ROSE BOWL / DAILY REPORT : UCLA : Cook’s Flu Affecting Preparation for Game

UCLA quarterback Wayne Cook sat out practice for the third day in a row because of flu, and Coach Terry Donahue said Cook’s absence is affecting the Bruins’ preparation for the Rose Bowl. Cook, who seemed to rally Monday, apparently felt worse Tuesday, but Donahue said that he expected him to return for practice today.

“That’s what I’m betting on,” Donahue said. “We have had to work on things in practice that do not emphasize the starting quarterback as much. But it’s disruptive when Jamir and Wayne are out.”

Outside linebacker Jamir Miller, UCLA’s sack leader, also sat out practice because of flu, as did Brian Tighe.

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Dueling rings?

One of the most popular aspects of playing in the Rose Bowl has nothing to do with going to Disneyland or eating prime rib at Lawry’s.

It’s jewelry design--as in Rose Bowl rings.

“It’s modeled after (Joe) Montana’s 1988 Super Bowl ring,” Bruin lineman Craig Novitsky said.

The design was the work of Novitsky and teammates Matt Werner, Vaughn Parker, Carrick O’Quinn, Derek Ayers and Karl Schroller.

“It’s got a bear on one side, with our names, numbers and positions,” Parker said. “The other side has the picture of the Rose Bowl with the 1993 Pac-10 champs underneath. And the top has a nice diamond design.”

What awaits before casting is the outcome Saturday.

“If we win it’ll say Rose Bowl champs on the top,” Parker said. “If we lose, it’ll say 1994 Rose Bowl.”

And Wisconsin?

“I don’t want to reveal anything,” nose guard Lamark Shackerford said, laughing. “Well, it’s going to say Big Ten champion and have numbers and some nice diamonds, and it’s going to be heavy.”

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Wisconsin’s defense features a seven-man front and is different from many employed on the West Coast, where eight-man fronts designed to stop the run are the norm.

“We don’t see it that often, but it’s not all that foreign to us,” said Parker, a tackle. “Some teams have played a couple of snaps of it against us this year. But I think the key to the defense is the players.

“They’re active and physical and they’re going to be a challenge.”