Crowd Could Top 80,000 for Opener

UCLA officials are expecting one of the biggest home crowds for a non-Rose Bowl game in years when Alabama comes to Pasadena on Saturday afternoon, encouraging fans to arrive early because upward of 80,000 could be in attendance.

The Bruins have broken that barrier only four times in regular-season games in the last five years and not since Nov. 21, 1998, against USC. Their largest crowd last season was 55,705. The good news is that it will create a big-game atmosphere even though only No. 3 Alabama is ranked.

The bad news for the Bruins is that some 20,000 will be supporting the Crimson Tide. The school sold its entire allotment of 17,000 tickets. UCLA officials are counting on another several thousand in walk-up sales and by Alabama fans living in Southern California.

“I just hope we have as many people wearing blue as they do wearing red,” Coach Bob Toledo said. “I’d like to make an appeal to the fans to wave those white towels and support our football team.”

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A quiet camp on the injury front ended with more good news for the Bruins as guard Oscar Cabrera has been cleared to play and likely will be in the starting lineup. Chances also are good defensive tackle Ken Kocher will play.