Dorrell Begins Building Process

Karl Dorrell woke up today excited about his shiny new toy.

But he’ll have to be patient: Assembly is required.

He arrived in Westwood on Thursday to assume control of the UCLA football team and will get to work today, arranging the large corner office on the second floor of the Morgan Center to his liking. His first task is to build a staff, and he will interview several current assistants today and Saturday.

“I want a staff of great communicators, people who are well thought of in the profession and take to heart the relationship with players,” he said.

The players are on vacation, enjoying the euphoria of beating New Mexico, 27-13, Wednesday in the Las Vegas Bowl to finish a tumultuous season a respectable 8-5. It was UCLA’s first bowl victory since Jan. 1, 1998.

All but 14 of this season’s Bruins will return, so once Dorrell turns his attention to the roster, he won’t need many replacement parts. He’ll get to know players during off-season workouts that begin in January.

Recruits can be signed in February and spring practice is held in April, making for a ceaseless workload.

“I can’t wait to get going,” said Dorrell, who Sunday left his position as Denver Bronco receivers coach.

First-year Athletic Director Dan Guerrero fired Bob Toledo after seven seasons in part because of off-the-field problems that began with the handicapped parking scandal in 1999 and extended through several fights last spring that resulted in criminal charges against players.

Dorrell, 39, a serious-minded, even-keeled coach who stayed out of trouble as a UCLA receiver in the 1980s, is expected to establish strict standards of behavior.

The only blemish is that he was on the staff of Rick Neuheisel at Colorado and Washington when the NCAA sanctioned those schools for recruiting violations.

Guerrero checked with the NCAA and is satisfied that Dorrell committed no wrongdoing.

“He has the right kind of character, conviction and leadership,” Guerrero said.

Now all Dorrell has to do is win. His base salary of $600,000 can be boosted by incentives that begin with $15,000 for each victory beyond seven in a season and bonuses for bowl game appearances and a national championship.

He also gets more cash if graduation rates exceed 70%. In a recent study, the graduation rate of UCLA football players entering school from the 1992-93 to the 1995-96 academic years was 61%.

There are no incentives tied to TV appearances, attendance or the off-the-field behavior of players.

Another reason Guerrero made the change now is that UCLA returns a well-stocked roster that can win immediately.

“Once I got to the point of making a decision, it was clear that now is the time [to bring in a new coach] with that young team,” he said.

Dorrell inherits a roster that returns nearly every skill-position player, three starting offensive linemen and seven defensive starters, including two freshman All-Americans.

Although the offense struggled in the last three games, three players amassed more than 1,000 all-purpose yards this season -- freshman tailback/punt returner Tyler Ebell, sophomore receiver/punt returner Craig Bragg and junior receiver/kick returner Tab Perry.

Freshman quarterbacks Drew Olson and Matt Moore finished with similar statistics after sharing time since senior Cory Paus was injured in the seventh game. Olson was 53 of 104 for 707 yards and three touchdowns with four interceptions; Moore was 33 of 62 for 412 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.

Their competition for the starting job will be a highlight of spring practice.

Said Olson: “We both want to be the man. We’ll push each other and see what happens.”

A question on defense is the status of tackle Rodney Leisle, a junior who is seriously contemplating leaving for the NFL. He missed several games after having foot surgery, and Dorrell might convince him to return.

The new coach would be wise to remind Leisle that several Bruins who returned for their senior season in 2001 increased their draft status, including linebacker Robert Thomas, safety Marques Anderson, tailback DeShaun Foster and defensive end Kenyon Coleman.

Whether or not Leisle returns, UCLA should be loaded for a rigorous 2003 schedule that begins at Colorado, where Dorrell was offensive coordinator for six years in the 1990s.

“This is his team now and he can do what he sees fit,” said junior linebacker Brandon Chillar after the Las Vegas Bowl.

“We’re all excited and a little bit anxious. We love the coaches we have and hope some are allowed to stay. We gave them a Christmas present with this win. It’s a present for [Dorrell] too.”

Dorrell should keep it in good working order. The warranty expires Sept. 6, the day of that opener at Colorado. From that date forward, he is responsible for any damage.

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*--* UCLA SEASON LOG (8-5) Bruins Opp 30 Colorado State 19 38 at Oklahoma State 24 17 Colorado 31 43 at San Diego State 7 43 at Oregon State 35 30 Oregon 31 12 at California 17 28 Stanford 18 34 at Washington 24 37 at Arizona 7 21 USC 52 27 Washington State 48 27 New Mexico* 13 29.8 Score avg Allow avg 25.1 *Las Vegas Bowl

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