Toledo demotes Paus to third-string
By Daily Bruin Staff
Nov. 26, 2001 9:00 p.m.
 COURTNEY STEWART Quarterback Cory Paus
drops back to pass against USC earlier this season.
By Joshua Mason
Daily Bruin Staff
On Monday, UCLA quarterback Cory Paus was given the chance to
get a headstart in reflecting upon his past mistakes.
Head coach Bob Toledo announced Paus’ demotion to
third-string for the rest of the season, a decision made by the
UCLA coaching staff during the break.
Senior Scott McEwan will replace Paus in Saturday’s game
against Arizona State.
“Cory will watch and learn through osmosis,” Toledo
said. “That’s what the third guy usually gets
anyway.”
Toledo’s decision was made in light of recent knowledge
that the junior signal-caller was arrested on two separate
occasions within the last 15 months for alcohol-related traffic
violations, the latest a DUI conviction that stemmed from an arrest
in July.
Though Toledo was notified of the situation two days before the
USC rivalry game, Paus was still given the start, though he was
eventually benched after shaky play in which the UCLA offense was
unable to cross the 50-yard line.
“The Friday before the game I didn’t have all the
information in hand, and I didn’t want to make a decision
based on what I heard or read in the newspaper,” Toledo
said.
“Sometimes you make decisions real quick and they’re
not always the right decisions, and I wanted to make sure that I
made an informed decision.”
Toledo talked to both Paus and his lawyer, who was out of town
and unable to meet with Toledo before the 27-0 loss to USC.
Paus’ demotion includes third-string status even in the
case that UCLA goes to a bowl game.
“The only way he would play is if those other guys were
hurt,” Toledo said.
Paus’ shot at the starting job for next season is also in
doubt, and Toledo hinted at opening up the role to incoming
freshmen.
“We will require him to meet some other
obligations,” Toledo said. “We have a plan for him, and
that’s between him and me.”
McEwan will get his first career start in his last game against
the Sun Devils. Junior Ryan McCann will backup McEwan in the case
of injury.
McEwan was snubbed earlier in the season after he played
impressively in relief of Paus at Stanford. An ankle injury
prevented him from winning his first starting role.
“It was frustrating for him because he knew he had an
opportunity, and then the injury happened,” Toledo said.
