Hicks Goes From King to Pauper

A week ago, Skip Hicks was leading the Pacific 10 Conference in rushing.

Now he’s fighting for his job.

Hicks, who has started all six games at tailback for UCLA, is being thrown into a three-way battle to start the seventh, with freshmen Durell Price and Keith Brown, after being held to eight yards in seven carries at Washington and fumbling for the fourth time this season.

“When people make mistakes at other positions, we look to find other people,” said Coach Bob Toledo. “We’re going to see who hangs onto the ball, see who fights for yards.”

To do that, UCLA will hold a rare mid-season scrimmage, probably today, with Hicks, Price and Brown getting about four carries apiece against the starting defense, which has had its own problems tackling. So the competition has a two-fold purpose, both sides of the line of scrimmage getting work.