JACOB KONST/Arizona Daily Wildcat UA Quarterback Richard Kovalcheck runs through drills during the first open football practice of the season, yesterday at the football practice field.

After a tumultuous two years, many Arizona football players are starting with a clean slate, perhaps none more so than Brad Brittain.

The lineman, a projected starter in August, was suddenly dismissed from the team right before the 2003 season started. He started at Mesa Community College for a season before coming here this semester.

"I came into conflict with some of ... there were some team policies that I violated, and I was suspended from the team. It was either stay in school or pursue my career as a college football player, and I wasn't about to sit around," Brittain said.

He said that recruiting coordinator Dan Berezowitz, a holdover from the former staff, kept track of him.

"My friends would joke around and say, 'Watch, just see what happens; you'll be back next season.'" Brittain said. "I thought I might be back next season. I never thought I'd be back this early, but it feels really good."

The defensive line is an area of need for the UA.

"We're just trying to get better as a group," Brittain said.

Brittain is back in his old house and living with sophomore offensive lineman John Abramo.

"It's good to be back in town, I'm at my old house," Brittian said. "School's going well. I know how to register, where things are. So it feels really good."

No depth chart set yet

The UA is starting off with no depth chart. Instead, the team is rotating for reps in drills, which last year's reserves said excited them.

"Everybody's going to get a chance. (It will be) just the guy who goes out there and earns it. I believe that," said sophomore quarterback Ryan O'Hara. "I was written off last season, so I'm just happy to get a chance."

Double the defense

Arizona's defense needs the most help, and it looks like it will get it.

Mike Stoops, the former associate head coach, co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Oklahoma, said he wants to stay involved with the defense.

"I just think we need a lot of work defensively to improve where we're at. We just need another set of eyes to help coach," Stoops said.

Stoops is helping his brother, Mark, the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach, for now. The younger Stoops was the secondary coach at Miami (Fla.).