COLLEGE FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : UCLA : Surgery to Sideline Shah for Season

UCLA running back Sharmon Shah will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee today and be sidelined for the season.

Shah, a sophomore who played at Dorsey High, will ask the Pacific 10 Conference for a medical hardship redshirt designation, which will allow him to retain three seasons of eligibility.

“I kind of expected this was going to happen,” said Coach Terry Donahue, who has dealt with Shah’s knee problems since the season began.

After undergoing surgery on his left knee for cartilage damage before fall practice, Shah recuperated slowly, finally getting into the Nebraska game in the second week of the season and rushing for 58 yards in 10 carries.

But a congenital knee problem limited his practice time, and he talked of asking for a medical redshirt the week after that game. Instead, he came out to run the ball 40 times for 187 yards against Stanford.

The problems persisted as he played the first series of the San Diego State game Sept. 30 and injured his right knee while making a cut. He did not play again and is eligible for redshirt status because he played in only three of the season’s first five games.

The loss of Shah and Daron Washington’s ankle injury leave the Bruins short of tailbacks for Saturday’s game against Washington.

Donahue hoped to get back Skip Hicks, who rushed for 148 yards against Nebraska before spraining an ankle. Hicks suffered a bruised right calf in practice Tuesday.

If Hicks is not able to play or is limited Saturday, senior Ricky Davis will probably start.

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Center James Christensen, sidelined since the Nebraska game because of a knee injury, underwent tests Wednesday and no surgery was recommended. His injury, a partial ligament tear, has been slow to respond to treatment. . . . Left tackle Jonathan Ogden will not play because of a knee injury suffered in the Stanford game. . . . Others out include linebacker Andrew McClave (shoulder), defensive tackles London Woodfin and Kim Lawhorn (knees) and probably defensive back/kick returner Andy Colbert (back).