Football notebook

Tuesday, October 20, 1998

Football notebook

Marked men

UCLA (5-0 overall, 3-0 in the Pac-10 Conference) has been a
target for other teams who deem the Bruins their most important
game of the season. Why?

Well, the Bruins retained their No. 2 rankings in both the
Associated Press poll and the USA/ESPN coaches poll.

The 41-38 victory over Oregon gave UCLA a 15-game winning streak
– the longest in the nation.

Also, the Bruins are No. 1 in the Pac-10 and remain the only
undefeated team in conference play. Therefore UCLA controls its own
destiny for at least a trip to the Rose Bowl and possibly a
national championship game at the Fiesta Bowl.

"Personally I feel like the cowboy, " UCLA head coach Bob Toledo
said. "The guy the with the black suit, the black hat and the
pearl-handled guns. Everyone wants to knock you off at this point.
"

Pac-10 players of the week

The Pac-10 conference named UCLA quarterback Cade McNown the
offensive player of the week after his 395 yards passing and three
touchdown passes.

The Pac-10 also named UCLA linebacker Brendan Ayanbadejo the
defensive player of the week largely due to Ayanbadejo’s overtime
heroics.

The UCLA coaching staff agreed with the Pac-10, as it named
McNown the offensive star and Ayanbadejo the defensive star.
Cornerback Ryan Roques was named special team’s player of the game
thanks to his scintillating punt returns.

Ayanbadejo made captain again

Ayanbadejo was named a co-captain for the second straight game.
Considering that he got two sacks in the first two plays of
overtime to cap off a great all around game, plus his senior status
and the fact that he’s originally from the Bay Area, Ayanbadejo was
a no-brainer to be one of four captains for the second straight
game.

Injury update

Freshman running back DeShaun Foster will be lost to the team
for at least two weeks, maybe more.

Foster, who hurt his knee in the second quarter on Saturday,
appears to have a sprained left knee. The team doctors expressed
hope that Foster may be back for the November 7 game against Oregon
State. An MRI taken Monday morning will reveal if there is any tear
in Foster’s knee. Results of the MRI should be known soon.

About 12 people are sick with a case of the flu, possibly
causing Toledo to change his practice schedule for the next couple
of days to send those players home to get some rest.

McNown isn’t one of those players sick with the flu, as he has
recovered.

Roques hurt his neck after what appeared to be a flagrant foul
by Oregon after a punt return.

Ankle injuries have stricken free safety Larry Atkins,
cornerback Jason Bell and linebacker Michael Wiley – but none of
those injuries is considered serious.

All-America kicker Chris Sailer’s slight groin strain has Toledo
and the Bruins worried because of his inability to practice for the
last couple of weeks.

Tailback Keith Brown also suffered a slight groin strain and
linebacker Ramogi Huma is doubtful for Saturday’s game with a hip
strain, although he could have played against Oregon.

Finger pointing not allowed

Although lots of mistakes were made which kept giving life to
Oregon, Toledo was truly proud of the winning attitude presented by
his team.

Toledo expressed joy over the fact that his team had no panic
and appeared poised.

No fingers were pointed at McNown after his interception inside
the 10 yard line which turned into a 14 point swing right before
halftime.

No fingers were pointed at split end Brian Poli-Dixon after a
perfect McNown touchdown pass went right through his hands early in
the third quarter.

And no one pointed fingers at Sailer after his now
inconsequential missed field goal in the fourth quarter.

"We all make mistakes and I think it’s important that they don’t
point fingers at each other, " Toledo said. "Our coaching staff
doesn’t do it because I don’t allow it and our players don’t do it.
We’re going to win together and hopefully we’re not going to lose
together. "

Facing top Pac-10 defense for third straight week

The Bruins have faced off against the No. 1 defense in the
Pac-10 the past of couple of weeks, and after each game Arizona and
Oregon lost that No. 1 ranking.

The Wildcats were torched for 52 points while the Ducks allowed
547 yards of total offense.

Against California this week, UCLA will once again be going
against the No. 1 defense in the Pac-10. If all goes to plan
according to the Bruins, the Bears will no longer be No. 1 after
Saturday’s game.

UCLA first in attendance

UCLA leads Pac-10 with an attendance of 71,882 fans a game.
Washington is second with 71,048 and Arizona St. is third with
66,602.

USC is fifth with 54,790 and Oregon State is last with
27,967.

Cal, who host the Bruins this week, draws 44,000 fans a
game.

Compiled by Vytas Mazeika, Daily Bruin Staff

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