UCLA Limps Into Game While Hurting in Pac-10

The UCLA Bruins accomplished a lot in the first month of their season. They beat opponents big and small, from Miami to Fresno State. They established a strong running game with tailback Karim Abdul-Jabbar and a powerful offensive line. They developed an effective passing game, led by impressive freshman quarterback Cade McNown. They successfully switched from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense that lets them take advantage of their speed.

Yes, the Bruins have done just about everything. Everything, that is, except win a Pacific 10 Conference game. Everything except show that they belong in the Rose Bowl race.

UCLA is 3-0 outside the conference, but 0-2 in the Pac-10, having lost to Oregon and Washington State.

“We have got to get going,” Bruin Coach Terry Donahue said.

As in right now.

UCLA will play host to Arizona today at the Rose Bowl in the first of six consecutive conference games to close out the season.

As has been the case all year, the Bruins’ chances today may depend not so much on who will take the field against them, but rather who among them will be able to take the field.

Most teams coming off an open date, as is UCLA, are fresh and at full strength. But in this year of the injury, the Bruins will again limp onto the field.

At this stage, they are hurting the most in their lines, offensive and defensive. Every starter in the offensive line struggled through practice this week.

The two most seriously hurt are center Mike Flanagan, with a back injury, and guard Matt Soenksen, with a foot injury. If Flanagan can’t go, his spot will be taken by freshman Shawn Stuart. If Soenksen doesn’t play, Chad Overhauser will move from right tackle to right guard, his place taken by senior Mike Rohme.

The defensive line isn’t in much better shape. Out are tackle Travis Kirschke, because of an ankle problem, and end Phillip Ward, who has a knee injury. Playing one defensive end spot will be Danjuan Magee, who is coming back after a knee injury that has cost him the last two games. The other will be played by a committee made up of Vae Tata, Jason Nevadomsky, Weldon Forde and Tyrone Pierce.

At one tackle spot, where he has been serving all season as the anchor of the defense, will be Grady Stretz. George Kase will start next to him, that pair backed up by Marcus Daly and Darren Cline.

Also missing from the UCLA lineup today will be linebacker Donnie Edwards, serving a one-game suspension imposed by the NCAA for a violation involving a sports agent.

The defense hasn’t been the same since Edwards was sidelined in the first quarter of the Bruins’ third game after suffering a neck injury. While he was in the lineup, UCLA gave up an average of 8.5 points a game. In his absence, that average has soared to 27.7.

The Wildcats, however, can’t feel they have much of an advantage because of the Bruins’ injuries. Arizona has an injury of its own to worry about.

A huge one.

Receiver Richard Dice suffered a knee injury in practice this week that will sideline him today.

In five games, the junior caught 21 passes for 375 yards and five touchdowns. In last year’s 34-14 Wildcat victory over UCLA, Dice caught six passes for 138 yards and a touchdown.

Dice’s loss is particularly crucial because Arizona, saddled with an inexperienced offensive line, has not done well on the ground this season. The Wildcats are eighth in the Pac-10 in rushing, averaging 130.4 yards a game.

Gary Taylor is Arizona’s leading rusher with 452 yards, but he has scored only once and the Wildcats have scored only four touchdowns rushing.

Arizona is 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the conference.

If the Wildcats are to win today, it will probably be because of their defense, which is the best in the conference, having allowed an average of 271 yards a game and a total of seven touchdowns.

With USC off to a 3-0 conference start, both Arizona and UCLA consider this game critical. But Arizona Coach Dick Tomey is trying to keep his Wildcats focused only on the opposition.

“At this point, we’re not even thinking about the Rose Bowl,” he said. “We’re just trying to survive.”

Terry Donahue couldn’t have said it better.