Drew Takes Record Game in Stride

Maurice Drew, who last Saturday set UCLA records with 322 yards rushing and five touchdowns at Washington, hasn’t made many mistakes lately.

But Drew made a big one when he thought his life would return to normal after his career day.

ESPN one day, FSN the next. Throw in radio interviews, and Drew’s life has turned into an open book. In fact, we now know something about him that he had kept secret since arriving in Westwood.

Drew is a former ballet dancer.

“Yeah, it’s true,” he said. “I started when I was 4 or 5 years old and did it for a couple of years,” said the 5 foot 8 sophomore, who uses remarkable balance and leg strength to gain additional yards. “My grandmother had heard of a football player who took ballet and thought that it was a good thing for me to try.

“She put me in there and my grandfather hated it. It took about two years before a compromise was reached. That’s when I began taking gymnastics.”

People around Drew’s hometown of Antioch and nearby Pinole -- where his grandparents live -- knew all about his ballet background but he decided to keep it quiet when he became a Bruin.

“It was OK with my friends and people that knew me, but I kept it low when I got here,” Drew said. “I didn’t want anyone making fun of me.... But now, I don’t care. I’d tell anyone to have their child in ballet or gymnastics because that’s how you learn how to keep your balance.”

Drew showed off his steadiness against the Huskies last week. He scored on touchdown runs of 47 and 62 yards the first two times he carried the ball and had 235 yards and four touchdowns in 13 carries by halftime.

The game will be a special memory for every Bruin who blocked for Drew.

“There were a few runs where, after I made my block, I looked up, wondering where he was,” fullback Michael Pitre said. “Then all I would hear was the crowd screaming and I started wondering about what he had done. It was just a good feeling. Maurice did such an excellent job of making the first guy miss and then was gone.”

Drew’s name has been big in college football this week.

“I received a lot attention [playing for the celebrated Concorde De La Salle High program] and I learned then that you can’t let all of this go to your head,” Drew said. “I’ve been doing a lot of things this week and it’s been pretty cool. I never thought it would get this big. But I make sure that everybody on the team gets exposure because without us playing as a team, nothing would get done.”

Drew’s grandfather, Maurice Jones, said his grandson had always excelled in athletics and was used to attention.

“When he was 3, people would ask if he was already lifting weights because he had such a muscular build,” Jones said. “The same body that he has now, he had the same proportions as a young child. He’s just bigger.”

Eric Bieniemy, who coaches UCLA running backs, said Drew’s performance was the best he’d witnessed -- and Bieniemy coached former Colorado back Chris Brown when he ran for six touchdowns in a game. And Bieniemy has been impressed with how Drew has handled the spotlight.

“It’s always business as usual for Maurice Drew,” Bieniemy said. “He’s been the same hard-working player he’s always been. He’s out there working on the little things. Running hard, blocking, catching passes.”

Drew, who credits his relationship with senior running back Manuel White for his work ethic, says staying focused is easy.

“I know that we have to do better now,” he said. “We did it once and now people are going to be ready to stop us.... We’re ranked among the top rushing teams in the country. It’s clear that we like to run the ball. We’re going to see more eight and nine men in the box and we’re going to have to still get the job done.”