Price Loses Starting Job to Walendy at Fullback

Durell Price, though understanding the reasoning, could not hide his disappointment at being removed as the starting fullback for the USC game, especially because it came right after he had 44 yards in five carries against Washington.

Price, a junior, got the job when senior Craig Walendy was forced out during double days by an infection, then held the spot even as they eventually came to split time during games. But Coach Bob Toledo, saying he considered them both worthy of being in the starting lineup, made the move this week because it’s the final regular-season home game for Walendy, the last for sure if the Bruins play in the Fiesta Bowl.

“That’s probably the hardest part to understand,” Price said of the change coming two days after he averaged 8.8 yards a carry in Seattle. “But Coach Skip [running back coach Kelly Skipper] explained it to me. Craig, he deserves it. He’s been giving his all for UCLA football for years. He deserves to be honored and I don’t want to stand in his way.”

So Walendy moves to No. 1 for the first time since the Cotton Bowl.

“It’s nice,” he said. “I’ve been waiting for that for a long time.”

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The Bruins are calling the availability of starting tackle Brian Polak a game-time decision after he sat out practice for the third day in a row and appears likely to be out today because of a sprained ankle and knee. The inexperienced Josh Webb, who was moved from the defensive line earlier this season and since then has been slowed by a shoulder injury, will start if Polak doesn’t.