Ucla Gets Its Share On Pac-10 Team After Tying For Title, 4 Bruins Make First Team

Befitting their status as conference co-champions, the UCLA Bruins were well represented on the All-Pac-10 team announced Monday.

Tailback Skip Hicks, offensive tackle Chad Overhauser, free safety Shaun Williams and kicker Chris Sailer were first-team selections, as expected.

Quarterback Cade McNown, receiver Jim McElroy, linebacker Danjuan Magee and strong safety Larry Atkins were second-team picks. UCLA had seven honorable-mention selections: receiver Danny Farmer, tight end Mike Grieb, offensive tackle Kris Farris, guards Andy Meyers and Chad Sauter, defensive end Weldon Forde and linebacker Brian Willmer.

“You never get all you want, and they aren’t all first-teamers,” Bruins coach Bob Toledo said. “But we got enough first- and second-teamers and honorable mentions to feel good about ourselves.”

No one expected McNown to make first team ahead of Washington State’s Ryan Leaf, who was named Offensive Player of the Year. But his rise to prominence was the key ingredient to UCLA’s success this season.

McNown was the 10th-rated quarterback in the conference last year. This year, he’s No. 1 in the nation and he set a Pac-10 efficiency record with a 168.6 rating.

“He has exceeded my expectation level,” Toledo said. “I knew he’d be a good football player, but I didn’t realize he’d be this good…. He was the guy we rallied around.”

Planning for Dallas

The Bruins are expecting a Cotton Bowl invitation, although the Fiesta Bowl did not release them from the Alliance selection process Monday - meaning it might be considering the Bruins if Arizona State loses.

“I’d be shocked if the Fiesta took UCLA,” Bruins athletic director Peter Dalis said. “I have not had one conversation with the senior leadership of the Fiesta Bowl.”

The Cotton Bowl has its advantages, especially in recruiting. UCLA is expecting at least 16 Texans to make on-campus visits during the winter recruiting period. A week in Dallas would be invaluable exposure.

“The guys in Texas are very interested in our program and it’d be nice to hit the state one more time,” said Toledo, whose team defeated Texas 66-3 in Austin in September.

Recruiting

Until signing day, it’s difficult to quantify the impact of UCLA’s seventh consecutive victory over USC. But the Bruins received a favorable reaction in the days immediately following the game.

“We’ve had a couple of calls from kids who called me personally and wanted to set up visits with us,” Toledo said.

The Bruins have received five oral commitments and could get several more in the weeks to come, including: San Bernardino’s Paul Nelson, perhaps the best receiver in the state; Agoura quarterback Ryan McCann, and Mission Viejo offensive lineman Blake Worley.

The most coveted player of all, Notre Dame High School tailback Justin Fargas, attended the game Saturday. Yes, he visited USC’s locker room. And no, he did not visit UCLA’s.

But there’s a reason: It was against NCAA rules for Fargas to enter the UCLA locker room or talk to its coaches. As the visiting team, UCLA was prohibited from having any contact with the recruits, who are guests of the home team.

Fargas attended the Nov. 15 UCLA-Washington game. Since it was at the Rose Bowl, he was allowed in the Bruins’ locker room.

Odds and ends

Toledo has reinstated nose guard Damon Smith for the bowl game, although Smith will not start. He was suspended last week for violating team rules on behavior (ie: fighting).

The Bruins will hold bowl practices on Dec. 6, 13, 15-20 and 22-23. They’ll take two days off for Christmas, then depart for Dallas (presumably) on Dec. 26.