Bruins Can Scout First Foe

UCLA is taking baby steps, methodically preparing for its opener against Colorado State on Sept. 7.

Colorado State, meanwhile, opens tonight.

The Rams visit Virginia in the Jim Thorpe Classic, the earliest game in Division I history. Colorado State began practicing Aug. 1 and completed two-a-days a week ago.

UCLA has practiced only since Saturday and began full-contact workouts Wednesday. By the time the Bruins take the field at the Rose Bowl, their opponent will have played twice--Colorado State faces Colorado on Aug. 31.

Although preparing his team is foremost on the mind of UCLA Coach Bob Toledo, opening against an opponent with two games under its belt concerns him.

“They’ll have game-speed experience and that’s important,” he said. “They say you improve the most from the first game to the second game. You hear that a lot.”

There are advantages for UCLA as well. Coaches will be able to assemble a comprehensive scouting report on the Rams, who presumably won’t hold anything back in their intrastate rivalry against Colorado.

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Spencer Havner, a redshirt freshman from Nevada City, expected to compete with senior Audie Attar at weakside linebacker.

But Attar was dismissed from the team during the summer for punching the younger brother of former UCLA quarterback Scott McEwan in a bar, creating a void that Havner is prepared to fill.

“My dad said that sometimes the door opens and you just have to walk through it,” Havner said. “I was real nervous after the first practice, but I’m keeping my head straight and trying to have a good fall camp.”

Havner’s strength is his quickness on pass coverage. He gained 20 pounds over the summer--bulking to 235--under the guidance of new strength coach Kim Sword to fend off blockers more effectively.

“I’m much more able to pop linemen and get off them,” Havner said.

Havner must replace Ryan Nece, a four-year starter. The prospect of filling the position for the next four years brings a smile.

“I sat with Ryan a few times last year and just listened to everything he had to say, about football and about other stuff,” he said. “Thinking that I could establish myself like that keeps me motivated.”

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The clatter of pads and grunts and groans of tackling drills permeated practice, but the most telling moment might have come on a feathery pass delivered from freshman Drew Olson that hit receiver Tab Perry in stride more than 40 yards downfield.

Toledo turned to the sideline with a grin.

The coach said he won’t name a backup to Cory Paus until the entire depth chart is released after a scrimmage at the Rose Bowl next Wednesday, but Olson clearly is making a stronger impression than redshirt freshman John Sciarra and freshman Matt Moore.

“I’m more relaxed every day,” Olson said. “Learning the playbook is the biggest challenge and I’m getting more familiar with the offense minute by minute.”

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Freshman receiver Marcedes Lewis was the first casualty in full-contact drills, suffering a mild concussion. Tight end Mike Seidman returned after sitting out one day because of a concussion.