Sports: Fast start has UCLA on track for title

Fast start has UCLA on track for title

By BOB HARIG

The Rose Bowl will be the venue for the Jan. 3 national championship, and UCLA has a shot at playing that game on its home field.

After four victories, including three on the road, the Bruins have emerged as contenders for the Pac-10 title and perhaps a national championship. A lot has to happen for that to occur, but that the Bruins are even being mentioned is remarkable. UCLA is coming off a 38-7 victory over Oregon State, which scored more than 90 points on the Bruins the previous two seasons, including a 55-7 laugher in 1999. The victory moved UCLA to ninth in the polls and was more proof a defense finally has arrived in Westwood.

"We've been aware of our reputation for years," UCLA strong safety Jason Stephens said. "This year we decided that's going to change."

The Bruins made it through the first month of the season without a significant injury. They have beaten three ranked teams, which should bode well when the computer rankings take hold. And their defense has held opponents to single-digit scoring in consecutive games, something never before accomplished in coach Bob Toledo's six years.

"I don't know how many games we're going to win, but this team can go as far as it wants to go," Toledo said. "I like this team. I'd probably like it if they get beat, because I like what they're doing. They're keeping their nose clean, they're giving great effort and they're winning. We have great attitude, great leadership. We have experience and quality depth at a lot of positions. Now they just have to overcome coaching."

The Bruins are off today, savoring their great start, waiting for another big matchup Saturday against Washington. They play the Huskies and Oregon at the Rose Bowl, which means they probably will be favored in their remaining regular-season games.

And which means they have a chance to stay home for the holidays.

COMPUTER FOLLIES: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's computer ranking, one of several used in the Bowl Championship Series formula, has South Carolina in the top spot.

"You've got to be kidding me," coach Lou Holtz said, laughing when informed of the honor. "Now I understand why there are so many complaints about the computer rankings. I always had faith in computers, but now I'm going to start looking at my pay stub. I'm surprised, shocked."

The computers apparently will need some time to sort themselves out. The Seattle Times poll had Washington No. 1.

PRAYING FOR NOTRE DAME: When Holtz left Notre Dame after the 1996 season, he wasn't on the best of terms with his defensive coordinator, Bob Davie, who eventually took his place. Now that Holtz is 4-0 and Davie is 0-3, you won't find the former Notre Dame coach gloating. He did, after all, hire Davie. He has kids who went to school in South Bend. And you sense he wants to be above the fray.

"Bob Davie is a fine football coach," Holtz said. "He has fine athletes who represent the athletic department well and do all the things that are important at Notre Dame. I do follow Notre Dame. I pray for the school. I pray for Bob Davie. I hope he will have great sucess there."

UPON FURTHER REVIEW: Minnesota coach Glen Mason wouldn't mind seeing instant replay in college football, especially after he believes two incorrect calls led to his team's 35-28 loss to Purdue.

"Why not?" he asked. "We make enough money to do it."

Mason thinks time expired before Purdue kicked a tying 48-yard field goal and that Travis Cole's pass to Antoine Henderson in overtime should have been ruled a touchdown rather than out of bounds. The Big Ten later admitted officials blew the latter call.

Mason knew he risked a fine from the conference for his comments. "Maybe it's worth it," he said. "Sometimes you have to have enough guts to stand up regardless of what the consequences are."

He clearly was upset about the tying field goal, which capped a remarkable comeback for the Boilermakers, who started deep in their territory with less than 20 seconds remaining but completed a long pass and got the field-goal team on the field in time to tie.

AROUND THE NATION: Southern Cal has lost seven of its past eight at the Coliseum and is 1-3 for the first time since 1961 -- John McKay's second season as coach. ... Kansas State has lost three games in 11 months to Oklahoma by a total of 14 points. But there is hope for the Wildcats. With a victory at Nebraska this season, they have a chance to win the Big 12 North title, which could set up a possible rematch with Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game. ... Kansas State's loss was its first in September since 1991, a streak of 32 games. The Wildcats are 2-20 against Top 10 teams under coach Bill Snyder. ... Northwestern is 3-0 for the first time since 1962, and Stanford is 3-0 for the first time since 1986.

-- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.