Neuheisel gets Bruins back to work

The Over The Wall Gang took the field Thursday, as UCLA’s football team practiced for the first time since taking its traditional one-day sabbatical Tuesday.

Whatever anger or unhappiness first-year Coach Rick Neuheisel had about the players leaving practice dissipated, though he made them climb the wall to leave practice Thursday – something they did not do Tuesday.

“They did it right this time,” Neuheisel said, as players – and offensive line coach Bob Palcic – scurried over the seven-foot wall.

The moment, which followed a Neuheisel meeting with the team Thursday morning, seemed to conclude the matter in a humorous way, with television cameras from a local sports channel watching. Neuheisel also said that apologies were sent out Thursday morning to the high school coaches and players who came to practice Tuesday.

“It probably wasn’t the best decision to make, but we learned from it,” senior quarterback Ben Olson said. “We did it as a team and we can’t dwell on what happened.”

A harsh workout as punishment was not part of the lesson, as the Bruins prepared for the second of three scrimmages.

“There was no shouting and hollering,” defensive tackle Brigham Harwell said about the Thursday morning meeting. “He just said he was mad that we didn’t go over the wall.”

Harwell also said, “As a team we’re going to make it up to the coaches. Whether it’s watching film or being on the field without the coaches, we’ll make it up. We can run a practice ourselves.”

That seemed to bring the Bruins back to football.

Neuheisel said they will run fewer plays Friday than the 90 they ran in last Saturday’s scrimmage.

Offensive coordinator Norm Chow was expecting a smoother performance by the offense, especially the quarterbacks.

“They have a good understanding of what we’re trying to get done,” Chow said. “The front guys are getting the most reps, so you see more improvement in them. Guys are reacting instead of thinking now.”

Olson has seen improvement from his end as well.

“Coach Chow is very particular on how he wants you to do things,” Olson said. “Make a quick decision, get the ball off on time, clearly we’re showing that now. Where we are now in spring ball to where we were last year at the same time learning a new offense, it’s pretty noticeable.”

——

Quarterback Patrick Cowan, who was the only player to actually go over the wall Tuesday, did so again Thursday, saying later, “I made UCLA history. The first guy to go over the wall twice in one season.”

——

Olson took some reps with the first-team offense Thursday, but had difficulty taking snaps from Micah Reed – the Bruins’ only experienced center.

The Bruins have had difficulty with center exchanges all spring, but mostly in situations where Jake Dean and Adam Hester – who have both moved to center – were involved.

“That tells me we need to get Ben more with Micah Reed,” Neuheisel said. “We had six balls ground, that’s a non-starter.”

Neuheisel indicated that Olson would get time with the first-team offense Friday night.

——

Tight end Nate Chandler, who was held out of Monday’s practice while undergoing tests, returned to practice Thursday. Chandler suffered dizziness after last Saturday’s scrimmage.

“They ran some basic tests and everything came back OK,” Chandler said. “They said is was probably heat exhaustion.”

——

Guard Nick Ekbatani, who has been slowed with what he said is a high ankle sprain, said he hoped to participate in the scrimmage, but probably wouldn’t return to full-contact drills until Monday.

“We don’t want to hurry him and not have him next week,” Neuheisel said. “Resting him and having him the full week next week, that might be the prudent thing to do.”

——

About 125 former UCLA players were in attendance at practice, along with former head coach Terry Donahue and his former offensive coordinator, Homer Smith. Donahue addressed the team after practice, which was followed by a barbecue at a booster’s home.

chris.foster@latimes.com