More Bad News for Bruins

Any remaining doubt that fate is working to bring down UCLA--along with the little matter of all those on-field factors--have been erased with the latest sign that this season was never meant to be.

The Bruins announced Monday that sophomore center Troy Danoff will miss the last two games and will undergo surgery because of a torn knee ligament suffered last Wednesday--meaning they lost two offensive line starters to serious injury during a bye week.

Guard Mike Saffer went down the day before with a sprained knee ligament, which normally takes four weeks to mend, or about two weeks longer than UCLA has left. Now comes word that not only is Danoff, a first-year starter but the most consistent member of the unit, done for 1999, but that he will also miss spring practice.

“It’s a devastating blow,” Coach Bob Toledo said, alluding to what would have been an important off-season for Danoff because of his inexperience.

The revised opening lineup, with what could include as many as four new starters, remains to be determined. Matt Phelan, who has started twice at both guard spots, probably will debut at center Saturday against Washington, and Oscar Cabrera will remain at left guard.

Otherwise, Brian Polak is scheduled to move from right tackle to right guard to replace Saffer, and the two starting tackles will come from among Blake Worley, Micah Webb and Bryce Bohlander. Worley has been No. 1 at left tackle, but could move to the other side to take Polak’s spot. Webb and Bohlander have yet to start this season.