Toledo Wants to Prove He's No One-Trick Pony

Toledo Wants to Prove He’s No One-Trick Pony

By ALLAN MALAMUD

Sept. 3, 1996 12 AM PT

Tommy Prothro pulled a trick play out of his briefcase occasionally. . . .

Terry Donohue often saved one or two for USC. . . .

But if Bob Toledo lives up to his word, he is going to be the first UCLA football coach to use at least one trick play every game. . . .

And, would you believe it, he’s going to name them for local newspapers. . . .

“Every week we’ll pull the name of a local newspaper out of a hat and call our trick play the Daily Bruin-or-whatever play of the game,” Toledo said. “I enjoy trick plays. They’re fun.” . . .

And when will the name of the newspaper be revealed to newspaper people? . . .

“If the play works, ask us after the game,” he said. . . .

For openers, the Bruins will need more than trickery to upset second-ranked Tennessee at Knoxville on Saturday night before more than 102,000 fans and a CBS television audience. . . .

The Volunteers are so loaded with talent that their weekly news release includes the Heisman Trophy Watch, the Doak Walker Award Watch, the Butkus Award Watch and the Biletnikoff Award Watch. . . .

The candidates are quarterback Peyton Manning for the Heisman, running back Jay Graham for the Walker, linebacker Tyrone Hines for the Butkus, and wide receiver Joey Kent for the Biletnikoff. . . .

The Volunteers also have their version of Kordell Stewart in quarterback-wide receiver Jeremaine Copeland, who completed two passes, caught one, and ran five times in the 62-3 victory over Nevada Las Vegas. . . .

Toledo said he would take 80 to 82 players to Knoxville, including most of the freshman from his first recruiting class. . . .

“It’s a great chance to expose our freshmen to a super atmosphere,” he said. . . .

Boston College made one of the longest trips ever by a college football team for its game at Hawaii on Saturday night and would have had to work overtime if not for a winning field goal on the final play of regulation. . . .

Perhaps the most efficient NFL team on opening day was San Diego, which didn’t commit a turnover against Seattle, didn’t allow a sack, and was penalized only 34 yards. . . .

Keyshawn Johnson caught only one pass for 50 yards, but the lowlights of the New York Jet-Denver game show him all by himself in the end zone and trying unsuccessfully to get the attention of quarterback Neil O’Donnell. . . .

The Los Angeles chapter of the NFL Alumni Assn. is planning an awards banquet for early next year that will raise funds for former fullback Johnny Olszewski and offensive line coach Ray Prochaska, who are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. . . .

President Deacon Dan Towler is busy preparing for the chapter’s 15th annual golf classic Sept. 16 at Los Coyotes Country Club. Many former Rams, Raiders and Chargers will participate in the event that will benefit the Children’s Museum of La Habra. . . .

If I’m New York Yankee Manager Joe Torre, I leave David Cone in against Oakland until he gives up a hit or complains of discomfort. . . .

It would have been one of the most remarkable achievements ever in baseball if Cone, who was still under the imposed pitch limit when lifted after seven innings, had thrown a no-hitter in his first game back after having an aneurysm removed from his arm. . . .

Pittsburgh catcher Jason Kendall, who is hitting more than .300 and was a member of the National League All-Star game team, remains the front runner for the rookie-of-the-year award although Todd Hollandsworth is coming on strongly. . . .

The fact that the last four winners of the award have been Dodgers might work against Hollandsworth. . . .

Eric Karros is a cinch to drive in more than 100 runs for the second consecutive season, but has a long way to match Gil Hodges’ Dodger first baseman record of seven 100-plus RBI years in a row. . . .

So much for all those predictions that Roger Maris’ home run record would be broken this season. . . .

It’s a shame that Fastness had to be retired because of an injury. Perhaps the finest turf horse in the nation, Fastness and trainer Jenine Sahadi would have been one of the best stories at the Breeders’ Cup in Toronto next month. . . .

Ten years from now, tennis-loving parents are going to name their daughter Martina after Martina Hingis.