Expectations weigh on UCLA’s shoulders
By Daily Bruin Staff
July 5, 1998 9:00 p.m.
Monday, July 6, 1998
Expectations weigh on UCLA’s shoulders
RANKINGS: Strong core of incoming players have team dreaming of
title
By Evan Lovett
Daily Bruin Staff
The UCLA football team is staking its claim as one of the best
in the nation for the upcoming ’98-’99 season.
Bob Toledo’s Bruins head into the season under the weight of the
highest expectations in recent memory.
With seven returning starters on offense and the No. 1
recruiting class in the nation for the upcoming season, UCLA has
been ranked in the top 10 by many preseason publications, including
The Sporting News and Lindy’s Football Magazine.
The expectations come after a tremendous season in which the
Bruins finished with a 10-2 record, a share of the Pac-10 title, a
Cotton Bowl victory and a No. 5 national ranking.
The pressure will be placed in the hands of the capable Cade
McNown, a preseason Heisman candidate, ranked the second-best
quarterback in the nation by The Sporting News. McNown was a force
to be reckoned with last year, and had a season worthy of
postseason honors and accolades.
McNown will be protected in the pocket by offensive tackle Kris
Farris and offensive guard Andy Meyers, each ranked amongst the
best at their position nationwide.
Returning All-American Chris Sailer will handle the punting and
placekicking, and receiver Freddie Mitchell will return kicks,
making the Bruin special teams a force.
The defense will be led by strong safety Larry Atkins, defensive
end Kenyon Coleman and linebacker Brenden Ayanbadejo, the class of
the Pac-10 at their respective positions.
Although the core of last year’s expectation-exceeding team will
return to action this season, there have been many changes in the
Bruin lineup – both on and off the field. The most notable of these
changes came at the tail end of last season, when defensive
coordinator Rocky Long left his post to take the head coaching job
at New Mexico State.
One more significant coaching change was made after last season
– Kelly Skipper, running back coach at Fresno State for nine years,
was named the running back coach under Bob Toledo.
Not only was the successful 1997 season a boost to the Bruins’
rankings, it also figured heavily in UCLA’s recruiting. The Bruins
garnered arguably the best recruiting class in the nation,
including more than 20 prep All-Americans, counting redshirts.
The season promises to be exciting as the competitive Pac-10
schedule is complemented by a tough non-conference slate. The
season opener is Sept. 12 vs. Texas at the Rose Bowl, and the
Bruins proceed to play Houston and Miami in subsequent weeks. The
regular season finale will be on Nov. 21 vs. USC, as the Bruins
will try to extend the current seven-game winning streak against
the crosstown rival.
