No Insecurity During Practice

Two helicopters buzzed the UCLA practice field Friday, but not for the purpose of simulating the loud crowd expected Saturday at Oregon. A security force of hundreds, including FBI and Secret Service agents, assembled to protect Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi, who was speaking on campus.

One California Highway Patrol officer said the potential threats to Kharrazi were so great that the level of security exceeded what would be provided for President Bill Clinton. Some entrances were closed to Morgan Center, the athletic administration building, and coaches inside the building were ordered to lower their blinds for security reasons.

Since the practice field was in a restricted area, players had to enter and exit the field en masse.

“I was a minute away from being locked out of practice,” fullback Matt Stanley said. “Never a dull moment around here, I guess. But I think it’s cool that UCLA gets unique people to visit our campus.”

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As Coach Bob Toledo addressed the team after practice, the players burst out laughing. Toledo may be a funny guy anyway, but he particularly wanted to lighten the mood of a team he sensed was feeling the weight of a No. 6 national ranking.

“Some people were getting a little uptight,” linebacker Ryan Nece said.