Dewayne Walker

USC faces a Washington offense that can throw deep Saturday, so assistant coach DeWayne Walker assembled a videotape of the Trojan secondary's most memorable plays from the first four games. They weren't the kind of plays defensive backs want to remember. Walker showed them a compilation of mental errors. There were only seven or eight, but each resulted in a big gain or touchdown. Several came against Stanford last week. "The mistakes we make are crucial," cornerback Chris Cash said.

The search for a new UCLA football coach got lighter Wednesday, when Temple's Al Golden withdrew his name from contention, as DeWayne Walker, another candidate, explored possibilities elsewhere. Walker, the Bruins' interim head coach, met with Washington's Tyrone Willingham to discuss the Huskies' defensive coordinator opening, a source within the UCLA athletic department said.

I turned on the UCLA-Washington game at the start of the second half and I was soon struck by two things. First, it appeared the UCLA offensive game plan consisted entirely of plays that could gain only about two yards. Second, it looked as if TBS was experimenting with special effects during its broadcast. Somehow, it had the UCLA quarterback moving in slow motion, while every other player moved at full speed! MICHAEL STEINER Newport Beach Now we know why UCLA wasn't ranked.

Based on the efficiency of UCLA's spring football practices the last three weeks, it has been a smooth transition for Coach Karl Dorrell and his six new assistants. The Bruins wrapped up drills Thursday sporting a new defensive attitude and look, which was Dorrell's goal when he replaced Larry Kerr with DeWayne Walker as defensive coordinator. "It went much better than I ever imagined," said Dorrell, who also hired defensive line coach Todd Howard and linebackers coach Chuck Bullough.

John Wristen joined the UCLA football coaching staff as tight ends and special teams coach Wednesday, two days after Brian Schneider, who previously held that post, left the team citing personal reasons. Wristen, 43, has 16 years of college coaching experience, including the last seven as an assistant at Colorado. "John has a great track record with tight ends and special teams and has great experience with our offense," UCLA Coach Karl Dorrell said.

Learning to win is the next step for UCLA's football team. The Bruins, aching while going through growing pains in their first three games, came up with their most consistent game of the season Saturday, give or take a defensive breakdown and offensive gaffe. But the 36-31 loss to Fresno State showed that effort isn't always enough. "I think we're satisfied with the effort," Coach Rick Neuheisel said. "But there are things we can get better at."

UCLA found a way to handle Arizona quarterback Willie Tuitama once before. The Bruins sent him to the hospital. Tuitama was knocked out of the 2006 game at the Rose Bowl, a 27-7 UCLA victory. But when not spending time in the ER, Tuitama has left the Bruins in need of an IV. In 2005, he threw for 204 yards and two touchdowns in a 52-14 Arizona victory over a previously undefeated UCLA team. Last season, he threw for 341 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-27 victory.

UCLA officials, who were down to two candidates for the Bruins' head football coach job, are exploring other possibilities, sources familiar with the search said. John Harbaugh, a Philadelphia Eagles assistant who was interviewed more than two weeks ago, will meet with UCLA Chancellor Gene Block today, the sources said. Meanwhile, athletic department officials have also had informal talks with a college head coach whose team has to still play in a bowl game, the sources said.

UCLA defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker, asked last week about the preparation needed for his defense to contain 10th-ranked California, smiled and went for the laugh. "I'll watch their game this weekend, but I might have to go to a bar later," Walker said, smiling. The Bears, on paper, do seem to have the type of team that could drive a defensive coordinator to drink.

UCLA's defense looked sharp at times and two walk-on receivers had big days, but the story of Saturday's two-hour intrasquad scrimmage was the play of redshirt sophomore quarterbacks Ben Olson and Patrick Cowan in front of about 6,000 at Drake Stadium. "I've been here for a couple of years, and nearly each time, we have a quarterback controversy [for the Bruins' annual scrimmage]," said fifth-year senior center Robert Chai. "I thought both quarterbacks did good.