End of Two-a-Day Practices Not Rosy

UCLA finished its two-a-day practices Wednesday with a closed two-hour intrasquad scrimmage at the Rose Bowl, and Coach Bob Toledo found plenty of things to be happy--and unhappy--about.

On one hand the Bruins ran off 80 plays under the eyes and whistles of referees, practiced two-minute drills, and began working on the game plan for the Sept. 2 opener against Alabama. They also got away from their campus training site for part of the day.

“We wanted to give them some of the environment they will be in next Saturday,” Toledo said. “Obviously there wasn’t the emotion or excitement of game day. But it was nice to go through some of the operations of a game.”

On the not-to-like list, the offense and defense were flagged for having 12 men on the field while making substitutions. And Toledo could not have been crazy about watching the second-string offense roll through the first-string defense on one drive, or seeing the second-string defense shut down the first-string offense on another series of downs.

“It happens. There are some good players on the second-string side,” Toledo said. “But it’s a concern when the second-string makes plays on the first-string, whether it’s offense or defense.”

*

Starting defensive tackle Ken Kocher suffered a sprained left ankle in Tuesday’s afternoon practice and is questionable for the Alabama game. Kocher said the injury occurred as the Bruins were practicing goal-line formations. “I got cut from the side or someone just fell on it,” said Kocher, who was walking on crutches and wearing a walking boot. Toledo said he thought Kocher could be gone two to four weeks. When told Kocher wanted to play against Alabama, Toledo joked “I know he does. And if he finds a faith healer, he may.” . . . To replace Kocher, Toledo said Anthony Fletcher and Rodney Leisle would alternate, with Steve Morgan backing them up. “Any time you lose key people it hurts you,” Toledo said. “There’s a reason why [Kocher] is first-string. The second-string guys have to try and pick it up.” . . . Other nicked-up players included fullback Matt Stanley (hip stinger), linebacker Kevin Stromsborg (heat exhaustion), tight end Gabe Crecion (bruised thigh) and receiver Brian Poli-Dixon (hamstring). Defensive ends Rusty Williams (thigh) and Sean Phillips (neck) were held out of the scrimmage.