UCLA-USC Notes : UCLA Seems to Be Well Stocked at Quarterback

For a guy who is projected to be the No. 1 pick in the National Football League draft next spring, Troy Aikman is refreshingly unaffected, but the UCLA quarterback may have stretched his humility to the limit this week.

Assessing the quarterbacks who will remain in the UCLA program after his departure, Aikman said: “Whoever plays, I don’t think there’s going to be a dropoff.”

It is a highly regarded group, but none of the four is projected as a first-round NFL draft pick.

Still, the Bruins seem well-stocked at the position.

Aikman’s assessments:

--Ron Caragher: “He’s got the most experience. He’ll be a fifth-year senior. He’s been in the program awhile and knows what’s going on. He’s got a good head on his shoulders. He understands what we’re trying to do offensively.”

--Bobby San Jose: “He’s had some arm problems, but he’s probably improved the most of any of the quarterbacks since I’ve been here. He’s probably the most gifted, athletically. He’s got tremendous feet, as good as any I’ve seen on a quarterback. He’s very quick in the pocket and mobile--very elusive.”

--Jim Bonds: “The strongest arm of all of them. He’s got an unbelievable arm--a stronger arm than I do. He’s a competitor. He hasn’t really gotten much game-time experience, but based on what I’ve been told about what he did in high school, he really shines when the lights come on.”

--Bret Johnson: “He was all-world coming out of high school (last season). He’s a great player. I’ve gotten an opportunity to watch him in some scrimmages, and he’s done extremely well every time he’s played. One of the things he’s got going for him is that his father (Bob) is a football coach (at El Toro High), so he’s grown up in an environment with the X’s and the O’s and with a football mind.”

What’s it like to play in the USC-UCLA game for the first time?

“I was in the twilight zone,” said UCLA linebacker Carnell Lake, who played as a freshman in the Bruins’ 17-13 loss in 1985. “Things were happening so quickly that it was just overwhelming. I couldn’t find my groove. I felt disoriented.

“It was so emotional and there wasn’t a time, like in most games, when it settled down. It just kept going and going. I remember thinking, ‘What’s going on?’

“I remember, on one play, Rodney (Peete) was running right at me and I thought, ‘God, where’d he come from?’ I tried to tackle him, but he was too fast. He got away.

“I thought, ‘They might as well take me out of this game.’ ”

USC strong safety Cleveland Colter had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Wednesday. He will miss Saturday’s game against UCLA and next week’s game against Notre Dame, but could be available to play in a bowl game.

He will be replaced by senior Tracy Butts.

“Colter is a combination free-strong safety,” Coach Larry Smith said. “Butts doesn’t quite have the same range as Colter, but he’s an excellent tackler.”

Smith also said tailback Steven Webster is out for the season with a hip injury. He, too, might be able to return for a bowl game.

One of UCLA’s major concerns this week, Coach Terry Donahue said, is an erosion of depth in its defensive line.

Tackle Steve Mehr tore ligaments in his left knee last week against Stanford, bringing to four the number of defensive linemen who have gone down in the last year with knee injuries.

Tackle Brad Bryson went down at the end of last season and has not returned, tackle Ron Evans went down in preseason drills and has not returned and nose guard Stacey Elliott went down last month against Oregon State and has not returned.

Also, nose guard Jim Wahler has been bothered by a pinched nerve.

“You need to play a lot of reserves in this game,” Donahue said. “Against (USC’s offensive) line, you can’t let your first players play the whole time. You’ve got to have some fresh guys in there.”

UCLA’s supply has run thin.

A stuffed bruin is hanging by its neck from the top of the USC student union building. Across the street, the statue of Tommy Trojan is tightly wrapped in duct tape as a preventive measure against any UCLA raiders with paint.

At UCLA, the bear on Ackerman Union quad is also wrapped tight.

Long live the persecuted, long-suffering gutty little Bruins: Speaking generally, but declining to divulge how he arrived at his conclusion, UCLA cornerback and punt return specialist Darryl Henley said this week that 80% of Los Angeles favors USC over UCLA.

According to figures obtained from the schools, about 175,000 former UCLA students live in Southern California, and about 135,000 former USC students live here.

If Henley is correct, a lot of former Bruins seem to have switched their allegiance.

Times staff writer Mal Florence contributed to this story.