NOTEBOOK: DORRELL HELPS UCLA GET OFFENSIVE.

Byline: BRIAN DOHN Staff Writer

BERKELEY -- UCLA mixed the pass and run nicely in rolling up a season-high 516 yards of offense, and it came with coach Karl Dorrell taking a more active role in game-planning and play-calling.

The Bruins lost 38-24 to No.10 California on Saturday at Memorial Stadium, but the offense showed its most life and consistency of the season.

Dorrell said offensive coordinator Jim Svoboda still made most of the play calls, but the fourth-year head coach was more involved than in previous games.

``I was helping Jim,'' Dorrell said. ``I made a few (calls). I was part of the process with the organization this week and getting the game plan in. I thought he made tremendous progress.''

UCLA ran 74 plays, with a combination of 34 rushes (187 yards) and 40 pass attempts (329 yards), and Bruins quarterback Patrick Cowan threw downfield more often than in past games as UCLA challenged Cal's secondary.

Another aspect of change was the number of screen passes to tailback Chris Markey, who had six catches for 63 yards.

``I made some calls, but I don't know a percentage,'' Dorrell said. ``Yeah, I was involved.''

What coulda been: California quarterback Nate Longshore completed 20 of 24 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns, which should have been doubly painful for the Bruins.

UCLA recruited Longshore, who played at Caynon High of Canyon Country, but never got the chance to offer him a scholarship, although the Bruins came within days of doing so.

Dorrell was set to offer Longshore a scholarship in the locker room after UCLA played Washington on Oct. 4, 2003. But two days before the game, Longshore gave an oral commitment to Cal, so he did not attend UCLA's game at the Rose Bowl.

``We like him. We did,'' Dorrell said. ``He made a decision quicker than I expected, but he's a great kid, and from a great family. I think he's in a good place.''

A big part of the problem was how then-UCLA assistant Gary Bernardi, who was recruiting Longshore, handled the final days, according to sources. Word was leaking out Longshore could commit to Cal, so Bernardi was instructed to tell Longshore that Dorrell was going to offer the scholarship after the Washington game, sources added, but Longshore was never told of Dorrell's plan.

``I was hoping USC or UCLA would offer as well, and was always interested in both,'' Longshore said at the time of his commitment, ``but they seemed like they wanted to wait on other guys, and that's all right.''

It was then mentioned to Dorrell that word was he was extremely unhappy about how the Longshore recruitment ended, as it pertained to UCLA.

``Exactly,'' Dorrell said. ``But that's how recruiting works sometimes.''

Injury report: Bruins reserve linebacker Korey Bosworth suffered a neck stinger and concussion while on punt return coverage in the third quarter, and the situation became scary when he was walking off the field and fell to the ground.

However, he watched the fourth quarter from the sideline and was scheduled to return home with the team.

Meanwhile, Bruins corner back Rodney Van suffered a left hip pointer in the second half and was limited afterward.

Austin's first: Freshman receiver Terrence Austin was part of UCLA's offense from the outset, and he delivered early with the first two catches of his career on the Bruins' opening drive. He finished with two catches for 29 yards.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, 6 boxes

Photo:

(1) UCLA quarterback Patrick Cowan threw for 328 yards, but had two interceptions and no touchdowns.

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

(2) no caption (Karl Dorrell)

Box:

(1) BY THE NUMBERS

(2) THEY SAID IT

(3) HERO

(4) GOAT

(5) STAT OF THE GAME

(6) UCLA LOG