Van Pelt’s Arrival Is on His Own Terms

In some ways, Bradlee Van Pelt fits the stereotype of a Left Coast quarterback as well as the laid-back character of Ron “Sunshine” Bass in “Remember the Titans.” He will feel right at home at the Rose Bowl on Saturday, leading Colorado State against UCLA.

In other ways, the junior from Santa Barbara has charted a path that belies his shaggy hair and ever-present skateboard.

Van Pelt is one of 36 Ram players from Southern California. But he found Fort Collins, Colo., by way of Michigan State, the alma mater of his father, former Spartan All-American and NFL linebacker Brad Van Pelt.

Following in his dad’s footsteps proved impossible. In fact, Van Pelt felt out of step from the day he walked on the Michigan State campus, even though his father was there too, finishing his degree 30 years after completing his football eligibility.

“All I wanted to do when I was growing up was to be a Spartan,” Bradlee told a Denver reporter. “But as soon as I got there, I had a pretty good idea it wasn’t going to work. Then, when Nick Saban left and Bobby Williams came in as coach, it got worse. They switched me to defense.

“They lied to me. Their goal was to mentally break me down, and they almost did it. I was a very unhappy dude there.”

Although he has had other setbacks--his parents divorced and his brother Justen died two years ago at 23 from mixing alcohol with painkillers--Van Pelt is a happier dude since arriving at Colorado State. He started the last nine games last season, rushing for 546 yards and passing for 1,247, nearly half of the Ram output on offense.

Already this season he has passed for 397 yards and rushed for 101 in victories over Virginia and Colorado. He ran 23 yards for the winning touchdown in the Rams’ 19-14 upset of Colorado, spiking the ball into the face of Colorado defensive back Roderick Sneed in the end zone.

“It was probably a really stupid thing to do on my part,” Van Pelt said. “And I apologize for that.”

However, he relishes the underdog role and offered no mea culpa for his harsh evaluation of Colorado, which entered the game ranked No. 6 in one poll.

“They were the sorriest No. 6 team I’ve ever seen,” Van Pelt said. “I live in the face of doubters, and so does my whole team. [Colorado] has four times the amount of money we have. They have everything. You know what, we’ve got guys with heart.”

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Shane Lehmann’s no contest plea to misdemeanor battery Tuesday came at the advice of his attorney, William A. Bartz, who did not want the Bruin guard to risk a trial on a felony charge of inflicting significant bodily injury.

“I’ve seen juries do enough strange things that I recommend to any client to take a reasonable [plea],” said Bartz, who has advised Lehmann not to discuss the case.

According to court records, Lehmann was drinking at Madison’s Neighborhood Grill when he and an employee escorted Luis Estrada to the parking lot at 1 a.m. A fight ensued and Estrada, who is an Army Reserve, was taken away in an ambulance and hospitalized with head injuries.

Lehman, who was put on three years’ probation, has been suspended for Saturday’s game. Bruin players have been banned from frequenting Madison’s, a popular Westwood night spot.

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The uniform numbers of four players changed this week. Fullback J.D. Groves is 31, running back Jason Harrison is 28 and receivers Junior Taylor and Jacques Lazarus traded numbers, with Taylor now 8 and Lazarus 9.