Finally, it’s here. After two bye weeks, two weeks of waiting, the UCLA football team has entered USC week. And, well, this game is a pretty big one. Even at yesterday’s press conference, something felt different. Coach Karl Dorrell was a little more animated, a little more passionate, a little more excited. He certainly appears to understand the magnitude of facing the No. 1 Trojans. “As far as I’m concerned, this is a big-ass game,” Dorrell said. Big indeed, as it’s not every week that you get to face the No. 1 team in the nation at home. But playing their best football may be a little more difficult than it would typically be, simply because it’s been so long since the Bruins played a game. UCLA last took the field Nov. 13 in the team’s 34-26 win at Oregon. “If you ask any coach across the country, no one wants three weeks off,” Dorrell said. “No one wants that. It’s too much time off. But you know what, that’s what we have, and we made the best of it. “It’s all about getting our timing, our rhythm, and making sure we don’t have that rustiness with that type of lay-off.” Though the time off has given the Bruins time to get healthy, particularly tight end Marcedes Lewis and safety Jarrad Page, Dorrell is particularly concerned that his team’s timing could be less than perfect. He also has to be concerned about tailback Maurice Drew, who tweaked his ankle in practice Monday and missed the remainder of the team’s drills. Drew had almost fully recovered after spraining his ankle Nov. 6 against Washington State and not playing against Oregon. Dorrell said that he would need to see how Drew’s ankle responds in the next few days. Regardless of the severity of Drew’s injury, the Bruins will pay extra attention this week to making sure everything is as crisp as it should be. “We’ve got to do a great job of preparing this football team to play its best football, and we will,” Dorrell said. In the end, their performance Saturday will ultimately decide how the Bruins view the consecutive bye weeks. “I think guys are more anxious to get after it after this long wait and with this big game,” quarterback Drew Olson said. “I don’t know if I’m a fan of it. It depends how we play on Saturday.”
CONFERENCE HONORS: Cornerback Matt Clark and kicker Justin Medlock were named to the Pac-10’s All-Conference First Team yesterday. Medlock, a sophomore, has made 14-of-17 field goals this season, including two from over 50 yards against Oregon. Clark, a senior, has been a steady presence at left cornerback, consistently making big plays and shutting down receivers. He has 11 pass breakups and two interceptions this season. “I put in a lot of work this summer to try to change some things and prove to everybody that I am a legit corner out there,” Clark said. “It feels good.” Lewis, Drew, center Mike McCloskey, guard Steven Vieira and linebacker Spencer Havner were named to the conference’s second team.