UCLA FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: PLAYERS MEET TO CLEAR THE AIR.

Byline: BRIAN DOHN

Staff Writer

Along with the usual Sunday team meeting and several meetings involving coaches and individual UCLA players, the Bruins held a players' only meeting to discuss Saturday's surreal 38-point loss at Utah.

The topics discussed ranged from accountability to leadership as the Bruins look to regroup before Saturday's Pacific-10 Conference home opener against improved Washington.

"We talked about leadership, and how everybody has to buy into the program," Bruins receiver Brandon Breazell said. "There was a moment where everyone was looking at their wristbands (which has a team goal imprinted in them), to know what you're working for.

"We have to put in extra work this week and play like this could be your last moment, your last breath.

"And you have to believe it. You have to believe what you're working for, and you have to believe in the guy next to you. You've got to believe in one another."

In the locker room after the loss, defensive end Bruce Davis said a players' only meeting was needed to "clear the air, see what's on everybody's chest."

With 20 returning starters and 23 scholarship seniors, UCLA was supposed to be beyond such colossal collapses, which seem to happen once a season. But many of the Bruins said they took Utah, which was 0-2, lightly.

"It's necessary (to have a players' only meeting) after a loss like that because your team can go in different ways," UCLA senior strong safety Chris Horton said. "Everyone can be sitting around, moping around about what happened Saturday, but we're not going to let that happen. We still have a lot to play for. This is a season in which we dedicated a lot to, so we're going to go out and play. It was a good, positive meeting."

Injury report: An MRI showed Bruins starting left guard Shannon Tevaga suffered a mild tear of the medial collateral ligament in his right knee, and is expected to miss the next two games. He could return Oct. 6 against Notre Dame.

With Tevaga out, Agoura High product P.J. Irvin is in line to make his first career start.

Also, UCLA coach Karl Dorrell said strong side linebacker Aaron Whittington will be held out because he sustained concussions in successive games. Kyle Bosworth is in line to make his second career start.

Dorrell added that if receiver Marcus Everett (ankle) was limited or could not play, Osaar Rasshan would get more time.

A Markey back? After rushing for 1,109 yards and averaging 4.9 yards per carry last season, Bruins tailback Chris Markey, who missed spring practice with a fractured foot, rushed for 153yards in three games and is averaging 3.3 yards per carry.

The lack of production has led to questions as to whether Markey is injured.

"He's not banged up -- more than anyone else," Dorrell said. "I know that he's working hard and trying hard. I think at times he probably presses a little bit, because of him wanting to make plays, and not being able to make as many plays as he would like for the offense."