Any Way You Want to Say It, UCLA’s Game With Cal Is No Contest

There are several ways of saying that UCLA’s game against California today at the Rose Bowl will be no contest.

Cal Coach Bruce Snyder said: “It appears that they are one of the best teams in the country. . . . We’ve been kicked around a bit in the last few weeks.”

UCLA Coach Terry Donahue said: “The chemistry for an upset is good. . . . You know I believe in that.”

That means he’s concerned that his players recognize the facts and will not take the game seriously enough. It means that the Cal game is sandwiched between two games that had to be taken very seriously, against Oregon last week when Oregon, too, was undefeated in the Pacific 10, and at Arizona State next week in what may be the toughest game left on UCLA’s schedule.

The statistics say it, too: UCLA is undefeated in the Pac-10 and alone in first place with a record of 3-0. Cal is 0-1-1 in conference play. UCLA is 5-1 overall, having lost only to Nebraska. Cal is 1-4-1 overall.

History says it, too. UCLA hasn’t lost to Cal since 1971. The Bruins have won 15 straight.

Trying to beat UCLA was something of a crusade for Cal’s last coach, Joe Kapp, who obviously never got it done. The new coach, Snyder, a former Ram assistant, doesn’t have the same obsession, but he’d like to see it happen.

Snyder said: “This is my first go-round at Cal playing against UCLA, but I do sense that there is a special tension. I’m not sure that is to our advantage. I’ve been in situations before where somebody had a long losing streak; I think that just tends to make players more uptight.”

Snyder said his approach would be to take a page from former UCLA basketball Coach John Wooden’s philosophy and focus not on the opponent but on getting the most from his own players.

Cal quarterback Troy Taylor, one of the Bears’ primary assets, claims not to be concerned about the streak, calling it “past history.”

Taylor, a sophomore, is largely responsible for the improvement in Cal’s passing game, having thrown for at least two touchdowns in six straight games.

Taylor was recruited by UCLA, according to Donahue, who added: “We just didn’t get him.”

Taylor has completed 107 of 187 passes for 1,356 yards and 13 touchdowns. But he has also thrown 9 interceptions. He has completed all those passes despite losing his top two receivers, Vince Delgado and James Devers, to injuries before the season started.

Cal’s main problems all season, according to Snyder, have been “(lack of) depth and injuries.” He said that the Bears finished the Minnesota game with nine starters on the sideline.

The key player in and out with injuries has been running back Chris Richards, who early in the season was leading the league in rushing after three straight games of more than 100 yards, but who has been plagued by a series of injuries.

Richards is expected to play today, depending upon how well his bruised knee holds up. He was out earlier with a sprained ankle but returned against Arizona and hurt not only his knee but also an elbow.

Snyder said that having no game last weekend helped his team, giving some players a chance to heal.

Snyder also hinted that the extra week off had given his team a chance to put in the wishbone offense. That, apparently, was just a joke.

With the way the Bruins stop the run--they lead the Pac-10 by giving up an average of only 67.8 yards a game--that probably wouldn’t be a good idea.

Of course, with the way the Bruin defense has been intercepting passes--12 in the last 3 games--that might not be a bad idea, either.

All in all, it could be a long day for the Bears.

Bruin Notes Game time today has been changed to 4 p.m. because it will be televised by ABC (Channels 7 and 10), which is showing Game 6 of the World Series at 1 p.m. . . . Because of the heavy rains this week, there will be no parking on the golf course near the Rose Bowl. UCLA officials are asking that fans arrive early and park in the Parsons Engineering lot at Fair Oaks and Walnut in Pasadena. Free shuttle buses will take fans to and from the Rose Bowl.

Since winning its opener over University of the Pacific, Cal has lost four straight, to San Jose State, Minnesota, USC and Tennessee, and tied Arizona before having a bye. . . . Cal Coach Bruce Snyder’s only other job as a college head coach was at Utah State in 1976-82, where his teams were 40-41-2. . . . Bruin Tailback Eric Ball is expected to play today despite some continuing problems with his shoulder. . . . Senior Joe Pickert will start at tight end but is not likely to play the entire game because of a nagging shoulder injury. Mel Farr Jr. also will play at tight end after switching from fullback. James Primus will start at fullback.

Cal guard Lou Sergeant, a 240-pound senior, did not make the trip because of an ankle injury. He will be replaced by sophomore Tony Smith. That leaves Cal with just two senior starters on offense. The Bears also have just two senior starters on defense.