No Practice, No Play, Toledo Warns

Coach Bob Toledo has put out the word that those missing practice because of aches and pains might find themselves missing the plane to the opener at Washington State.

Three Bruins--linebacker Ramogi Huma, nose guard Jeff Ruckman and tight end Ryan Neufeld, all with hamstring problems--have been judged sufficiently injured to sit out a week of drills, but when Toledo saw 21 players nursing various ailments they considered serious enough to sit out drills Wednesday, he ordered the stationary cycles they ride removed from Spaulding Field. He also put out the word that the coaching axiom that no player loses a position because of injury does not necessarily apply at UCLA.

By Friday, only a few were not on the field.

*

The receiver corps was temporarily depleted when Rodney Lee joined Brad Melsby on the sideline because of stomach flu, and Jim McElroy suffered a sprained ankle in a drill when he collided with defensive back Aaron Roques. . . . With Wasswa Serwanga missing time nursing a strained hamstring, Eric Whitfield has stepped in at rover back. . . . Although McElroy and Jermaine Lewis are the probable kick returners, Skip Hicks, Damian Allen and Keith Brown are getting looks. . . . Lewis is pushing Shaun Williams for the punt returning job. . . . UCLA wants to redshirt 330-pound freshman tackle Chris Polak, of Bishop Amat High, but he is running with the second unit and coaches say he probably will be on the traveling team.