GAME DAY : UCLA SCOUTING REPORT / UCLA vs. BOISE STATE : Are Boise Scouts Prepared?

Ryan Nece portrayed Shawn Sandoval. Oscar Cabrera was Jeremy Mankins. Durell Price became Shay Swan. Audie Attar, at least able to keep his usual uniform number, played Ryan Brinkley. And so on.

Part of the penalty for being suspended for the season opener against Boise State was serving as Boise State during UCLA practices, a temporary demotion to the scout team that some Bruins did not take well. That, in turn, meant they were taking their chances with Coach Bob Toledo, who could hold this against them when the time comes to get their expected jobs back.

“Some of them are having a hard time motivating themselves,” Toledo said, declining to name names.

Most of them will have to get used to it. With the exception of Attar, the defensive back being kept out of the opener because of an off-season fight, those caught in the handicapped-parking scam will next week become Ohio State Buckeyes.

“It seems strange,” said UCLA’s Ryan Roques/Boise State’s Dempsy Dees. “But by now I’ve learned don’t ever think you’re above anything because that’s when you stop working hard and that’s when you start taking things for granted. If you start taking things for granted, if you start thinking you’re above something, too good to work hard every play or you’re too good to play this position--nobody likes somebody like that. I just accept it and try to better myself and better my teammates. The better I do, the better they get.

“To some guys, it’s kind of a blow to the ego because they’ve worked so hard to prove themselves as starters and now they’re back to playing scout team. Some of them try to take it with a grain of salt, a little bit of humor to it and what not.”

Any of the penalized players who want to watch tonight will have to do so either from the stands or on television. They are not allowed on the sideline. They will not stay at the team hotel. They will not ride the team bus. The same applies next week at Ohio State.

*

* Time: 6 p.m.

* Site: Rose Bowl

* Records (1998): UCLA 10-2, Boise State 6-5

* TV: Fox Sports West 2

* Radio: XTRA (1150)

* The offenses: UCLA Coach Bob Toledo will play both quarterbacks. He just won’t say how. Junior Drew Bennett will start and redshirt freshman Cory Paus will come off the bench, but Toledo isn’t saying how the rotation will work, only that Paus will get in early. The two could alternate every quarter or every two series--or Bennett could get 75% of the snaps. “I told my brother who goes to Arizona to come,” Bennett said. “Worse-case scenario, this could be my only start.” The UCLA line lacks depth and experience, but Boise State has three four-year starters: right tackle Keith Dilworth, right guard Jeremy Mankins and left guard Ryan Groneman. Left tackle Willy Van Gorder is also a returning starter, making redshirt freshman Scott Huff, the center, the only addition for ’99.

* The defenses: Three of the Bruins’ four cornerbacks on the two-deep roster are making their college debuts. The only experienced member is Jason Bell, the starter on the right side. He is backed up by Ricky Manning Jr., impressive in the three weeks of practice, but still a true freshman. Redshirt freshman Joe Hunter opens on the left side, ahead of another member from the same class, converted receiver Paul Nelson. Boise State’s Bryan Johnson, who led the team in tackles each of the last two seasons, is a preseason nominee for the Butkus Award, presented annually to the nation’s top linebacker. Cornerback Dempsy Dees led the Big West in interceptions last season as a sophomore.

* Key to the game: The Bruin offensive line that has only one returning starter tonight. If the blocking is decent, DeShaun Foster and Jermaine Lewis should be able to establish a ground game. If the protection is good, Bennett and Paus won’t have an additional reason to get rattled--apart from the natural nervousness that may come. Depth and talent at receiver, even without the injured Danny Farmer, will take care of the rest.

* Fast fact: UCLA has not been ranked this low--No. 17 by the Associated Press--in nearly two years, since the Bruins had the same standing when they played Oregon State on Oct. 18, 1997. The Bruins are also out of the top 10 for the first time since Nov. 1, 1997.

* Line: UCLA by 27.

HOW THEY COMPARE*

UCLA Boise State

39.7 Scoring 29.9

28.3 Points allowed 31.8

304.8 Passing 246.5

182.4 Rushing 176.2

487.3 Total offense 422.6

257.5 Passing defense 269.9

180.3 Rushing defense 126.2

437.8 Total defense 396.1

*--1998 statistics