLA sounds good to go this season but it's clear the Bruins are synchronized in the locker room, even if their fan base isn't there yet.

"There's nothing in college football we haven't seen," Davis said. "We've got a ton of guys back on offense and defense and we're a lot closer. We're looking to play for each other."

And now, they need the Bruins' faithful to make sure they're rooting for each other.