WHAT A DIFFERENCE ONE SEASON MAKES DORRELL'S HARD WORK BRINGING CHANGE AT UCLA.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

A week after Karl Dorrell was hired to rebuild UCLA's football program, the Bruins beat New Mexico by 14 points in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Two years later and the Bruins are back in the Las Vegas Bowl, this time to face Wyoming.

On the surface, not much has changed in Dorrell's two seasons. UCLA, and its fiercest opponent, say otherwise.

``Two years ago there was a lot of speculation about the future of this program and where it was going,'' UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero said. ``Most of that speculation and uncertainty kind of pointed to a downward direction. Even though we're going to the Las Vegas Bowl again, I think most people would say the direction is pointed in a positive way, and I would concur with that.''

Guerrero's sentiments are backed outside UCLA's program. Mike Patterson, a defensive tackle from archrival USC, said he noticed a difference between the UCLA team the top-ranked Trojans beat 29-24 Saturday at the Rose Bowl and the past three Bruins squads they routed by a combined 126-43 score.

``It was a tough team. This was a better team than we played the last three years,'' said Patterson, a first-team All-Pacific-10 Conference selection. ``I tip my hat to them. They're going to be a good team in the future.''

In Bob Toledo's final seasons, UCLA players were regular contributors to the police blotter, late-season collapses were the norm, there were myriad questions about the team quitting and the character of players, and UCLA's prestige dipped far below USC's.

Two years ago, the Bruins finished the regular season 7-5, 4-4 in the Pac-10. There was enough disdain for the program's direction that Toledo was fired. Ed Kezirian served as interim coach in the bowl win.

Dorrell was brought in to clean up the mess, and it has been neither easy nor smooth. The Bruins lost their final four regular-season games last year, finishing 6-6 (4-4 in the Pac-10), then were embarrassed 17-9 by Fresno State in the Silicon Valley Classic.

Afterward, some of the most outspoken seniors backed Dorrell and said there was a need to change the attitude of the program if UCLA was going to rebound.

``We needed to change a lot of things,'' Dorrell said. ``We're happy with the progress we've made over the last two years, and we're going to try and make more progress and continue to move forward.''

Dorrell's plan was to break down the program and begin building a new foundation. In his first 18 months, more than 20 underclassmen were kicked out of school, transferred on their own or were encouraged to find a new school.

Dorrell also urged the players to renew their commitment, beginning with offseason training. Attendance at summer workouts was close to 100 percent; the previous summer, the number was closer to 60 percent.

``Everybody can look at wins and losses and say we're at this level, but I don't think that's necessarily the case,'' Dorrell said. ``It's a lot more building a program from the inside out, and we're building it with a better atmosphere of football, a better attitude about football and building a work ethic.''

This season the Bruins, picked to finish eighth in the preseason conference poll, are 6-5. They again went 4-4 in conference, finishing fifth.

Those involved in the program believe a breakthrough moment occurred when the Bruins defeated Oregon 34-26 Nov. 13 to clinch a bowl bid. It was UCLA's latest road win since 1998.

``The one game we had to win, the biggest game of Karl's short career as a head coach, was the Oregon game,'' Guerrero said. ``There was a lot riding on that game, and our kids were well-prepared, and they were emotionally ready to play that game, and they played undoubtedly their best game of the year. And they followed that up with a great effort against the Trojans.''

Guerrero pointed to UCLA's offense as proof of the program's direction. A lagging offense was the problem a year ago, and the Bruins improved in every major offensive category under new offensive coordinator Tom Cable.

After averaging 19.1 points per game last season, UCLA averaged 30.9. The Bruins' rushing average increased from 91.9 yards per game to 190.3. The passing attack improved from 203 yards per game to 228.7. And after allowing 51 sacks last season, the Bruins yielded 16 this year.

After committing 109 penalties for 976 yards in 13 games last season, UCLA was called for 55 penalties and 437 yards in 11 games this year.

``It was my first year here (when Toledo was fired), and what I saw more than anything else was just a concern with the infrastructure of the program in a lot of ways,'' Guerrero said. ``When that isn't solid, you're not going to move in the direction you want to go. The difference between then and now ... Karl went through a real tough year last year trying to put this thing in place.''

Brian Dohn, [phone]

brian.dohn(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

(color) - Karl Dorrell, UCLA head coach on the misleading, nature of the Bruins 6-5 record.

Box:

2004-05 BOWL SCHEDULE