McCann Anticipates an Unrivaled Moment

Welcome to college football, Ryan McCann. You began the year as the fourth-string UCLA quarterback and now your first start will come Saturday before 92,000 at the Coliseum in the USC-UCLA game.

Any jitters?

“It’s going to be great,” he said. “I can’t wait.”

Bruin fans already are consulting their astrologers to see if McCann is the reincarnation of John Barnes. Remember Barnes’ tale? Fourth-string walk-on is given start against USC in 1992 and passes for 385 yards and three touchdowns in UCLA’s 38-37 victory.

McCann turned 20 on Wednesday and is only a redshirt freshman from Agoura High, but he needs no one to inform him about Barnes or Bruin lore.

“I’ve always dreamed about playing against USC,” he said. “I’ve always gone to those [USC-UCLA] games as a kid.”

If poise and composure mean anything, McCann passed his first test Saturday against Pacific 10 Conference leader Washington.

Thrust onto the field at the outset of the second quarter after Cory Paus broke his left collarbone, McCann started slowly but finished with a flourish, completing 11 of 16 passes in the second half for 135 yards in the Bruins’ 23-20 overtime victory.

“The poise he showed and the leadership he displayed was phenomenal,” offensive guard Brian Polak said. “He did an awesome job.”

Those paying attention during Bruin practices for the past month knew that the 6-foot-4 McCann was making rapid progress. After two years of preparation and repetition, he has begun to understand the offense and recognize defensive formations.

“Ryan has no problem throwing the football,” offensive coordinator Al Borges said. “He can throw it with anybody. His only problem was being behind in the offense. But he has worked so hard before, during and after practice and in his spare time at catching up. He got a chance to show what he can do today. He started off a little rough, but after he settled down, he made some great throws.”

There was a 25-yard pass to Danny Farmer in the third quarter that set up Chris Griffith’s 28-yard field goal and enabled the Bruins to take a 20-17 lead.

There was a 43-yard pass to Freddie Mitchell in the fourth quarter on which the left-handed McCann lofted the ball high and far and let Mitchell run under it. McCann ended up 12 of 23 for 146 yards with no interceptions.

“I just threw it up and let Danny and Freddie make the plays,” McCann said.

In a season filled with injuries and missed opportunities, the 4-6 Bruins face the challenge of taking on their city rivals with the most inexperienced of quarterbacks.

But one win does wonders for the psyche. Forget that the embattled offensive line lost two more starters Saturday to injuries and played with a fourth-string center and a true freshman at left tackle. McCann wasn’t sacked once.

“I think we have something to build on,” Borges said. “That was the problem. We were playing so poorly we couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. Now we see one. We ran the football, we threw it. We feel better.”

And players feel confident taking on the Trojans with McCann at the controls of the offense.

“I think Ryan is the type of guy who mentally and emotionally can handle it,” receiver Brad Melsby said.

“He didn’t seem fazed one bit today. I know the coaches will devise a game plan to use Ryan’s strengths. We’ve heard all the stories of guys stepping in at quarterback in the UCLA-USC games and winning. This could be another.”