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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Bruins Freshman Mcnown Now Qb Of Renown

From Wire Reports

A month ago, Cade McNown wasn’t even thinking about playing in a game for UCLA this season. Now, he’s the Bruins’ starting quarterback.

McNown, a freshman right out of high school, will start Saturday when UCLA faces defending Pacific-10 Conference champion Oregon. Both the 12th-ranked Bruins and No. 20 Ducks are 2-0.

“Learning the system, that’s all you can think about,” McNown said concerning his thoughts of last month, when the Bruins began preparing for the season. “I put all of my effort into learning the offense. I didn’t even think about playing.

“Coach (Bob) Toledo (UCLA’s offensive coordinator) told me to learn as much as I could and things would unfold. At the end of camp, they told me I would probably get a chance to play some this year.”

It turned out to be sooner that McNown expected. McNown was impressive enough during practice to move up to No. 2 on the depth chart, behind junior Ryan Fien, and he played briefly during UCLA’s 31-8 victory over No. 19 Miami Sept. 2, completing both passes he threw for 15 yards.

McNown was called upon in the first quarter of UCLA’s 23-9 victory over Brigham Young last Saturday when Fien suffered his second concussion and cut chin in two weeks and a slightly separated left shoulder.

Playing like anything but an inexperienced freshman, McNown completed 9-of-18 passes for 91 yards without an interception.

“Cade made some good plays for us,” UCLA coach Terry Donahue said. “Cade has been able to grasp the concepts of the offense better than most freshmen we’ve had. He has a very strong desire to learn and he learns quickly.

“He’s done well, he’s not at full speed yet. He’s going to be a much better player two years from now.”

Fien has been ruled out of Saturday’s game and might miss UCLA’s game at Washington State Sept. 23. So McNown is getting a shot that freshman quarterbacks rarely get.

“I feel like if I get a chance to get in there, I’m not going to screw it up,” he said. “I’m excited. I can’t wait to get out there and play.”

“I’m not nervous about anything. I’m just trying to take things in stride.”

Like all first-year freshmen football players at UCLA, McNown had his head shaved during the summer, and serves his elders to some degree, just as a fraternity pledge might do.

“I’m still getting drinks for the older guys, that’s what I feel I should be doing,” McNown said, smiling. “It’s different when you step on the field. They’re not going to tell me on the field, ‘Run and get me a drink.’ In the locker room, that’s acceptable.”

McNown played for San Benito High in Hollister, Calif., for three years before playing his senior season at West Linn, Ore., High. He said Oregon recruited him, “but UCLA and Washington showed more interest.”

“He’s active, he’s mobile, he’s very mature,” Bellotti said of McNown. “But it’s very difficult for a true freshman to step in in the third game and be prepared for everything he’s going to see.”We will try to disrupt his rhythm, tempo, and try to confuse him.”

Broncos rap sheet

An angry Boise State University President Charles Ruch says from now on, athletes who get into trouble with the law will face immediate punishment.

Ruch issued a new policy Thursday for student athletes, after disclosures that since 1992, 17 football players had been charged with crimes ranging from battery to alcoholrelated offenses.

“We are disappointed and embarrassed by the conduct of some of our student-athletes,” Ruch said at a news conference.

The new policy requires every student competing on a Boise State team to disclose any criminal history by next Friday. Students accused of crimes must notify their coach within 48 hours, and coaches must file a report with the athletic director on reference checks on athletes they are recruiting.

Ruch said he hasn’t decided whether the school will check court records on new recruits. But any student who lies about his or her criminal history or commits a crime after arriving will be subject to the new “zero-tolerance” policy.

“Those who are charged with misdemeanors or felonies will be subject to immediate sanctions that can range from suspension to expulsion from the team,” Ruch said.

Athletic director Gene Bleymaier said, “We’re committed to fixing the problem. I guarantee you the implementation is going to be tough.”

Boise State will invite the public, law enforcement and the State Board of Education to participate in a task force looking at the issue. A task force of student-athletes will be asked for recommendations. The policy is not retroactive and won’t apply to athletes who have run into trouble recently.

In a report filed with the Board of Education, Boise State said seven athletes had been charged in the last year. But after The Idaho Statesman did its own check and came up with at least 17, Ruch said obviously some charges had been missed and an amended report would be filed with the board after the athletic staff finishes checking Ada County court records of all student-athletes who have competed since September 1994.

Ruch wouldn’t say what those checks have turned up so far. “We have a longer list than we had yesterday,” he said. “We are all enormously frustrated and disappointed by this situation.”

Tomey to miss game

Arizona coach Dick Tomey will miss Saturday’s game at Illinois to attend the funeral of Wildcats senior tight end Damon Terrell, who died last week.

Terrell, 21, died Sept. 7 at University Medical Center after a four-week hospitalization. He collapsed Aug. 10 during preseason conditioning and his damaged spleen was removed the next day.

Linebacker under investigation

Miami linebacker Ray Lewis is under investigation by police for aggravated battery after getting involved in an argument and shoving match between his current and former girlfriends.

Lewis, 20, allegedly grabbed his ex-girlfriend’s right arm and shook her during the Tuesday night dispute, according to police reports. Her arm was scratched when she tried to pull away.

MEMO: Cut in the Spokane edition.

Cut in the Spokane edition.