It’s a Starting Point for McEwan, Bruins

This is how it was: Coach Bob Toledo longed to give quarterback Scott McEwan his daughter’s hand, but wouldn’t dream of giving him a start.

This is how it is: McEwan has a rock-solid relationship with a gorgeous molecular cell and developmental biology major, and start he will, finally, in his last regular-season game after five years as a bridesmaid.

It’s all in a college education. McEwan came to UCLA as Bambi, a weak-kneed, weak-willed neophyte for whom the term “deer in the headlights” seemingly was invented.

He will leave a full-grown buck, armed with self-confidence and direction, a bachelor’s degree and a clear-eyed desire to play at the next level, even if it means something indoors or on a different continent.

And he will leave having made one start, perhaps two if the Bruins play in a bowl game. It took three strikes by incumbent Cory Paus--a thumb injury, poor play and the failure to inform Toledo of his drunk driving conviction--but after 57 games of watching from the sideline, McEwan will take the field on UCLA’s first possession Saturday against Arizona State.

“I haven’t had that opportunity to go from start to finish and lead the team to victory without making mistakes,” he said. “It’s something I’ve wanted so bad that it kept me here and it kept me trying to get better each day.”

There is a tradition of UCLA fifth-year senior quarterbacks getting a last-gasp first chance. It’s also tradition that they succeed.

Rick Neuheisel, Steve Bono, David Norrie and Matt Stevens led UCLA to bowl games from 1983-86. Neuheisel won a Rose Bowl and Bono a Fiesta Bowl. Stevens replaced an injured Norrie before the Rose Bowl in 1986 and the Bruins won. The next season, Stevens directed a victory in the Freedom Bowl.

John Barnes, another fifth-year senior, went from fourth string to starter late in the 1992 season and UCLA beat Oregon and USC. In the 38-37 victory against the Trojans, Barnes passed for 385 yards and three touchdowns.

It would be his last game. UCLA was 6-5 and did not play in a bowl game.

A similar script could be in store for McEwan. Not even a victory over Arizona State will secure a bowl berth for the Bruins, whose 6-0 start and national championship aspirations dissolved in four consecutive losses, including a 27-0 debacle two weeks ago against USC.

“I know it’s going to be emotional because it is my last game at the Rose Bowl and I’m going to be excited,” he said.

McEwan was effective in three extended relief appearances the last two seasons. Most recently he passed for 221 yards in the second half of a 38-28 loss to Stanford after the Bruins fell behind by 24 points.

Last season, he performed credibly in the second half of the Sun Bowl loss after Paus was injured, completing 12 of 18 passes for 135 yards, and in extending a lead after replacing Ryan McCann in the second half against Fresno State.

McEwan’s numbers are as solid as they are limited; he has completed 60.3% of his 68 passes for 476 yards the last two seasons.

Toledo doesn’t hide his affection, saying, “I really love the kid. I respect him so much and am so proud of him. He’s been a pleasure.”

The coach is the father of three married daughters, and he once told McEwan’s dad that he wished he had a fourth for Scott, as well-mannered and respectful a young man a girl ever brought home for dinner.

So why did it take Toledo so long to call his number?

Maybe McEwan was too well-mannered. Too respectful. Too nice.

“He played well in the Sun Bowl and we praised him for that,” Toledo said. “But he wasn’t standing there beating his chest saying ‘I should be the starter.’ He’s saying, ‘Whatever I can do to help the team.’ ”

Or maybe it all goes back to a first impression. McEwan (6-foot-3, 200 pounds) was recruited out of Thousand Oaks High primarily on the strength of his performance at a summer camp.

Then came fall camp.

“He was accurate, intelligent and had good size,” Toledo said. “But he was very shy, very quiet, kind of taken by it all.”

McEwan remembers those days painfully.

“I didn’t know what the heck was going on,” he said. “I was so overwhelmed I couldn’t even throw a spiral to save my life. I’m sure the coaches were going, ‘Oh great, why did we recruit this kid?’ ”

He redshirted in 1997, was third string the next year and expected to compete against Paus and Drew Bennett for the starting job in 1999 with the departure of Cade McNown.

Instead, Paus and Bennett competed and McEwan watched. Clearly, Toledo lacked confidence in him.

But at the same time his career hit a low point, McEwan’s personal life got a boost when he met Ashley Stowell, an honors student with long blond hair who was interested in biochemistry. And Scott.

“All of a sudden I’m dating a girl who is really smart, really studious and has high expectations in life,” he said. “I wanted to compete to show her I can get good grades.”

He did, making the honor roll last year for the first time.

And he finally began competing on the field too. First came the spiral. All that watching honed a keen eye for detail and he noticed that McCann pointed his index finger to the ground after releasing the ball.

He tried it and it worked. Gaining Toledo’s trust took longer.

Although the Bruins’ passing offense sputtered through most of the six-game winning streak, Paus did not throw an interception and gave the coach little reason to make a change.

The abysmal first half against Stanford changed all that, and McEwan provided a spark, throwing for two touchdowns and bringing the Bruins to the brink of a comeback. But he made a poor decision on fourth down late in the game, overthrowing Ryan Smith on a long pattern when a short pass could have extended the drive.

It was a mistake of inexperience, and Toledo, as the person who kept the quarterback from gaining experience, couldn’t fault him. McEwan would have started the next week against Washington State, but a sprained ankle sidelined him.

Except for brief mop-up duty against USC, he hasn’t played since.

But with Paus out of the picture and McCann waiting in line, McEwan finally will start.

“I couldn’t be more excited,” he said. “My family is excited, my friends are excited. It’s something I’ve always dreamed about. It doesn’t matter to me that it happened the last game of the season or whatever. I just feel very fortunate and blessed that I finally get to start.”

Finally. That’s the operative word. Finally, McEwan is ready. Finally, Toledo is going with it.

“He’s earned it and it’s overdue,” he said. “He knows the offense and for five years he practiced hard. Not once did he just go through the motions. That’s the attitude he’s always had and it will make him successful in life.”

For starters, McEwan would like success Saturday.