Toledo Wants Foster to Carry the Load

Forty-two carries and 1,000 accolades later, DeShaun Foster’s busiest day as a Bruin has come and gone, but maybe not for good.

“He is physically capable of doing that,” Coach Bob Toledo said. “I don’t particularly want to run him 42 times a game, but if that’s what we have to do to win the football game, then maybe I’ll have to give him two scholarships.”

Gladly if it meant the same results: 187 yards, the most by a Bruin since Skip Hicks had 190 at Washington State in 1997, and three touchdowns in the 35-24 victory over then-No. 3 Alabama at the Rose Bowl. The 42 carries also tied the five-year-old school record of Karim Abdul-Jabbar (now known as Abdul-Karim al-Jabbar) and was 18 more than Foster’s previous UCLA high.

“That was a piece of cake compared to what he did in high school,” Toledo said, sarcastically. “That [coach] ran him to death in high school.”

Foster, bothered by a sprained ankle much of last season, reported no ill effects from his heavy workload against Alabama. So that clinches 42 carries a week.

“Maybe every other week,” Foster said.

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The availability of one starter and two key reserves has come into question for Saturday’s game against Fresno State.

Split end Brian Poli-Dixon, who left early in the third quarter against Alabama because of cramps in his legs and was held out the rest of the game in what the Bruins called a precautionary move, now is being treated for problems with his hamstrings. He has not practiced the last two days. Jon Dubravac would probably take his place in the opening lineup if needed.

Ken Kocher, usually a starting defensive tackle but a backup against Alabama and projected to have the same role versus Fresno State as he returns from a sprained ankle, aggravated the injury Monday.

Backup linebacker Marcus Reese has a sprained foot.

“All these guys are very doubtful, I would think,” Toledo said.