Silent thunder

Thursday, October 29, 1998

Silent thunder

FEATURE: Bruin free safety Larry Atkins is positive proof that actions speak louder than words

By Rocky Salmon

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

He is the eye of the hurricane. Quiet yet deadly, controlling a whirlwind of terror.

He speaks with his head lowered, his voice hardly rising above the din of passersby.

He is a pre-season All-American. He is one of only two seniors on the defense.

The driving force of UCLA's team is Larry Atkins.

Moving from strong safety to free safety this year, Atkins is the leader out on the field for the Bruin defense.

Usually when one thinks of the safety position, one thinks of a player who is loud and outspoken.

Atkins is far from that.

Rather than lead with his voice on the field, Atkins teaches through example and hard work.

"Atkins bites his tongue a lot on and off the field," said cornerback Eric Whitfield. "Even though he is quiet, he talks when we need him to. When he talks, his voice is heard."

This year his voice is being heard through his actions, as he has become the glue to the Bruin defense, which is young and learning a new defensive scheme.

Atkins has taken it upon himself to teach the younger players. By doing this, he must also cover the mistakes created by inexperience.

"He doesn't have the support he had last year, where the team was experienced so he could concentrate on his own position," senior linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo said. "Because he is an older player, he has had to step it up and cover the mistakes of the younger guys."

But acting as the calm in the center of a swirling chaos, Atkins does not talk down to the younger players. Instead, he encourages them.

In a year where he is being considered for the Jim Thorpe Award, Atkins does not even consider personal achievement. His goal is making UCLA's defense better.

"He is the defensive leader. but (he) never says much," sophomore linebacker Tony White said. "His actions are what we follow because he is always working hard. I sometimes feel sorry for him because we get brain locked, and he can't play his best because he has to concentrate on helping us."

Statistically, No. 35 Atkins is having another outstanding season, already accumulating 41 tackles, which is only four short of his career high, set last year. Though he only has one interception, Atkins has four pass break-ups and has had several chances for more interceptions.

But as the season progresses, he will get more chances.

After all, when the Bruin defense is out on the field, Atkins can be found everywhere, stuffing the run, smashing wide receivers and looking to grab the ball out of the air.

"It seems like there's three of him running around on the field," cornerback Ryan Roques said. "If you miss a coverage he'll be there. You miss a tackle, he'll be there. He is everywhere on the field."

If Atkins was a car part, he would be manual transmission, because he is clutch.

Against Cal, he recovered a fumble on the goal line stand before the half. That was his second turnover that half, as he also thwarted a Cal opening drive by intercepting a pass at the one yard line.

Against Oregon and Arizona, the two biggest games of the year, he recovered a fumble in each game. Atkins has a knack for turnovers, recovering three fumbles and six interceptions last year. Even though Atkins has only picked off one pass this year, it is out of respect from other teams of his skills.

"Quarterbacks (fear) him so much that they throw the ball away from him," Whitfield said. "Last year he had so many picks that this year they keep as far away from him as possible."

So now he is the field general. The defense spins around his work ethic and passion for football.

"He may not be vocal, but he leads by example," Roques said. "It's like he's been back there for 20 years because he keeps the (defense) flowing."

And that's what the eye of a hurricane does: it keeps the winds churning. Atkins is the key on a defense which is learning to adjust to new schemes. Defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti claims that without Atkins UCLA's defense would be in "dire straits."

As for Atkins himself? The few words one does get out of the king of the defense don't speak nearly as loud as his actions.

"I may not have the best social skills," admitted Atkins, "but to play football you don't need to be sociable. When I have to, I talk out on the football field."

And that's how it is. The shyest and quietest player on the field is one of the most important. He creates the hollering. He keeps the defense hyped.

In the end, Atkins is the loudest player out there in that he speaks volumes by going all-out on every play.

Whitfield said all everyone needs to know about his teammate in nine simple words.

"Atkins equals football. Football equals Atkins. Atkins is football."BHAMAN FARAHDEL/Daily Bruin

Senior free safety Larry Atkins is a reticent leader for the Bruins on and off the field.

Comments, feedback, problems?