Cards Stacked Against Stunts

One of the most enduring UCLA football traditions is in danger of extinction. Student participation in the halftime card stunts has dropped so precipitously that fans on the opposite side of the Rose Bowl often cannot tell what the cards are supposed to spell out, and athletic department officials plan to meet with student organizers after the season to decide whether to pull the plug on the stunts.

“We’re concerned that we’re doing something and it’s not coming off very good,” assistant athletic director Mike Dowling said. “It’s a student activity, and maybe the students don’t want to do it anymore.”

In an effort to motivate students by showing them how sharp card stunts can look, the alumni seated across from the student section will perform the stunts today.

UCLA card stunts date to 1921, said Jerry Lopez, chairman of the Rally Committee, the student volunteers who organize the stunts.

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Good morning, Dennis Erickson: The Bruins are in no hurry to tell you whether star tailback DeShaun Foster might return today against your Oregon State team. Foster, who suffered a broken hand three weeks ago, will be examined by doctors today and could be cleared for limited duty this afternoon. Akil Harris still is expected to start at tailback with or without Foster.

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Mat and Dave Ball are twins, so it is fitting for each to make his first career start in the same game. Both play defensive end, with Mat replacing the injured Sean Phillips and Dave replacing the injured Rusty Williams.

The Balls grew up in Dixon, 20 miles west of Sacramento. The redshirt freshmen room together this year, but they made sure to live apart last year, their first away from home.

“I wanted to meet new people,” Dave Ball said. “You don’t want to have your brother as your only friend.”

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* Time: 3:30 p.m.

* Site: Rose Bowl.

* TV: Fox Sports Net 2.

* Radio: KXTA (1150).

* When UCLA has the ball: The UCLA coaches insist they will diversify their offense beyond running up the middle and passing to Freddie Mitchell, although it’s difficult to argue with passing to the guy who leads the NCAA with 122.7 receiving yards a game. In two games since returning from a shoulder injury, quarterback Cory Paus has thrown for 576 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions. Akil Harris is expected to start at tailback, the Bruins’ third starter at the position in the past three games. UCLA couldn’t run against California even when the Bears didn’t play eight or nine men close to the line, and the UCLA coaches will be quick to yank any and all offensive linemen if the situation repeats itself. Oregon State safety Terrence Carroll has four interceptions, and the Beavers lead the Pacific 10 Conference with 12.

* When Oregon State has the ball: The Beavers’ unusual spread offense wasn’t so troubling to opposing defenses when quarterback Jonathan Smith did little more than throw incompletions and hand off to tailback Ken Simonton, the leading rusher in the Pac-10. But Smith has thrown for 638 yards the past two weeks, including touchdowns of 76, 80 and 97 yards, and has a streak of 141 consecutive passes without an interception. And, should Simonton stumble, backup Patrick McCall has averaged 5.7 yards in 46 carries. The Bruins will start three freshmen--Rodney Leisle and twins Mat and Dave Ball--along an injury-riddled defensive line. UCLA will play five and six defensive backs at times, and speedy backup linebacker Marcus Reese should be a good fit against the fleet Beavers.

* Key to the game: UCLA has won 18 of its last 20 games at the Rose Bowl, but the more relevant statistic is that the Bruins have yet to score first this season. If the Bruins score first--and often--they can force Oregon State into an unfamiliar game of catch-up and neutralize Simonton. If the Beavers score first, let the mind games begin on the UCLA sideline.

* Fast fact: Oregon State never has defeated USC and UCLA in the same year. The Beavers beat the Trojans, 31-21, last month.

* Line: UCLA by 3.

HOW THEY COMPARE

UCLA and Oregon State

28.0 Scoring 30.5

28.5 Points allowed 17.0

235.0 Passing 198.0

116.8 Rushing 182.3

351.8 Total offense 380.3

208.2 Passing defense 185.8

141.3 Rushing defense 110.5

349.5 Total defense 296.3