• printer friendly
• mail this article
• iPod format
• digg

By Melissa Anderson

and Ross BersotSummer Bruin Staff

An occasional earthquake is a fact of life in the Southland. Even fires are expected to flare up every once in a while. But hurricanes are about as common as a Clippers victory. Nevertheless, UCLA football kicks off its season Saturday at 5 p.m. when the perennially powerful University of Miami Hurricanes blow into the Rose Bowl.

After three weeks of fall practice, the No. 16 Bruins don¹t quite ease into the season. Miami returns 12 starters from a 10-2 1994 campaign that ended in a 24-17 Orange Bowl loss to national champion Nebraska.

UCLA head coach Terry Donahue isn¹t exactly delighted with the prospect of facing the No. 11 ŒCanes¹ in the season opener.

³If I had my druthers, I would play Long Beach State, but they don¹t have a team,² Donahue said.

Lured away from the defensive coordinator position he held for two years with the Dallas Cowboys, Butch Davis replaces Dennis Erickson as the Hurricanes¹ head coach. Davis is charged not only with continuing the on-field success of his team, but rehabilitating its reputation, plagued in the off-season by controversy and an NCAA investigation.

At the eye of Davis¹ new two-back offense is fifth-year senior Ryan Collins. Last year¹s No. 2 quarterback assumes the starting role due to the graduation of two-year starter Frank Costa. In eight appearances last season, Collins threw for three touchdowns and 266 yards.

Although Davis opted from a one-back to a two-back system on offense, he has no intention of changing the Hurricanes attacking style of defense.

Two juniors will anchor the Miami defense. Middle linebacker Ray Lewis led the team in tackles last season with 92, a school record for his position. Cornerback Carlos Jones¹ five interceptions were also a team high.

With 17 returning starters, UCLA - which finished last season a disappointing 5-6 - is not lacking in experience, except at quarterback, where junior Ryan Fien is expected to get the nod. Though he sat out last weekend¹s scrimmage because of a thigh injury, he will be ready to start against the Hurricanes.

³I started thinking about Miami right after I stepped off the field after playing ŒSC last year,² junior Abdul McCullough said. ³This is what college football is all about - butting heads against the ŒCanes.¹ ³

Hurricanes storm into football season opener

Comments

Post a comment