Toledo Hoping to Avoid ‘Total Collapse’

The lowest day of Bob Toledo’s one-plus season as UCLA’s coach is easy to pinpoint.

It was Oct. 19, 1996.

The Bruins had been hammered by Michigan, 38-9, three weeks before, but the 41-21 loss to Washington was worse, “because Michigan wasn’t a league game,” Toledo said.

“[The Huskies] were better than us last year. We didn’t play well on either side of the ball, or the kicking game. It was a total collapse.”

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UCLA has been inside the opponents’ 20-yard-line 44 times and has scored on 40 of those trips. There have been 30 touchdowns (24 rushing, six passing) and 10 field goals.

In their last eight games, the Bruins have converted on 35 of 37 trips into the “red zone.”

Defensively, UCLA has given up 17 scores (nine touchdowns and eight field goals) in 24 opponents’ trips inside the 20.

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UCLA’s practice schedule will be altered because of the extra work done last week before last Saturday’s open date on the schedule.

The Bruins will practice in pads today, Tuesday and Wednesday (Monday is usually a lighter day), but will shorten the practice sessions.

Thursday, as usual, will be in shorts with a game rehearsal.

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UCLA votes in the ESPN-USA Today coaches poll, but Toledo doesn’t.

“I give it to [assistant Gary] Bernardi,” Toledo said. “I don’t follow that stuff. I really don’t. I give it to Gary, probably because he can take the calls at 2 o’clock in the morning.”

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NEXT FOR UCLA

WHO: Washington

WHERE: Rose Bowl

TIME: Saturday, 12:30 p.m.

TV: Channel 7

RADIO: AM 1150