UCLA NOTEBOOK: MCCANN HAPPY IN TENNESSEE.

Byline: Billy Witz Staff Writer

Ryan McCann was sitting at a table at Buffalo Wild Wings, a sports bar in Chattanooga, Tenn., having dinner with his parents Saturday night when his cell phone rang. It was his girlfriend calling from San Diego, telling him UCLA quarterback Cory Paus had broken his ankle.

``I looked up at the TV and saw (John) Sciarra in the game, and I thought, `Wow, it must be true,' '' McCann said. ``I was in shock. I felt so sorry for Cory.''

If McCann is feeling sorry for himself these days, it's hard to tell.

The former UCLA quarterback said he has no regrets transferring to Division I-AA Tennessee-Chattanooga for his final season of college football.

No regrets he's playing for a team that is 0-7, no regrets he's playing in front of smaller crowds than he did in high school and certainly no regrets about passing up the chance to step in for Paus the rest of the season.

McCann, who spent three mercurial seasons as Paus' backup, left last December because he never felt like he gained the trust of UCLA coach Bob Toledo.

``If I did stay, I would have been so unhappy from the beginning of the year knowing what would have happened,'' McCann said. ``I took it into consideration - what if Cory got hurt. I still think the younger guys (Drew Olson and Matt Moore) would have been the focus instead of me.

``It wasn't the right situation for me to stick around, no matter what happened. I wanted to put the ball in my hands instead of leaving it in someone else's.''

McCann, who missed two games with tendinitis in his left shoulder, has completed 55 percent of his passes for 943 yards with eight touchdown passes and eight interceptions.

He's coming off one of his best games, when he completed 16 of 25 passes for 260 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also ran 26 yards for a score.

``I feel like I'm such a better player now,'' McCann said. ``It seems like everything is slowing down. The losing is tough, but everybody's been putting in a lot of effort and trying to keep their head up. We're excited about the second half of the season.

``It's just fun to play. It's different living here, something I thought I'd never do and someplace I never thought I'd live, but it's really been a great experience. I wouldn't take back anything.''

--Staying strong: Despite another shooting death Tuesday by the Washington D.C.-area sniper, safety Kevin Brant, who is from the suburb of Bethesda, Md., said he's not too concerned about family members' safety.

``It's unfortunate for everybody,'' Brant said. ``But I've talked to my family and they say they're not scared. One of the shootings was a few blocks from my grandmother's house, and I see on the news that these things are happening at a gas station and a shopping mall that I've been to. It's weird because of the distance. I'm sure I'll think about it more if he's still out there when I go home for Thanksgiving.''

--QB update: The quarterback situation wasn't clearer Tuesday. Moore was impressive executing the pared-down game plan, and Olson participated in nonthrowing drills and played catch from 15 to 20 yards while he waits for his separated shoulder to heal.

``I can go all the way until game time,'' Toledo said.

--Kicking update: It looks as if punter Nate Fikse will replace Chris Griffith as the kicker this week. Toledo, who said he'll likely make a decision today, opened the job up this week, and Fikse has been impressive enough in two days of work that it's his job to lose.

``I'm leaning toward going with Fikse unless he falls apart (today),'' Toledo said. ``I talked to Griffith. It doesn't mean he won't ever kick again, but everybody else competes for a job, there's no reason (kickers) shouldn't.''