Cook Is Starting Over as UCLA Opens Drills

Wayne Cook, a 6-foot-3, 199-pound junior, began his bid to regain his starting quarterback position when the Bruins opened spring practice Tuesday.

After winning the starting quarterback job last spring, Cook had suffered a season-ending knee injury during the first half of UCLA’s 37-14 season-opening victory over Cal State Fullerton last September.

Now he’s battling for the job with redshirt sophomore Rob Walker, who started five games last season, sophomore Ryan Fien, who played in two games before breaking a bone in his left foot, and redshirt freshman Scott Fitterer.

“Last year was really frustrating,” Cook said. “I was ready and I was thinking I was going to have a really good year and now I’ve got to start all over again and earn the job. It would have been a lot easier if I’d come out and had a really good year last year and then it would have been mine.”

Homer Smith, UCLA’s offensive coordinator and quarterback coach, said Cook has an edge because he has a better grasp of the Bruins’ offense than the other quarterbacks.

“He can get beaten out, but right now, projecting him to be well in the fall, he’s our best quarterback,” Smith said of Cook. “He’s a marvelous player. He showed that last fall and in the opening game. Someone can improve rapidly and become better than Wayne, but right now Wayne, if he were healthy as we project him to be, would be our No. 1 choice.”

Cook, who underwent reconstructive surgery last fall after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, had arthroscopic surgery early last month to remove scar tissue from his knee.

Although Cook won’t participate in contact drills during spring practice, he expects to take part in seven-on-seven passing drills.

Bruin Notes

Linebacker Jamir Miller and nose guard Bruce Walker, suspended from all UCLA athletic activities after being arrested on misdemeanor weapons charges in unrelated cases last January, were reinstated Tuesday by Athletic Director Peter Dalis and will participate in spring practice. However, Dalis has ordered Miller and Walker to perform community service. Walker had his pretrial hearing continued from Tuesday until today in the Beverly Hills Municipal Court. . . . Junior tailback Chris Alexander, who rushed for 227 yards against Oregon State last season, is attending El Camino College in an attempt to improve his grades.