Olson Praises Sooners After Sneak Preview

UCLA quarterbacks got a brief look at Oklahoma on film Sunday, and the rest of the Bruins will begin watching tapes of the top-ranked Sooners today.

Judging from sophomore quarterback Drew Olson’s initial reaction, Coach Karl Dorrell may want to unplug the televisions in the Bruins’ video room and take a what-you-don’t-know-won’t-hurt-you approach toward Saturday’s game at Oklahoma.

“That’s the best defense I’ve ever seen,” Olson said of the Sooners, who are led by senior cornerback Derrick Strait, senior linebacker Teddy Lehman and junior tackle Tommie Harris. “USC was good last year, but Oklahoma is awesome. They’re so talented in every spot.

“Their linebackers and linemen are athletic....Sometimes you can find weaknesses, but there are not too many in this defense.”

One defender Olson won’t have to deal with is middle linebacker Lance Mitchell, who suffered a knee injury in Oklahoma’s 52-28 victory over Fresno State on Saturday and could be out for the season.

But that is of little consolation to Olson and a Bruin offense that ranks last of 117 Division I-A teams with an average of 223.5 yards in the first two games.

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Though Manuel White had 102 yards in 18 carries in UCLA’s 6-3 victory over Illinois on Saturday night, and Tyler Ebell spent most of the second half on the bench, Dorrell said that Ebell is still the starting tailback.

“White was the hot back,” Dorrell said. “Even when there was nothing there, he was able to gain some yardage for us, and on a couple drives in the third quarter, when we were backed up [in our territory] he ripped off a couple of big runs.

“It was more of a feel thing. When you have a hot back who has a better feel for the game, you tend to feature that back until the [well] runs dry.... If Tyler is hot, he stays in.”

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Dorrell said starting cornerback Matt Clark, who was held out of the Illinois game because of an academic eligibility issue, will “probably” practice with the Bruins this week in hopes that the junior can resolve his academic issue this week and play in Saturday’s game.

UCLA discovered Friday afternoon that Clark received an incomplete for a history class he took in the fall of 2002, a mark that dropped his grade point average below the NCAA minimum requirement of 1.8 for juniors.

Clark was to meet with the professor of the class Monday to determine whether he could make up the work necessary to attain the required grade, but if he is unable to bring his GPA up to the NCAA’s standard, he would be academically ineligible for the rest of the season. Dorrell could not elaborate on Clark’s status, and Clark could not be reached for comment.

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Linebacker Brandon Chillar, who tied a career high with 13 tackles and had an interception against Illinois, was selected Pacific 10 Conference defensive player of the week. Justin Medlock, who connected on field goals of 28 and 48 yards against Illinois, earned Pac-10 special teams player of the week honors.... The UCLA-San Diego State game Sept. 27 in the Rose Bowl will start at 7 p.m. and will be televised by Fox Sports Net 2.... UCLA has a 4-7 record when playing the No. 1 team in the nation. The last time the Bruins defeated the top-ranked team was Jan. 1, 1976, when they beat Ohio State, 23-10, in the Rose Bowl game.