With Foster on the Run, It’s Like UCLA of Old

Bob Toledo, traditionalist?

The last time UCLA’s football team had won at Kansas to go 2-0 was in 1954, which also happens to be the only year the Bruins won a national championship.

Legendary Coach Red Sanders ran the ball about 80% of the time. Of course, he also was partial to single-bar facemasks and dropkicks.

But emphasis on the run, like buzz cuts, is back in vogue.

In victories over Alabama and Kansas, the Bruins ran 99 times and passed 41. Tailback DeShaun Foster has 52 carries.

Old school, indeed.

“I’m not a conservative person,” said Toledo, the UCLA coach. “I love to open it up. But there are several reasons why we are running the ball.”

One is corrective. UCLA ranked last in the Pacific 10 Conference in rushing last season, which Toledo believes reflected a lack of toughness.

“That tells you something about being physical, and that had to change,” he said.

Another is plain horse sense. Foster is an NFL-caliber runner in a college uniform.

This is his time. This is his team.

“I’m gonna ride that horse,” Toledo said.

So all of a sudden, Toledo is more Dick Cheney than Ted Kennedy.

Foster has gained 299 yards in 52 carries and has caught five passes for 47 yards.

He’s had the ball on 41% of the plays and gained 45% of the yardage.

Or is it so sudden?

Last year Foster had 269 carries--third all-time at UCLA--42 of them in the opener.

He was injured in the fifth game, against Arizona State, and missed the next week, or he might have had 300 carries.

Now he’s a senior, by all accounts stronger and quicker. Smarter too.

The knock on Foster was that he tried to be Barry Bonds on every carry.

Now he starts with singles and waits for the opposition to tire before swinging for the fence.

He did it against Alabama, dashing 40 yards in the fourth quarter to clinch the game.

“I’m really not looking for big runs early,” he said.

“I just hit holes and get the defense to close in on me. Eventually, I will break runs.

“I’ve learned to just keep hitting that rock and eventually it will break.”

A sound Foster will challenge all sorts of school records.

He’s on pace for more than 1,700 yards this year, which would put him atop the season and career lists.

Arizona State is expected to put eight defenders near the line of scrimmage to stop him.

Or try to, anyway.

“He’s the best I’ve seen,” said Dirk Koetter, the Sun Devil coach. “If he’s not the best back out there, he’s in the top three or four. He’s a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate.”

That’s not news to anyone at UCLA. But Foster responds to Heisman talk as if the topic were hemorrhoids.

“It’s not really on my mind,” he said. “It’s good it’s happening, but only as long as we win games.”

Foster’s focus on team goals appears genuine.

Against Kansas, he easily could have eclipsed 200 yards for the first time, but Toledo took him out after he’d scored a touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

“Maybe when I was younger it would have bothered me, but I’ve learned it’s not all about that,” he said.

“It’s good to see other guys get in there and get a chance to play.”

He also enjoys watching teammates score when the opposition is keying on him.

That’s why UCLA’s offense is like a tree. Foster is the trunk and everything else a branch.

Against Kansas, Craig Bragg scored from 37 yards on a reverse and Tab Perry on a 49-yard pass play. Both plays began with fakes to Foster.

Against Alabama, Perry scored on a 53-yard reception after a fake to Foster and fullback Ed Iemeria-Stansbury scored on a 10-yard run while all eyes were on the tailback.

“Our big plays come off play action to DeShaun,” Toledo said. “He is the foundation of our offense.”

The coach’s reputation for offensive sorcery is well documented. But he knows the most magic occurs when Foster has the ball.

Red Sanders would approve.

“DeShaun has gotten more mature, more physical, more experienced,” Toledo said.

“He has all the qualities you want in a running back. I’ve seen a lot of pro running backs and he’s as good as any of them.

“I’m going to give him the football.”

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FOSTER FACTOR

Statistics for UCLA running back DeShaun Foster in 2001:

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Alabama Kansas Rushes 24 28 Yards 110 189 Rec. 2 3 Yards 6 41 TDs 0 1

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