Noise Factor Is Part of the Practice Plan

In preparation for Saturday’s game at Washington, UCLA practiced Wednesday with their own version of Husky Stadium’s crowd noise, simulated by a soundtrack and speakers.

“It sounded like a basketball crowd noise,” Coach Karl Dorrell said. “It wasn’t really a football crowd. But it was loud enough to be effective for what we needed to accomplish for our offense.”

Husky Stadium seats 72,500 -- the 20th largest on-campus facility in the nation -- and can be an intimidating place for an opponent.

Two years ago, UCLA muzzled the crowd by jumping out to an early lead and won, 34-24.

Junior offensive tackle Ed Blanton did not play in that game, but he remembers, “My helmet was vibrating because it got so loud.”

In preparation, UCLA has been practicing without verbal calls being made on the line. “We know that we’ll have to do a lot of hand signals and a lot of pointing,” Blanton said.

UCLA, which has won two of the last three games played at Washington, can’t afford to make mistakes against the Huskies, especially on offense.

“Obviously, our snap count will be ineffective because it’s so loud there and everyone can’t hear,” said quarterback Drew Olson, who made his first college start at Washington in 2002.

“People will just have to watch the ball.... For quarterbacks, receivers and running backs, this really should not be a problem because we already have hand signals in place.”

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Safety Chris Horton, a redshirt freshman who played at De La Salle High in New Orleans, will be watching the path of Hurricane Ivan. Horton’s family did not leave the area and spent Wednesday night in a hotel.

“They are staying in a high-rise, so just in case it does flood, they will be OK,” Horton said. “I’m just hoping everything works out and everyone is OK. I’ve been in some water when the water level has gotten pretty high. I just told my mother to keep me posted.”

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After a good week of practice, Dorrell said linebacker Justin London and defensive tackle C.J. Niusulu will start Saturday.