Players Putting Football in Perspective

This was the way Bob Toledo wanted it. Players talking, him listening.

The topic was whether to practice Tuesday in the wake of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. Toledo, the UCLA coach, called a team meeting and opened the floor.

Pacific 10 Conference officials had not decided whether to postpone Saturday’s home game against Arizona State. But the Bruins made clear their feelings.

Kenyon Coleman, a senior defensive end, spoke.

“No way we can practice,” Coleman told his teammates. “Out of respect, out of decency.

“What kind of message would we be sending if we went out and practiced? There were a lot of people killed, a lot of survivors injured and a lot of families mourning.”

Someone asked, what if there is a game Saturday and we aren’t prepared?

“If there’s a game, we’ll be ready,” Coleman said.

Several other players had their say. Tight end Bryan Fletcher pointed out there would be injuries if they practiced while their hearts and minds were 3,000 miles away.

Don Johnson, the defensive line coach, mentioned that three of his cousins worked in the World Trade Center and the whereabouts of two were unknown.

Freshman lineman Matt Mosebar said his father was a block away when the second airplane hit the tower. Defensive back Kevin Brant’s cousin works in the Pentagon and his mother had called to say he’d been safely evacuated.

Toledo had heard enough. He canceled practice.

“Communication to me is really important,” he said. “My feeling was not to practice, but before I made a decision, I wanted to see what their feeling was.”

Toledo told Bruin Athletic Director Pete Dalis the game should not be played. An hour or so later, conference officials postponed it and Wednesday the game was rescheduled for Dec. 1 at the Rose Bowl.

The Southeastern Conference, among others, has not postponed games.

“It doesn’t surprise me the SEC is playing; football sort of dominates their existence,” Dalis said. “But our decision pleased Bob.”

Toledo fancies himself a different breed. He attended San Francisco State during the turbulent late ‘60s. He believes he keeps the game in perspective. He believes he is an educator.

This was a test of those beliefs. He had to pull his head out of the playbook and get real.

“I remember having a hard time understanding when my high school game was canceled because [John F.] Kennedy died,” he said. “As the day went on I realized this isn’t just a murder, this is important.

“In college we were preparing for the Camelia Bowl in Sacramento and on TV we saw all the hippies taking over San Francisco State. I was mad as hell. They were taking over my school.

“Now I look back at that war and I know the football game was not important.”

Practice resumed Wednesday. Johnson still hadn’t heard from his cousins. Coleman’s heart was heavy, but he had a fresh appreciation for Toledo.

“Life is bigger than football and he knows that,” Coleman said.

Three years ago Hurricane Georges forced UCLA’s game against Miami to be postponed. The Bruins were 10-0 after a victory over USC, went to Miami two weeks later and lost.

Now UCLA will have to face Arizona State two weeks after playing USC. Will that be a source of stress?

Toledo shrugged.

“You play the hand you’re dealt,” he said. “Something far more important is going on.”