SPRING OBJECTIVES
The quarterback competition continues. Often injured or inconsistent, Ben Olson and Patrick Cowan are at it again, and with new coordinator Norm Chow at the helm, the slate is wiped clean again. Olson has started 10 games in the past two seasons, Cowan 13. A knee injury could limit Cowan this spring, but the competition could extend into the fall.

BUILDING BLOCKS
The defensive-tackle position will be boosted by the return of senior Brigham Harwell, who missed the final 11 games of last season and received a medical redshirt. Also inside, UCLA has true sophomore Brian Price, who was a star recruit in 2007. Adding to the depth are juniors Jess Ward and Jerzy Siewierski, as well as senior Chase Moline, who will see this spring if he can continue in football after missing eight games last season because of head, neck and back problems. If it all works out, the defense will have talent and depth at a critical position.

SCHEDULE SITUATION
New coach Rick Neuheisel gets no break-in time. The Bruins open at home against always-ready Fresno State, which, again, will be one of the favorites to win the WAC. Then, Tennessee visits the Rose Bowl Sept. 6. Then comes a game at MWC champ BYU Sept. 13. Welcome back to college football, Rick. The Pac-10 slate features five home games, but the four road trips all look difficult -- at Oregon, at Cal, at Arizona State and at Washington, which surely will be fired up for the return of its former head coach.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"The defensive players are very familiar with DeWayne's system, which has proven to be very effective, and despite the loss of several seniors, we should continue to field one of the top defenses in the Pacific-10 Conference." -- UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel on defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker

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