Bruins Try Not to Party On

UCLA’s greatest test of time management has nothing to do with the two-minute drill or draining the clock to protect a lead. Classes begin this week, and players must juggle football with classes and social engagements.

And to hear the Bruins tell it, social engagements took precedence, to the detriment of the team, one night a week the last several years. The itinerary of many players, in fact, included a glaring blemish.

Monday through Wednesday: Go to class, go to practice.

Thursday: Go to class, go to practice, go, go, go until the wee hours at house parties, fraternity parties and Westwood watering holes.

Friday: Take two aspirin, stumble through the short walk-through practice then repair to the team hotel and get some sleep before Saturday’s game.

“It happens right when school starts, two years [in a row] since I’ve been here,” junior receiver Tab Perry said. “Thursday nights, guys would go out and have a little too much fun. Try to unwind a little too much before the game. That definitely took a toll.”

The first test this season is scheduled only days after the Bruins failed an on-field test for the first time, a 31-17 loss to Colorado that dropped them to 2-1 and out of the national rankings.

School starts Thursday. The campus community will be buzzing with celebrations and carousing. Two blocks away, Westwood bars will be packed.

But UCLA faces San Diego State in an 11 a.m. eye-opener Saturday. Early to bed and early to rise would seem to be wise.

“When school starts, everything’s hectic,” Perry said. “You’ve got to try to squeeze everything in, get as much in as you can in as little time as possible. That wears us down, definitely. I don’t think there’s really any way you can prepare for that, except to [eliminate] the going out on Thursday nights.”

Perry’s viewpoint has support from several key team leaders.

A year ago, Cory Paus might have been the first one out and last one in, but his nocturnal habits changed after he’d spent two stints in jail during the off-season because of driving-under-the-influence convictions.

The senior quarterback is well into his fourth month without a drink. He said he would continue to lead by example, not only on Thursdays but seven nights a week.

“It’s always a temptation for guys, especially right when school starts,” Paus said. “There’s a lot going on and everybody wants to be part of it.

“But the seniors on this team have made it clear to the younger players that it’s not something we are going to do this year. We’ve seen it before and know it doesn’t help us prepare for a game.”

The player advisory council Coach Bob Toledo assembled this fall is taking a strong stance against partying. Tackle Mike Saffer and linebacker Marcus Reese, both seniors, are among the strongest voices.

Younger council members, such as sophomore running back Manuel White and junior receiver Ryan Smith, also have made it clear to the 37 freshmen and redshirt freshmen that temperance on Thursday nights might lead to greater glory on Saturdays.

“We let the young players know the importance of getting rest so close to the game,” White said. “There are only 12 games in a season, and you are only sacrificing 12 Thursday nights. Everybody should be OK with that.”

Said Toledo: “It helps when so many of the leaders [don’t party]. It’s easy to give lip service, but if you don’t do it yourself, your voice has more credibility.”

Although the coach put much of the responsibility for policing the team on the council, a string of late-night fights involving players has prompted him to mete out his own discipline.

At least four players in the last two years have had fights at bars or frat parties, and three of those incidents resulted in criminal charges. Toledo has made several local bars off limits during the season, among them Madison’s Neighborhood Grill, the site of fights last spring that resulted in criminal charges against cornerback Ricky Manning and guard Shane Lehmann.

“School is starting and [the players] know my stance on it,” Toledo said. “They’d better not be caught out there.”

Any college student, of course, needs a social life. But playing football requires accountability.

When and how often is it appropriate for players to go out? Should players of legal drinking age abstain during the season? What is considered a reasonable hour to call it a night?

Perry wants his teammates on the same page--with their signatures at the bottom. “I was trying to push for a team pact, something that we have to sign,” he said. “We already signed a drug-abuse form, saying we’re not allowed to do drugs.

“I was saying we should sign something about Thursday nights, that we don’t go out and party, don’t drink, don’t do anything. Maybe just chill, a team get-together or something.”

Getting a roster of more than 100 to agree on a Thursday night activity, however, may not be realistic, especially after the team is together much of the day. Ultimately, each player must be accountable for his actions.

“Coaches can’t go to clubs and bars [to monitor players],” Paus said. “For the most part, the older players on this team are going to make the right decisions. If the younger guys follow the lead, there shouldn’t be problems.”

Times staff writer Robyn Norwood contributed to this report.