Bruins Behind Before Kickoff

You say it’s October . . . and UCLA wants confirmation.

The college football season is five weeks old . . . and the Bruins ask for a recount.

They are the No. 4 team in the rankings . . . and even they can’t be sure of that status in reality.

Aiming for only their second 3-0 start of the 1990s, the late-starting, hurricane-delayed Bruins hope to find their bearings when Washington State comes to the Rose Bowl today for the start of the Pacific 10 Conference schedule, knowing the opponent has played as many games there since January as the home team. Fitting.

The team that doesn’t even know how many games it has left, depending on whether the trip to Miami is rescheduled, is very much aware how many it has played. Two. As in, half the total of many other teams in the top 25 and at least one behind everyone else.

If only rope-a-dope had been the plan all along.

“I look at the papers on Saturday morning,” tight end Mike Grieb said. “I watch ESPN ‘Gameday’ or whatever. They all show the records. People are 4-0, 3-0. We’re still undefeated, but we still haven’t proven anything.

“It really lets you know you have a lot to prove. We’ve only played two games. Other teams have played three or four. Those two games can make a big difference.

“It really feels like a long time since we’ve played. I don’t know how to describe it.”

Unusual?

Restful?

Worrisome?

“That’s where all the pressure is coming from,” linebacker Ramogi Huma said. “We haven’t played as many games as everyone else. That kind of puts us at a disadvantage.

“Washington State has played four games and we’ve only played two. It’s kind of concerning. The more games you’ve had, the more chemistry you have as a team. Right now, we’re trying to find ours, especially on defense.”

Said Coach Bob Toledo: “It’s really a funny feeling. We’ve only played two games, but now we’ve got five games in October. We’ve got to be ready to crank it up.

“I don’t have a great feel for this team yet. We’ve still got some things to do. [Today] will be a great indication for us. It’s strange, only playing two games so far, let’s put it that way.”

And those two games haven’t exactly been assuring, even though both, against Texas and at Houston, ended in double-digit victory margins. The defense has lacked consistency. The lineup has been juggled. The numerous injuries have been factors.

In truth, of course, the Bruins, after opening later than anyone else in the conference and most everyone in the country, by choice, have missed only a game, and that was unplanned. Not wanting to test Mother Nature’s home-planet advantage, they scrubbed the Miami run, only to find it had become as much a void as a rest.

The previous game, actually, was Sept. 19. The previous home game, against the Longhorns, was Sept. 12.

In other words, forever ago.

The defensive line has changed since the start of the last game. End Kenyon Coleman is out this week, and maybe longer, because of a sprained knee, so Travor Turner will start for the first time. The other end, Pete Holland, has been knocked from the opening lineup by a sprained ankle, so Jayson Brown moves up to No. 1, though Holland may play. Nose guard Micah Webb is the only survivor from the opener.

The rotation at receiver has changed since the start of the last game. Freddie Mitchell, the backup flanker and also the top return man, is sidelined for the season because of a broken leg. Brad Melsby went from starting split end to the reserve role at flanker. Brian Poli-Dixon gets the promotion to the opening lineup at split end.

The secondary has changed since the start of the last game. Larry Atkins has gone from strong safety to free safety, a move the Bruins hope gets their best defensive back more involved. That move also sent Eric Whitfield to second string at cornerback. Marques Anderson has been demoted at the other corner, replaced by Ryan Roques. Tod McBride goes to No. 1 at strong safety.

Which brings them all to Game 3, at last.

“It feels real strange,” Grieb acknowledged.

It feels like September. This is October, though. Ready or not.