Spring Football : Finding New Quarterback a Priority for UCLA

UCLA’s main objective in spring football practice, which opens Monday and runs through April 29, is to find a replacement for Troy Aikman.

“The horses respond best to one jockey,” Coach Terry Donahue said. “So, it would be nice to establish that leadership element and be able to say (on April 29), ‘This is our quarterback for the 1989 season.’ ”

Vying for the position will be senior Ron Caragher, junior Bobby San Jose, sophomore Jimmy Bonds and redshirt freshman Bret Johnson.

“They’re all a bit different,” Donahue said.

In what ways?

“Ron Caragher probably has a better overall knowledge and understanding of what we’ve done here offensively,” Donahue said.

“Bobby San Jose is probably the most athletic, or at least as athletic as any of them. He’s got nice feet, he’s got good mobility, he’s got a pretty quick release. He’s got a lot going for him, physically.

“Jimmy Bonds has the strongest arm of all four. He puts a lot of heat on the ball. And he has leadership ability and charisma.

“Bret Johnson is very elusive, extremely instinctive, has a very good field presence and anticipates well. He knows when to unload the ball.”

Donahue said the competition is wide open.

Bruin Notes

UCLA signed three more quarterbacks in February. “We want to make sure we have one,” Coach Terry Donahue said. “We’re going to have fierce competition and let the strongest survive.” . . . UCLA will also revamp its defense this spring after losing six starters from last year’s team, which was 10-2 and defeated Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl. “We’re not as experienced or as deep as we have been defensively, but we’ll be able to put 11 pretty active, fast players on the field,” Donahue said. . . . UCLA lost only three offensive starters. . . . UCLA’s schedule next season includes games in the Rose Bowl against Tennessee, Michigan, California, Arizona State, Washington and Oregon and road games against San Diego State, Arizona, Oregon State and Stanford. The USC game will be played Nov. 18 at the Coliseum.