The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES Ð The UCLA Bruins made more of an effort this summer than in the past to get through their rigorous preseason healthy, and except for one position, they did.
The problem is, that one position Ñ tailback Ñ is awfully important to a football team.
ÒWeÕve had kind of a different two-a-days,Ó UCLA coach Terry Donahue said yesterday, five days before the 14th-ranked Bruins open the 1994 season against No. 13 Tennessee at the Rose Bowl. ÒWe took great pains to not bang our players up. I think for the most part, we accomplished that.
ÒI think weÕve had some cruddy luck in terms of the running backs. Hopefully, thatÕs behind us. The good news is, basically other than the backs, we came out healthy. We are not as complete or as settled as IÕd like to be at this time because of the backs. That could change this week.Ó
Sophomore Sharmon Shah is listed as UCLAÕs starting tailback and James Milliner is listed as the starting fullback.
Milliner, the BruinsÕ third-leading rusher last season with 366 yards on 57 carries, has recovered from a hyper-extended elbow, but Shah, who gained 260 yards on 64 carries, has been bothered by a swollen knee.
In addition, backups Daron Washington (bruised back) and Derek Ayers (stretched knee ligament) have been banged up. Ayers probably wonÕt be recovered in time to play against Tennessee, Donahue said.
ÒIÕd say if thereÕs not a significant change in Sharmon ShahÕs condition, weÕll start Milliner at fullback and Daron Washington at tailback,Ó Donahue said. ÒEverybody else is basically ready to go.Ó
Donahue guessed that Shah will either play or undergo surgery in the near future.
ÒItÕll be one of those two things, I think itÕs going to be that dramatic,Ó Donahue said. ÒThe swelling has dissipated, right now he doesnÕt have the swelling or the discomfort.Ó
But, Donahue added, that could change in practice or in games.
UCLA returns six starters on offense, five on defense and both kickers from last yearÕs team, which went 8-4 including a 21-16 loss to Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl.
In addition, 12 other players who have made at least one start are on the squad.
In Wayne Cook and J.J. Stokes, the Bruins fielded one of the most effective quarterback-receiver tandems in the country last year. Cook completed 165 of 297 passes for 2,067 yards and 18 touchdowns with only four interceptions.
Stokes, who is being touted as a Heisman Trophy candidate this season, had 82 receptions for 1,181 yards and 17 TDs.
ÒWhen your [starting] quarterback returns, I think that lends itself to stability and lends itself to being settled, if you will,Ó Donahue said. ÒOur teamÕs worked hard, itÕll be interesting to see how we stack up against the caliber of teams weÕll play.
ÒWeÕll have a good indication of what kind of team weÕll be real early in the season.Ó
The Bruins play home games against Tennessee and Southern Methodist before facing No. 4 Nebraska at Lincoln, Neb., on Sept. 17. Their remaining eight games are against Pacific-10 Conference opponents.