Leisle Wins This Survivor Game

The only defensive lineman to start every game for the Bruins this season is, of course, injured. Defensive tackle Rodney Leisle said Wednesday he has played much of the season with bone chips in his left wrist and discomfort in two fingers of his right hand, and he said he could require surgery after the Sun Bowl.

“You can play hurt,” Leisle said. “They needed me. No one else is left.”

Sophomore Steve Morgan will make his first start for the Bruins in the Sun Bowl, Coach Bob Toledo said. The other three starters on the line are redshirt freshmen: Mat Ball (three starts), Dave Ball (two starts) and Leisle.

“I’m glad I’m the last survivor,” Leisle said. “This gives me more of a chance to start next year.”

That shouldn’t be a problem, since Leisle earned honorable mention All-Pacific 10 Conference honors this year, but the accelerated progress has left him a bit uneasy. The Bruins will have used 10 starters, including Morgan, along the injury-ravaged defensive line.

“You’ve got to be a leader,” Leisle said. “It’s hard for a freshman to be a leader, but I’m trying my best.”

*

In the Bruins’ 23-20 victory over Michigan, Freddie Mitchell caught 10 passes for 137 yards. Michigan’s David Terrell caught four passes for 82 yards. For the season, Mitchell caught 68 passes for 1,314 yards and eight touchdowns; Terrell caught 63 passes for 994 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Terrell said several days ago that he would skip his senior season and make himself available for the NFL draft. Terrell said he had been told he would be picked “very high in the first round.”

Said Mitchell: “He will be. I know I should be a first-round pick too. Terrell is a good receiver, but head-to-head I match up better. I don’t know if he’s better than me or Brian Poli-Dixon.”

Poli-Dixon has said he will return to UCLA for his senior season. Mitchell, who plans to hold a news conference in January to announce his decision, said he remains undecided whether to return to UCLA or go to the NFL.

*

Wisconsin is undefeated in its last six games against Pac-10 teams and in its last eight against teams from California. The Badgers last lost to a Pac-10 team in 1992, to Washington. The Badgers last lost to a California team in 1990, to Cal, in Barry Alvarez’s first game as the Wisconsin coach.

*

The dairy school at Wisconsin has created an ice cream flavor in honor of Alvarez: Berry Alvarez, a mixture of blueberry, raspberry and strawberry. And which flavors would Toledo want to include in an ice cream in his honor? “I’d probably have a pizza,” Toledo said. “I’m not a big ice cream guy.”