A Bruin Win Might Strike Their Fancy

Maybe the stagecoach broke an axle and word never reached Oklahoma State that UCLA is 4-0 against Big 12 Conference opponents under Coach Bob Toledo.

A column in the Daily Oklahoman on Friday referred to UCLA as: “Fancy Boys.”

What will it take for the baby-blue Bruins to lose their froufrou image?

They physically manhandled Colorado State last week, scoring 23 fourth-quarter points in a 30-19 victory by wearing down the Rams with rugged line play.

Last season, led by All-American middle linebacker Robert Thomas, UCLA established a physical identity, and there is plenty of residual toughness, as any opponent who has banged heads with defensive lineman Rodney Leisle, offensive tackle Mike Saffer, fullback Manuel White or cornerback Ricky Manning can attest.

Off the field, regrettably, the Bruins don’t back down either, having been involved in several brawls that resulted in criminal charges.

Fancy boys?

Out here on the lone prairie, them’s fightin’ words.

“We made a strong effort to become a physical football team last season,” Toledo said. “We’re the same kind of team this year. The people we play realize that.”

Oklahoma State, today’s opponent, ought to know that UCLA beat Texas, 66-3, in 1997, and 49-31 in ’98. The Cowboys should have been informed that the Bruins beat Texas A&M;, 29-23, in ’97 and Kansas, 41-17, last season.

That’s four victories over the Big 12 by a combined score of 185-74, numbers that if not fancy, are certainly gaudy.

“We’ve been fortunate to have success against teams from one of the top conferences in the country,” Toledo said. “The Big 12 and Pac-10 conferences are very much alike.”

Oklahoma State has never played UCLA, although Coach Les Miles was a Michigan assistant in the 1981 Bluebonnet Bowl game when the Wolverines defeated the Bruins, 33-14. Miles is as diplomatic as Toledo, refusing to be drawn into characterizing the Big 12 as producing tougher players than the Pac-10.

“I think in the old days, that was probably true,” Miles said. “If you think about Pennsylvania and coal towns and the Midwest, Chicago, the Irish guys who would show up on campuses, there was some fistfight to them.

“UCLA is as talented as any we will line up and play--Texas, Oklahoma, anybody. They compare favorably to those teams.”

The Bruins, in fact, hold an advantage in the trenches. Oklahoma State (1-1) has had injuries to the offensive line and only senior left tackle Kyle Eaton is regarded as a standout.

UCLA is experienced on both sides of the line. The recent emergence of guard Steve Vieira and center Mike McCloskey, combined with veterans Saffer, Bryce Bohlander, Eyoseph Efseaff and Mike Seidman, makes for a formidable offensive line.

On defense, Leisle, Steve Morgan, Sean Phillips and Ryan Boschetti at tackle and Dave Ball, Rusty Williams, Mat Ball and Asi Faoa at end provide two-deep quality at each position.

Ironically, UCLA’s weakness appears to be precisely where the fanciest plays often are made--special teams. Two fumbled kick returns, two missed field goals, a roughing-the-kicker penalty and a 55-yard Colorado State punt return marred the opener.

UCLA finished at the bottom of the Pac-10 in punt and kick return coverage last season. Despite relentless work during fall camp, problems remain.

“We were all hyped up and anxious,” receiver Craig Bragg said. “We’ll get better quick.”

They’d better. Oklahoma State is dangerous.

Chris Massey led the nation in kick returns last season and Terrance Davis-Bryant averages 13.9 yards a punt return.

Against Colorado State, Bruin senior Nate Fikse, recognized as one of the nation’s best punters and kickoff specialists, was not accurate.

“He’s supposed to kick outside the left hash mark to reduce the size of the field,” said assistant Marc Dove, who is responsible for kicks and kick returns. “His kicks, and the punt returned for 55 yards, were unacceptable.”

Coaches, however, resisted making wholesale changes on special teams. In fact, the same personnel that took the field last week will play today.

“We are not going to panic,” Dove said. “We’re not going to change a bunch of people. We’ve got to coach better and they have to be more attentive.

“We were fortunate to overcome special teams mistakes and win the game.”

Special teams is the only area in which Oklahoma State figures to hold an advantage. UCLA must avoid giving up big pass plays to receiver Rashaun Woods, and Manning is charged with ensuring it doesn’t happen.

Thunderstorms are forecast, and a wet field could benefit the Bruins, who with White and tailback Akil Harris running behind a veteran line are better equipped than the no-huddle, pass-happy Cowboys to pound the ball on the ground.

“We want to mix it up, throw the ball and try some things,” Saffer said. “But maybe what we do best is open holes and run down people’s throats. If that’s what we have to do, that’s what we’ll do.”

Nothing fancy about that.