ANALYSIS : UCLA Hasn’t Been Able to Fill the Holes

In 20 of the last 25 years, the USC-UCLA game has been significant, with one or both teams needing a victory to win the Pacific 10 Conference championship and a berth in the Rose Bowl.

This is one of those uncommon, off-years with nothing at stake but pride.

By beating Arizona, 24-3, last Saturday, USC became the Pac-10 representative in the Rose Bowl for the third consecutive year.

With a 3-7 record, UCLA doesn’t have a prospect for any bowl game after winning a record seven consecutive bowl games. The Bruins can’t even salvage their dismal season by beating the Trojans, although a victory would give the struggling team something to build on.

So what has happened to UCLA, a team that was expected to contend, as usual, for the conference championship and possible national honors?

Dick Vermeil, the former Philadelphia Eagles and UCLA coach, has watched the Bruins in three losses--to Arizona, Washington and Oregon State--as a television analyst for ABC.

His observations:

“UCLA has lost seven players to the NFL, including an $11-million quarterback (Troy Aikman). The seven guys they replaced those players with plus the others who graduated aren’t quite up to par with the kind of people they lost, but the expectations didn’t change for anybody.

“You automatically assume that they’ll be back there in that No. 2 spot battling USC for No. 1. It’s amazing that they have done it as often as they have.

“And all of a sudden, people who haven’t beaten UCLA believe they have a chance to beat the Bruins. I’ve heard it in the locker room and I’ve heard coaches say it. It’s the first time they have had a chance. So the enthusiasm and concentration in preparation for UCLA have been more intense than in the past.

“The Oregon States in the past couldn’t see any hope.”

Those close to the program say there are several factors contributing to the Bruins’ stunning decline:

* Coaching changes:

Coach Terry Donahue hired three new assistant coaches--Dave Currey, receivers; Larry Kerr, inside linebackers, and Mike Waufle, defensive linemen. Moreover, Greg Robinson, a former UCLA defensive coach, became the offensive coordinator, replacing Steve Axman, who left the program.

Axman, in turn, had replaced Homer Smith, a valued offensive coordinator who is now on the staff of unbeaten Alabama.

UCLA also lost Tom Hayes, who had been co-defensive coordinator with holdover Bob Field until going to Texas A&M; this season.

Assistants come and go in college programs, and the replacements, if only a few, are quickly absorbed. Too many changes, though, can contribute to a lack of continuity on a staff. Donahue has not commented on his coaching staff, but it is believed he’ll make some changes at the end of the season. During the Bruins’ five-game losing streak, the longest since 1963, they haven’t been able to protect leads or to make the necessary defensive adjustments in the second half.

* Quarterback:

Troy Aikman, the highly regarded No. 1 draft choice of the Dallas Cowboys last spring, provided the Bruins with a winning edge and, perhaps, made up for some offensive deficiencies.

His departure cannot be minimized, although it would be unfair to single out the play of redshirt freshman Bret Johnson and/or sophomore Jim Bonds as the sole reason for UCLA’s sporadic offense.

For example, the veteran offensive line has not performed to expectations.

* Defense:

UCLA lost six starters from last season’s team--linebackers Carnell Lake and Chance Johnson, nose tackle Jim Wahler, cornerbacks Darryl Henley and Marcus Turner and defensive end Eric Smith.

* Morale:

Four players were suspended before the season, another player was declared academically ineligible and still another was suspended during the season. They were expected to provide depth at their positions, especially linebacker Roman Phifer and free safety Willie Crawford.

* Injuries:

Tight end Charles Arbuckle, defensive tackle Bryan Wilcox, split end Reggie Moore, linebacker Meech Shaw and cornerback Randy Beverly have been injured for varying lengths of time. And offensive guard Lance Zeno had an appendectomy.

UCLA probably could have overcome one or two of these factors, but the combination proved to be devastating this season.

Donahue’s friends say that he has been devastated by UCLA’s plunge from among the elite in college football. Vermeil said it is understandable.

“The one thing you get coaching at USC or UCLA is that you never get conditioned to handling the adversity of losing,” Vermeil said. “When it does happen it hurts more than if you were used to it. It’s tough when you’ve been winning all the time. And the first thing that happens normally is all the people who have been on the bandwagon jump off.”

Given Donahue’s track record as coach since 1976, it might be projected that the Bruins will rebound in style in 1990.

For example, after the 5-6 season in 1979, the Bruins were 9-2 the next year, but it won’t be easy in 1990: Oklahoma and Michigan are two of the first three opponents.

And then there’s always USC waiting at the end of the season.