Cover Story: Secondary Did Job Against Alabama

The new-look/old-look Bruin secondary made it through the first game together in admirable fashion, without giving up any big plays to Alabama receivers or allowing the Crimson Tide much yardage after catches and shutting down breakaway threat Freddie Milons.

Alabama’s biggest pass play was for 27 yards, and that came on a screen, not anything where UCLA defensive backs were beaten deep. Milons had only 49 yards on five catches, with a long gain of 15.

It was all the more significant for the Bruins because it came with one virtual debut in the secondary and two major comebacks, leaving cornerback Ricky Manning as the only member of the unit who played much last season. Cornerback Jason Bell barely played in 1999, sitting out the final nine games because of a heel injury. Free safety Jason Zdenek played even less, a special-teams performer with 17 career snaps on defense. And strong safety Marques Anderson didn’t play at all, after being dismissed from school.

From that came a clutch showing.

It was an especially emotional day for Bell, whose start culminated a lengthy comeback from the injury. It was so important that he began to cry before the game.

“It was overexciting--’I can’t believe I’m really feeling like this,’ ” he said. “ . . . I didn’t know if I’d ever make it back to be able to play again.”

The day was just as meaningful to Anderson and Zdenek, a step back into the picture for one and the first step into prominence for the other.

Zdenek, after barely playing his first three seasons, went the entire way in his coming-out party and had five tackles, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble.

Anderson, in uniform for the first time since the 1999 Rose Bowl game, had four tackles, a sack and broke up two passes.

“I was really ready to go out there,” said Anderson, who was disciplined because his role in the handicapped-parking scam came in addition to other undisclosed incidents. “It had been 20 months since I had been in a game. The excitement was boiling. I felt good.”

Said Zdenek: “The nerves were definitely still going. But having the crowd and the atmosphere and getting the chance to start and seeing Alabama across the sidelines converted that to anxiousness. Just waiting to get out there to play.”

That could have been the reaction of anyone in the secondary.

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As expected, split end Brian Poli-Dixon will not play against Fresno State because of a strained hamstring and defensive tackle Ken Kocher will be out because of a sprained ankle, an injury he played through in the opener but aggravated this week in practice.

Jon Dubravac will replace Poli-Dixon in the opening lineup, the first start for the junior. Kocher is usually a starter, but would have been a backup Saturday, just as he was against Alabama as the Bruins hope a reduced role will help nurse him back, so Anthony Fletcher and Rodney Leisle will remain starters.

Marcus Reese, bothered by a sprained foot, is expected to play in his usual backup role at linebacker.