Little Left Over From Big Party

The Sun Bowl pays participating teams $1 million each, yet UCLA officials say the school will have little or no profit to show for the Bruins’ appearance in the Dec. 29 game against Wisconsin.

UCLA expects to spend close to $1 million on expenses, including air fare, ground transportation, housing and meals for a traveling party of about 500, Mike Dowling, assistant athletic director, said.

During the regular season, the Bruins’ traveling party numbers about 125. The Pacific 10 Conference restricts schools to a 60-man traveling roster during the season, but the Bruins will take 104 players to the Sun Bowl, Dowling said. They also will take all trainers, equipment aides, student managers and video crew.

In accepting the Sun Bowl bid, the Bruins agreed to bring a spirit squad and full marching band, so the school must cover the costs of 250 band members and cheerleaders, Dowling said. During the regular season, the athletic department does not pay travel expenses for the UCLA band and cheerleaders.

The Sun Bowl also required the Bruins to buy 8,000 tickets. Since UCLA officials do not anticipate selling even half that many, the Bruins’ expenses could include close to $100,000 for unsold tickets, even with the Pac-10 subsidizing the cost of the first 4,000 unsold tickets.

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With the Sun Bowl a week away, the Bruins expect to start two of the four defensive linemen who started the regular-season finale against USC.

Mat Ball will start at defensive end, with twin brother Dave Ball replacing Rusty Williams (shoulder surgery) at the other end position. Rodney Leisle will start at defensive tackle, with Anthony Fletcher, Ken Kocher or Steve Morgan at the other tackle. Kory Lombard (broken arm) had moved into that spot after injuries to Fletcher (sprained ankle) and Kocher (sprained knee), but both Fletcher and Kocher have practiced this week. The Bruins will wait until next week to determine a starter, defensive coordinator Bob Field said.

Linebacker Robert Thomas, recovering from a stress fracture in his left foot, also has practiced this week and is expected to start.