They toss expectations right out the window

Looking back at UCLA’s 20-6 loss to Notre Dame.

Rewind

As expected: Well, nothing seems to go as expected with the Bruins.

Beat USC; get thumped by Florida State. Return 20 starters; lose two games to winless teams.

The defense goes above and beyond against the Fighting Irish; UCLA coaches seem unprepared for losing quarterback Ben Olson.

(Olson can get injured more than once in a season? Naw.)

Walk-on McLeod Bethel-Thompson was thrown to the Irish wolves; wide receiver Osaar Rasshan, recruited, signed and trained for two years as a UCLA quarterback, doesn’t have an offensive scheme to use.

Unexpected: A backfield of Thompson (walk-on), Trevor Theriot (walk-on) and Chane Moline (third string) trying to rally the Bruins against Notre Dame. Who could have called that one?

Stepped up: Bruin nation’s unhappiness with Coach Karl Dorrell, judging by e-mails on a Sunday afternoon.

There has always been a faction ready, and willing, to blame him for everything, from the Bruins’ offensive play selection to the Lindbergh kidnapping.

The rumbling, and grumbling, seem louder. Still, Dorrell, by all indications, retains the support of Athletic Director Dan Guerrero, so the axe won’t fall, right?

Stepped back: Olson. Suffering a knee injury was a tough development. Not talking to the media afterward, well, that happens.

But there was Thompson, needing consoling and support after Saturday night’s game. There was injured quarterback Patrick Cowan, at his side. And there was Olson, a couple of locker stalls over, shooing away the media as if they were Canadian Soldiers in Cleveland.

Coach’s quote: “It was an unfortunate game, with the turnovers and penalties,” Dorrell said. “Mac had a solid first quarter and a half. The score had not made any big changes. But his inexperience showed at times; a little later. It caused us to make mistakes. We put him in bad situations.”

Injuries: Olson (sprained left knee), linebacker John Hale (concussion), linebacker Shawn Oatis (concussion), wide receiver Dominique Johnson (sprained left ankle). Tailback Kahlil Bell had his duties limited Saturday because of a sore shoulder.

Looking ahead to the game vs. California (Oct. 20, Rose Bowl, TBD).

Fast forward

First look: An open date. The Bruins won’t lose.

Topic of the week: Quarterbacks.

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Season log (4-2)

Sept. 1: at Stanford (2-3, 1-3); Won, 45-17.

Sept. 8: Brigham Young (3-2); Won, 27-17.

Sept. 15: at Utah (3-3); lost, 44-6

Sept. 22: Washington (2-3, 0-2); won, 44-31

Sept. 29: at Oregon State (3-3, 1-2), won, 40-14.

Oct. 6: Notre Dame (1-5); lost, 20-6; USC lost, hahahahaha, USC lost, hahahahaha . . . oops.

Oct. 20: California (5-0, 2-0); Two weeks of Karl Dorrell sounding like that guy in “Animal House” . . . remain calm; all is well!

Oct. 27: at Washington State (2-4, 0-3)

Nov. 3: at Arizona (2-4, 1-2)

Nov. 10: Arizona State (6-0, 3-0)

Nov. 24: Oregon (4-1, 1-1)

Dec. 1: at USC (4-1, 2-1)