Seniors Did Their Jobs

As the 14 UCLA seniors are introduced before their final home game today, the moments and memories of a Bruin career will be different for each.

Defensive back Jason Zdenek may still be last on the alphabetical roster, but finally, in his senior season, he was no longer last on the depth chart. He made one tackle in his first three seasons, and UCLA coaches wondered whether they had wasted a scholarship on a player one step too slow to play in the Pacific 10 Conference. But he won a starting job this season and ranks fourth on the team with 57 tackles. He will graduate with a degree in mechanical engineering.

“It’s been a rather large turn of events,” he said, “from scout team and standing on the sideline stopping the grass from growing to having a influence on the outcome of the game.”

He often tortured himself by wondering whether coaches would afford him a chance to play or simply thank him for his hard work.

“That used to be the case far too many times,” he said, “but I never cashed it in and said I was never going to start here. I always kept that hope inside.”

Tailback Mike Vanis walked on to the team, a UCLA fan whose family had season tickets to Bruin games. Most UCLA fans never heard of him until the Oregon game Sept. 23, when the Bruins were penalized because two players on special teams--Vanis and Asi Faoa--wore the same No. 35 on the field at the same time.

Vanis, who was awarded a scholarship this season, quickly changed to No. 24. He soon replaced Jermaine Lewis as one of the Bruins’ kick returners--Lewis replaced an injured DeShaun Foster at tailback and then got hurt himself--and Vanis leads UCLA with an average of 24.8 yards per return. He will graduate with a degree in history.

“It’s good to be remembered for something more than the guy with the double number,” Vanis said.

The Bruin odyssey has been strange for Drew Bennett, who started three games at quarterback last season. He has played quarterback and wide receiver this season; he holds on kicks; his coaches believe he could play defensive back in the NFL; and some of his teammates believe he should walk on to the UCLA basketball team after the Bruins’ bowl game. He will graduate with a degree in political science.

“I remember sitting in a meeting room four years ago and having the seniors talk to the team before their last game,” Bennett said.

“I thought, ‘Wow, those guys are old.’ Now I have to talk, and I don’t know what I’m going to say.”