Velasco Wins Half of UCLA Kicking Job

Former Burbank High kicker Alfredo Velasco, who has been competing with David Franey for John Lee’s job at UCLA, won half the battle Thursday. A spokesman for the Bruins said Velasco would handle the kickoff duties Saturday when UCLA opens its college football season at Oklahoma in a nationally televised game.

But Franey, a fifth-year senior, will be the placekicker against the top-ranked Sooners, last season’s national champions.

Lee, a two-time All-American, is now a member of the St. Louis Cardinals of the National Football League.

UCLA, ranked fourth in the nation in the Associated Press’ preseason poll, announced that sophomore Harold Barkate will be the punter. Barkate has been competing with redshirt freshman Kirk Maggio for that job. UCLA’s punter last year was senior Ted Henderson.