Purdue Quarterback Wants to Join Bruins

Purdue quarterback Brandon Hance will be granted his release Wednesday and wants to transfer to UCLA.

Hance, a redshirt freshman from Woodland Hills Taft High, started the first nine games for the Boilermakers, passing for 1,529 yards and eight touchdowns. He also was second on the team in rushing with 242 yards and four touchdowns.

However, he was replaced by freshman Kyle Orton at halftime against Michigan State on Nov. 17 and did not play in losses to Indiana and Notre Dame.

Hance (6 feet 1, 204 pounds) will leave school after finishing finals Wednesday and will not play in the Sun Bowl when Purdue (6-5) faces Washington State on Dec. 31.

No other school can talk to him until he obtains the release, but it is clear who he hopes to hear from soon.

“UCLA is definitely a school he would be interested in, absolutely,” said Roger Hance, Brandon’s father. “Hopefully they will have an interest in him.”

Under transfer rules, Hance must sit out next season and will have two years of eligibility beginning in 2003.

UCLA Coach Bob Toledo has indicated there will be open competition at quarterback next fall between seniors Cory Paus and Ryan McCann, redshirt freshman John Sciarra and incoming freshmen Matt Moore of Newhall Hart High and Drew Olson of Piedmont High.