DRAGOVIC'S PLAY KEEPS IMPROVING.Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer PASADENA - Nikolas Dragovic was impressive in his first career start at defensive end for UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX last week. Impressive to most everyone but himself. Dragovic, a sophomore, had four tackles, a sack and blocked a point-after attempt to help UCLA cruise past San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. State 44-21. Dragovic wanted to improve several aspects of his game in Saturday Saturday: see week; Sabbath. night's contest against Rice at the Rose Bowl. He had a fumble recovery early in the second quarter that led to a UCLA touchdown to put the Bruins up 42-7 in the second quarter. ``A lot of people say I had a great game but I think I had an alright Alright is an alternative spelling of "all right". It is usually used to indicate that something is good but not great (so-so): "The play was alright." It is also used as an expression of great pleasure: "We won the championship! Alright!" game but I need to get better,'' Dragovic said. ``I don't don't 1. Contraction of do not. 2. Nonstandard Contraction of does not. n. A statement of what should not be done: a list of the dos and don'ts. think I've reached my potential but I've played well.'' Dragovic seems to have reached his potential in the weight room. He can squat 550 pounds and bench press 450. It's a far cry from his freshman year at Rancho ran·cho n. pl. ran·chos Southwestern U.S. 1. A hut or group of huts for housing ranch workers. 2. A ranch. Buena Vista High of Vista, where he admits he was ``chubby'' at 260 pounds. Five years later, Dragovic is 6-foot-3, 252 pounds. ``With the camp he's had, the work he's put in and the natural gifts he's been given by the Lord, he's done really well,'' said Thurmand Moore Moore, city (1990 pop. 40,761), Cleveland co., central Okla., a suburb of Oklahoma City; inc. 1887. Its manufactures include lightning- and surge-protection equipment, packaging for foods, and auto parts. , UCLA's defensive line coach. ``He's got great intensity. He really got after it. I thought he's really adapted to things.'' Dragovic was born in Yugoslavia but grew up in California California (kăl'ĭfôr`nyə), most populous state in the United States, located in the Far West; bordered by Oregon (N), Nevada and, across the Colorado River, Arizona (E), Mexico (S), and the Pacific Ocean (W). . His brother Marko is on UCLA's football team as well. The Dragovics settled in Vista and Dragovic became a three-time All-American wrestler at Rancho Buena Vista. But he found a niche on the football field. He's intense about football but equally intense about working out. He said he never takes a day off, even during the season. ``If I'm taking a day off, there's someone else that isn't,'' he said. He played so well, he maintained his job. At the other defensive end, Nathaniel Skaggs started last week but was expected to split time with Chase Moline against Rice. Dragovic is the picture of confidence. While said he wasn't nervous before the first game, he admitted he wasn't his usual self. To the average observer, Dragovic was all over the field and made many plays. ``What I like to focus on is my footwork, my hands and my angles,'' Dragovic said. ``I can tell it wasn't right. I was so much better practicing. I wasn't nervous but I didn't know what to expect. My heart was going the whole time. When you're more relaxed you play so much better. You have to stay loose and calm. I ran out there worried.'' Jill Painter, (818) 713-3615 jill.painter(at)dailynews.com |
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