It’s really nothing more than a rite of spring, but to UCLA tailback Jason Harrison, it must have meant so much more. The first padded practice of the calendar year came Monday, and late in the day, the coaches set up one of those training-camp type drills that test the raw desire of their players. Read more...

Coach Karl Dorrell has wanted to emphasize the physical aspect of football, but it wasn’t until Monday ““ when the team practiced in shoulder pads and helmets for the first time ““ that the message actually got across. Read more...

Carrying high expectations and preseason accolades, UCLA first baseman Wes Whisler has struggled this season and was demoted last weekend to seventh in the batting order. Read more...

Three decades after running the fastest 800 meters in UCLA history, Tony Veney has found his way home. Veney, who replaced Derek Loudenback as the men’s sprints coach in June 2003, has brought 25 years of collegiate coaching experience to the track and field program. Read more...

Trevor Ariza plans to announce today that he will make himself eligible for the NBA Draft, a source within the UCLA athletic department said late Monday. Read more...

Older players good for sports Gilbert Quiñonez’s column “BYU’s slippage through NCAA loopholes hits volleyball hard” (April 9) goes way too far in insinuating that BYU is intentionally attempting to cheat and gain advantage over its competition. Read more...

Lack of experience has ailed the UCLA women’s water polo team all season. It has also been glaringly apparent for the Bruins that relying on sheer talent would not get them past the top-ranked teams in the nation. Read more...