Perry’s Game Status Is Unclear

The Bruins did not receive word from the NCAA on Thursday regarding the status of receiver Tab Perry, and if no word comes today, the speedy senior will remain ineligible and unable to play in the season opener Saturday against Oklahoma State.

Perry, who has regained his academic eligibility and re-enrolled at UCLA after missing all of last season, has filed the necessary paperwork with the NCAA. He has been one of the offensive stars on the practice field the last two weeks, and Coach Karl Dorrell said he remained hopeful that Perry would be cleared today.

But he was visibly frustrated over the issue after practice Thursday.

“There’s nothing that we can do,” he said. “There’s nothing that Tab can do. It’s out of our hands. We’re prepared to go either way, whether we have him or not.”

If Perry is declared eligible, he will get significant playing time, both at receiver and on kickoff returns.

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Oklahoma State quarterback Donovan Woods will make his college debut Saturday against the Bruins at the Rose Bowl. The speedy Woods, 6 feet 2 and 215 pounds, says he’s ready to fill the shoes vacated by Josh Fields. But those are words you’d expect from a young athlete so full of promise.

Cowboy coaches acknowledge that the redshirt freshman is going to make mistakes early on; they’re just hoping that his considerable playmaking ability will make up for them.

“How will he respond to his first start in major college football in the Rose Bowl?” Oklahoma State Coach Les Miles asked in response to a question during a teleconference this week. “I can tell you that he has character. I can tell you that he will play very competitively. I can tell you that if the game is tight, he will want to make the play. It’ll be exciting for all of us to see how he will play.”

Oklahoma State also will field a largely untested defensive line, while retaining a veteran linebacking corps and defensive backfield led by Darrent Williams, one of the premier cornerbacks in the Big 12 Conference and one of the most dangerous punt returners in the country.

Overall, the Cowboys have 15 starters back from last season’s 9-4 team -- compared with 12 for the Bruins -- and their offensive line, considered one of the best, remains largely intact.

Still, the Cowboys must cope with the departure of Rashaun Woods, their all-time leading receiver, running back Tatum Bell and, of course, Fields, who skipped his senior season to play baseball for the Chicago White Sox. That, coupled with the fact that star recruit Bobby Reid is injured and will red-shirt this season, has led to the sudden emergence of Donovan Woods as the team leader.

“I guess there’s pressure,” Woods told the Oklahoman earlier this week. “But that comes with any important job anyone has to do. I don’t know exactly what my strengths and weaknesses are. I’m just waiting to find out, like anyone else.”