Tuesday, September 07, 1999
Bruins talk bravely about Buckeyes
Undermanned UCLA travels to Columbus
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — UCLA coach Bob Toledo realizes his team is facing Ohio State at the worst possible time.
And he expects the Bruins to beat the Buckeyes.
Apparently, his players feel the same way.
“We're UCLA, we're going to tell our kids that,” Toledo said Monday. “We're going to respect our opponents; they better have some respect for us, too. We have a pretty good program.”
On the surface, it doesn't look good for UCLA.
• The 14th-ranked Bruins (1-0) will face the 13th-ranked Buckeyes (0-1) without 11 players — most of them starters — who were suspended for illegally obtaining handicapped parking permits.
• The Bruins lost pass rush ing specialist Travor Turner, who sustained a season-ending knee injury in UCLA's 38-7 win over Boise State Saturday.
• Wide receiver Danny Farmer, who caught 58 passes for 1,274 yards and nine touchdowns last season, missed the opener because of a sprained ankle. His status is uncertain.
• The Buckeyes, 23-12 losers to No. 8 Miami in the Kickoff Classic, haven't started a season with two losses since 1986. Ohio State will have had 13 days to lick its wounds and prepare for the Bruins, who will field an inexperienced team against an angry opponent before a hostile crowd of about 94,000.
• The Buckeyes have won 20 straight home openers.
Junior quarterback Drew Bennett, who struggled in the first half against Boise State in his first career start but was much better in the second half,
Bennett and freshman Cory Paus alternated against Boise State, and Toledo said the plan will be the same.
“It's quite a challenge,” Paus said. “You can't ask for anything more for a second game. The earlier, the better. I'm sure I'll be a little nervous, the normal person would be.”
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