Hicks Takes Some Licks

Leon Bender, a Washington State defensive leader who is never at a loss for words, had plenty of them regarding the absence of UCLA’s Skip Hicks on fourth and goal from less than a foot with three minutes to play Saturday at Pullman.

Bender led the charge on the tackle that kept Jermaine Lewis out of the end zone and kept the Cougars ahead in a 37-34 win.

Hicks was exhausted.

No, Bender said, he was weak.

“He had taken himself out of the game,” said Bender, from Santee, Calif. “I guess that’s how they do it at UCLA with their All-Americans.”

Bender was just warming up.

“UCLA is out there in Westwood, out there in Hollywood and they don’t want to work,” he said. “I know a lot of people who go to UCLA, and once they get there they become soft.”

Bender got his own rest on the game’s first series, benched by Washington State Coach Mike Price for excessive mouthiness during last season’s finale against Washington.

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NEXT FOR UCLA

WHO: Tennessee

WHERE: Rose Bowl

TIME: Saturday 12:30 p.m.

TV: Channel 7

RADIO: XTRA (1150)