They’re Not at a Loss When It Comes to Expectations

For nearly eight months, UCLA’s football program has worked to shake off the negative vibes of last season, which ended with a five-game losing streak.

From coaching switches (Tom Cable replaced Steve Axman as offensive coordinator) to improved workout standards (Doc Kreiss’ strength and conditioning program led to numerous in-house records) to dismissed players (Junior Lemau’u, Antwuan Smith and Idris Moss for violating team policies), the Bruins have had an eventful off-season, which ended Monday with the reporting of 25 freshmen, five of them walk-on players.

The Bruins will start training-camp practices Wednesday.

“We know what we have to do,” senior running back Manuel White said. “We’re not worried about what people are saying about us. We have to be bullies. We don’t expect to have anything given to us.”

Following second-year Coach Karl Dorrell’s map to recovery, the Bruins have not looked back since their dismal 17-9 loss to Fresno State in the Silicon Valley Classic last Dec. 30.

The Bruins believe they are stronger, faster, deeper and wiser than they were a year ago. They also believe that they will not have another losing season, even though Pacific 10 media members have predicted that UCLA will finish eighth in the conference.

“They can say whatever they want about us because that only makes us hungrier,” White said. “They can keep on talking. We’re going to do whatever we have to do in order to turn things around. We’re ready to put our best foot forward.”

And to Dorrell, the Bruins’ best foot will be better covered than a year ago.

“We’ve responded to a lot of things in our program so that everything is in place,” Dorrell said. “We’re moving forward, inching up, day by day and week by week, to doing things in the way that they should be done. That’s why we’re banking on everything being so much better.

“Is there a comfort level that I have right now? Yes. I do have a comfort level because I see where this team is going and that’s very comforting to know that things are going in the direction that they should go.”

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Although Tab Perry will not be among the veterans reporting to camp today, the Bruins hope that the senior wide receiver can re-enroll in school and play this season.

Perry is completing summer school courses and has to be cleared academically.

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Dorrell on offensive coaching changes: “We will have much better communication, which was the biggest issue from last season.... We will have a much more unified offensive staff.”

Dorrell expects a number of freshmen to play key roles.

“Particularly on the offensive line,” he said. “We’re hopeful that one or two freshmen can be a factor but we’ll have to see how it works out.”

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Tight end Keith Carter, who broke and dislocated his right hip in a motorcycle accident a year ago and did not play last season, is expected to participate in drills.... Junior college transfer Matt Raney, who had a strong spring practice at tight end, will be limited because of an abdominal hernia.... Dorrell said quarterback Drew Olson had emerged as a team leader after spearheading the Bruins’ off-season passing drills.