Farmer Makes Hay, History

Danny Farmer on Saturday became a factor again for the first time this season and a part of history, making six catches for 148 yards and setting the UCLA record for career receiving yards.

He passed Kevin Jordan, a teammate when Farmer was redshirting as a freshman and Jordan was a senior, with the first reception against Arizona State. It came on an 85-yard scoring pass from Cory Paus, the sixth longest in school history, and gave the former walk-on from Loyola High in Los Angeles 2,588 yards. Jordan had 2,548.

“Maybe it will [mean something] in 10 to 20 years,” Farmer said after Arizona State defeated the Bruins, 28-27. “Right now, it doesn’t mean anything. The first thing that comes to mind is that we lost.”

Said Bruin Coach Bob Toledo: “He won’t appreciate his accomplishment because we lost. That’s the way he is. But I’m proud of him. He played hard.”

The six-catch performance was a breakout for Farmer after the early-season struggles with a sprained ankle and two inexperienced quarterbacks finding their way. He had not played in two of the previous four games because of the injury, played but did not have any catches in another appearance, and had just three receptions in the other.

That knocked him off a realistic pace to get the other UCLA career record, total receptions. He has 139, just four away from overtaking Sean LaChapelle for No. 3 on the list, but will need to average about seven catches if the Bruins play six more games, or about six if they go to a bowl, to catch Jordan for the top spot.

Farmer had at least six catches four times last season and seven receptions twice, but that was with health and Cade McNown. At least he is getting health back.

“I’m pretty close,” he said of the left ankle. “It still hurts a little bit. I’m not using that as an excuse. It’s not 100%, but I’m pretty close.”

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First, Keith Brown was thrilled just to start at tailback in his return to his hometown.

Then, he decided Saturday morning he wanted to get 150 yards.

Greed is good. Turning the only game at Arizona State during his Bruin career into a career game, the senior from Phoenix had 182 yards and two touchdowns in 24 carries. Even taking away the 50-yard touchdown run on the first possession, it’s still an impressive day, an average of 5.7 yards in 23 attempts.

“I just came out trying to prove that I made the right decision coming to UCLA,” he said.

The location--Arizona, not UCLA--has a lot to do with it. Brown had one of his best games last season, 91 yards and two touchdowns while starting for the suspended Jermaine Lewis, in Tucson.

“My emotions run a little bit more,” he said. “I also play more.”

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The Bruins have lost all three road games in 1999, at Ohio State, Stanford and Arizona State. The overall streak is at four, including the Miami contest last season. . . . Tony White, questionable after missing practice late in the week because of pneumonia, was in his usual starting spot at outside linebacker. . . . As expected, Mike Saffer returned to the opening lineup at guard after sitting out the previous two weeks because of a sprained ankle.

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Better to Receive

UCLA’s Danny Farmer became the school’s all-time leader in receiving yards with an 85-yard touchdown reception at the start of the second quarter. A look:

1. Danny Farmer (1996-present) 2,651

2. Kevin Jordan (1992-95) 2,548

3. J.J. Stokes (1991-94) 2,469

4. Jim McElroy (1994-97) 2,029

5. Sean LaChapelle (1989-92) 2,027

6. Flipper Anderson (1985-87) 2,023

7. Mike Sherrard (1982-85) 1,965

8. Cormac Carney (1980-82) 1,909

9. Jojo Townsell (1979-82) 1,773

10. Karl Dorrell (1982-86) 1,517

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Staff Writer J.A. Adande contributed to this story.