Anything but Kings of Road

The Bruins could make an unflattering entry in the school record book today. They have lost eight consecutive road games, one shy of the school record.

In fact, UCLA lost the first nine road games it played, none to schools that would pursue the glamour and glory of major college football. Some weren’t even colleges.

On Oct. 3, 1919, in the first game in UCLA history, the Bruins lost, 74-0, at Manual Arts High. The Bruins went 2-6 that year, losing their other three road games--at Hollywood High, at Bakersfield High and at Occidental, against Oxy’s freshman team.

In 1920, the Bruins lost at Pomona, at Redlands and at Whittier. In 1921, they lost at Occidental--to Oxy’s varsity this time--and at Caltech. The Bruins snapped that nine-game road losing streak in 1922, with a 24-6 victory at San Diego State.

The Bruins played 11 consecutive road games without a victory from 1942-45, with 10 losses and one tie in that span.

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The Bruins lost earlier this season at Oregon, and they play at Washington in two weeks. Oregon and Washington generally are considered the toughest places for visiting teams to play in the Pacific 10 Conference, so perhaps UCLA catches a break today, at least in decibel level, by playing at Arizona.

Or perhaps not, according to UCLA offensive lineman Mike Saffer, who grew up in Tucson.

“Arizona is just as tough a place to play as anywhere in the Pac-10, and I would venture to say anywhere in the nation,” he said. “Their fans are pumped up. It’s going to be pretty loud.”

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Stanford went to the Rose Bowl last year. Oregon State might go this year. Washington State and Oregon have gone in recent years.

UCLA and USC are a combined 1-7 in the Pac-10.

“I don’t know if there is going to be a power broker in the conference any more,” Washington State Coach Mike Price said. “It used to be the Southern California schools were the powerhouses. Now it’s different. It’s better for everybody.”

Not for Bob Toledo. Certainly not for Paul Hackett.

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* Time: 4 p.m.

* Site: Arizona Stadium, Tucson.

* TV: Channel 7.

* Radio: KXTA (1150).

* When UCLA has the ball: Arizona’s “Desert Swarm” defense is a knockoff of the one Buddy Ryan devised for the Chicago Bears when they won the Super Bowl in 1986. The Wildcats will come, and come hard, after running backs and quarterbacks. That forces all kinds of chaos, and Arizona leads the Pacific 10 Conference in sacks, interceptions and turnover margin. Cornerback Michael Jolivette has intercepted five passes, tops in the Pac-10, and broken up 11 others. Arizona opponents average 2.2 yards per carry, but the Wildcats’ defensive gambles will allow UCLA receivers Freddie Mitchell and Brian Poli-Dixon plenty of room. Quarterback Cory Paus had better find them fast, though--he has been sacked 11 times in the last three games, and backup Ryan McCann is out because of a shoulder injury.

* When Arizona has the ball: The Bruins struggled to contain California quarterback Kyle Boller when he scrambled two weeks ago, and Arizona quarterback Ortege Jenkins is a far better runner than Boller. Jenkins runs with a purpose, not just to escape a heavy rush, and he leads the Wildcats with four rushing touchdowns. Clarence Farmer, Leo Mills and Larry Croom rotate at tailback. Jenkins doesn’t pass nearly as often, or as well, as Paus, and his offensive line allowed eight sacks last week for the second time this season. Arizona averages 296 yards in total offense, last in the Pac-10, but the Bruins gave up 604 yards in total offense to Oregon State last week, and their ability to run down Jenkins is limited by an injury bug that has affected virtually every starting linebacker and defensive lineman.

* Key to the game: If the Bruins insist on running up the middle and throwing long passes, they will lose. If the Bruins control the ball with short and medium passes, they can neutralize Arizona’s defense and win.

* Fast fact: Arizona has yet to defeat a team that currently has a winning record. The Wildcats have beaten Utah (2-5), San Diego State (2-5), Stanford (3-4), USC (3-4) and Washington State (3-4).

* Line: Arizona by 5 1/2.

HOW THEY COMPARE

UCLA and Arizona

29.4 Scoring 24.6

30.7 Points allowed 16.0

253.3 Passing 159.7

110.4 Rushing 136.7

363.7 Total offense 296.4

228.6 Passing defense 239.0

157.3 Rushing defense 80.0

385.9 Total defense 319.0