COLLEGE FOOTBALL: THE BOWL GAMES : Bowl Notebook : Bruins Hope to Bring Home More Than Just a Cotton Bowl Victory

UCLA, which will have two starters from Houston in its lineup for the Cotton Bowl, hopes that its appearance against Arkansas Monday in Dallas will help add more Texans to its roster next season.

Six Bruins hail from the Lone Star State, including freshman Kevin Williams from Spring, Tex., whom many considered the nation’s No. 1 high school running back last season. Williams was a red-shirt this season.

Among the Bruin starters are tight end Charles Arbuckle and split end Reggie Moore, both from Houston.

James Malone, a freshman linebacker from Dallas, is also expected to play a lot in the absence of Chance Johnson, who is sidelined with a knee injury.

Why have the Bruins recruited so successfully in Texas?

Coach Terry Donahue points to the problems of the probation-plagued Southwest Conference, which has had 6 of its members admonished for recruiting violations by the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. since 1985.

“As a result, there has been a feeling on the part of a lot of Texas players that it would be better to get away from the troubles and get into a situation that might not be as volatile,” Donahue said.

UCLA reportedly is recruiting about 10 Texans this year, including another Kevin Williams, a wide receiver from Dallas, and Jessie Armstead, a highly regarded linebacker who also is from Dallas.

Among the Bruins’ major recruiting rivals in Texas will be Arkansas, which has 17 Texans on its roster and is 1 of only 3 Southwest Conference schools that have not been sanctioned by the NCAA.

In memory of the late Ducky Drake, a long-time UCLA trainer and coach who died Dec. 23, Bruin players will wear on their uniforms Monday a black patch embroidered with a white outline of a heart and a D.

Drake’s widow, Rose, is expected to attend the game.

Billy Ray will start at outside linebacker for UCLA in place of Eric Smith, who is listed by Coach Terry Donahue as doubtful with knee and ankle injuries.

Donahue also said Saturday that backup wide receiver David Keating is “extremely doubtful” with a hamstring injury.

Donahue listed tailback Eric Ball as questionable, but said he expected Ball to play despite an ankle injury.

The flu epidemic that Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden feared for a few days during the week hasn’t materialized, he said Saturday at New Orleans.

Running back Sammie Smith and tight end Reggie Johnson, both ill earlier, practiced as the Seminoles ended heavy drills for Monday night’s Sugar Bowl game against Auburn.

In Louisiana, however, Bowden has been working his players in pads, contrary to usual bowl week procedures. As a result, the Seminoles say, they have more nicks and bruises than they did at times in the regular season.

Auburn will go into the opening kickoff at full strength.

“Physically, we’re as good as we’ve been for any game this season,” Auburn Coach Pat Dye said.

Although Florida State (10-1) is favored at the Superdome, Auburn (10-1) came closer to a perfect record during the fall schedule.

Miami routed Florida State, 31-0, and Auburn lost only to LSU, 7-6.

On its winning drive in the fourth quarter, LSU came from behind by converting 3 fourth-down plays.

“That’s why we aren’t playing Notre Dame for No. 1,” Auburn quarterback Reggie Slack said.