Trick Play Actually Works for a Change

Seemingly lost in the shuffle of Saturday’s 21-20 setback against Stanford was a UCLA play in the first quarter, when Jim McElroy gained 17 yards on a run.

The formation was called “the swinging gate,” with all of the Bruins, save for quarterback Cade McNown, on the left side of the field while the Stanford defense aligned itself on the ball, awaiting a conventional play.

McNown leaned down over the ball, in effect becoming the center, and pitched it to McElroy, who ran behind massed Bruins until Stanford defensive backs Eliel Swinton and Jose Madsen could bring him down.

It was the first trick play--save for the occasional kicking play--to work for the Bruins this season.

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UCLA came out of the loss to Stanford with only one injury of note. Backup safety Eric Whitfield sprained an ankle. The Bruins get safety Shaun Williams back this week against Washington State. Williams has been out for three weeks because of a knee ligament strain.