Drew Out of Bed, Not in Uniform

Running back Maurice Drew didn’t participate in practice for the third consecutive day on Friday, but this time he attended the Bruin workout.

Drew, the team’s leading rusher, has been bedridden for two days with flu that has knocked four players out of practice this week.

He showed up Friday bundled in a sweatshirt and sweat pants and wearing a wool ski cap.

“I could walk around, so I just decided to come watch practice,” Drew said. “I didn’t leave my bed for two days.”

Drew said he tried practicing through the symptoms but couldn’t last past Tuesday.

“I just broke down,” he said.

Drew got a flu shot earlier this year and said he had flu at this time last year. He plans to attend today’s practice but won’t decide if he will suit up until he arrives.

“It depends how I feel,” he said. “My temperature has gone down, but I still have some symptoms.”

Coach Karl Dorrell said he has no plans of keeping Drew out of the Silicon Valley Classic against Fresno State on Dec. 30 in San Jose.

“He was on his death bed for a couple of days, but he’ll be ready to go,” Dorrell said.

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Left tackle Steven Vieira and free safety Ben Emanuel are not progressing from injuries that could keep them out of the bowl game.

Vieira injured his knee during practice last Saturday. Emanuel has been nursing a groin injury since the USC game Nov. 22.

“Vieira is still not able to do much,” Dorrell said. “The more he stays out, the more unlikely he’ll be able to play. We’re going to reevaluate him next week.... If he can’t do anything at that point, he might not be ready for the game.

“Ben Emanuel is in the same circumstance. We’re going to see what he does in the early part of next week.”