Their War Should Be Civil

They’re holding another Skipper family reunion inside the Rose Bowl today, for the second time in a year but probably for the last time.

“It’ll be different,” Kelly Skipper said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”

Kelly Skipper is UCLA’s running back coach. Tim Skipper is a younger brother and an opponent, a senior at Fresno State. Not only that, he’s the star linebacker, meaning that not only are the siblings in a battle on the scoreboard, but that the showdown gets so specific that one of Tim’s main jobs is to stop the Bruin ground game that Kelly gets paid to develop.

Last season, Tim had seven tackles, second most on the team, and UCLA managed only 126 yards rushing, with no individual getting more than 42, in the Bruins’ 35-21 victory. This year, with Tim trying to be named first-team All-Western Athletic Conference for the second time in three seasons, despite being only 5 feet 7 and 215 pounds, they know it will be the last such challenge. The only way it wouldn’t be is if they take it to the pros.

“My mom will be there and a lot of other family members,” said Kelly, an honorable mention All-American running back at Fresno State in 1988 and a former Bulldog assistant coach. “It’s a good time for us to get together, compete and have fun. Then, when it’s over, we’ll say good luck and move on.”

So where will their mom be sitting, in the UCLA or the Fresno State rooting section?

“I’m the one giving the tickets,” Kelly said.

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The first 10,000 fans entering the Rose Bowl will receive a life-size color poster of Kenyon Coleman, the Bruins’ 6-foot-6 star defensive end, complete with growth chart. . . . The 1999 UCLA-Fresno State meeting was memorable for several reasons: Robert Thomas had 14 tackles in his first career start, the most by a Bruin in three years, but Brian Poli-Dixon suffered a season-ending broken wrist and the first career start for quarterback Cory Paus ended in the first half because of bruised ribs.

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* Time: 4:30 p.m.

* Site: Rose Bowl

* TV: Fox Sports Net 2.

* Radio: KXTA (1150).

* When UCLA has the ball: Fresno State is coming off a 43-10 loss at Ohio State, but it wasn’t nearly that much of a disaster for the defense. The Buckeyes scored twice on interception returns and twice on fumble recoveries. UCLA’s offense, meanwhile, accounted for all of the team’s 35 points versus Alabama, its most in nine games, since getting the same amount against Fresno State early last season at the Rose Bowl. It also came as an instant response to how 1999 ended, with the offense failing to score more than a touchdown in four of the last five games. The challenge today is to do it with the passing game a question mark, down one starting quarterback (Cory Paus) and probably one starting receiver (Brian Poli-Dixon) because of injury.

* When Fresno State has the ball: The UCLA defense gave up only two plays of more than 15 yards against Alabama, a 56-yard reverse and a 27-yard pass. But that was also with the contributions of Ken Kocher, a starting defensive tackle who had a reserve role while coming back from injury, and Marcus Reese, a backup linebacker who has been pushing for a starting job. Both may be sidelined today, Kocher because of a sprained ankle and Reese because of a sprained foot. Fresno State was able to move the ball on Ohio State, getting 372 yards and completing 31 of 51 passes, but also had six turnovers. That included four interceptions, one more than all of 1999. The Bulldogs also had a field goal blocked.

* Key to the game: The Bruins’ emotions. One of the most impressive parts of the season-opening victory over Alabama was how they dealt with adversity--Paus went out after the first series, the punt that ended that three-and-out drive was returned for a touchdown, and they didn’t come close to being shaken. It’s a credit to the preparation of Coach Bob Toledo and his staff. Now comes another test: making sure UCLA doesn’t come close to cruise control against an opponent that should be overmatched.

* Fast fact: Fresno State has not gotten closer than 13 points in any of the three meetings since 1987. The schools also played in 1927 (a 7-0 victory for UCLA) and ’29 (a 56-6 victory).

* Line: UCLA by 14.

HOW THEY COMPARE

UCLA Fresno State

35 Points scored 10

24 Points allowed 43

225 Passing 285

171 Rushing 87

396 Total offense 372

119 Passing defense 166

146 Rushing defense 223

265 Total defense 389