Big Week for Dorrell

In Karl Dorrell’s career as a wide receiver at UCLA, the Bruins won four of five games against USC, including a 45-25 win in his final game as a player in 1986.

But as a coach, Dorrell is seeking his first victory in the rivalry and this week, his players have noticed a difference in his intensity.

“Karl is fired up,” senior running back Manuel White said. “We’re starting to see the player in him come out.... He played in this rivalry and you can tell he is fired up.”

After Wednesday’s practice, Dorrell said, “It’s been a long time since we played [on] Nov. 13.... We’re excited that this week is almost over and that it’s almost time to line up and play some football.”

Linebacker Spencer Havner said that part of the reason behind Dorrell’s excitement has been the progress that the Bruins have made in the three weeks leading up to Saturday’s game against No. 1 USC at the Rose Bowl.

“He’s pretty pumped up,” Havner said about Dorrell. “He’s watched us work hard the last couple of weeks and today was our best day. We didn’t even know that we’d have pads on today, but he decided to put them on and we ended up being more intense than yesterday.”

*

Sophomore Maurice Drew did not practice because of a nagging ankle injury, but the running back said that he would be ready to play against USC. The question is whether UCLA’s coaches feel the same way.

Dorrell said that Drew has to be able to run without any problems today in practice before he’ll be counted on for Saturday.

“I feel like I’m 90% right now,” said Drew, who has not had more than a carry in a game since UCLA defeated Stanford on Oct. 30. “But it’s going to be up to the coaches.”