ATHLETES PRESS FOR NCAA REFORM STEEL UNION OUT TO HELP FOOTBALL PLAYERS.

Byline: Steve Dilbeck Staff Writer

They looked like strange bedfellows, the group of young UCLA football players that stood alongside the crusty United Steelworkers of America director at the afternoon news conference, but together they made an announcement that was surely heard throughout the NCAA.

Adding to the oddity, they were joined at UCLA's Ackerman Student Union on Thursday by former USC cornerback Daylon McCutcheon, now of the Cleveland Browns.

Led by former UCLA linebacker and current grad student Ramogi Huma, 15 members of the last year's UCLA football team gathered to announce the formation of group they hope is the first in a nationwide movement of athletes rallying to improve their collegiate life.

``We're here today because changes need to be made in the way the NCAA operates and affects the lives of college athletes,'' Huma said.

The Collegiate Athletes Association has aims on adding offseason health coverage for those ``voluntary'' workouts, increasing monthly stipends, eliminating the cap on wages earned during the school year and increasing the NCAA's life insurance.

Individually they might not be new demands, but backed by the powerful steelworkers' union, the movement likely will be taken seriously by the NCAA.

Terry Bonds, the United Steelworkers district director who flew in from New Mexico for the news conference, said the union has worked in the past with student groups concerned over sweatshop conditions.

``This is quite a leap, but if you get right down to it, these guys work in a sweatshop,'' Bonds said. ``They make all of these practices, they play their games, and they're paid $800 a month. It is almost a sweatshop. And they work for an organization (NCAA) that takes in millions and millions of dollars.''

Bonds said the union's goal was to offer expertise in organizing the athletes, but it was willing to give financial assistance.

``We haven't set any funding-level goals, but we'll certainly be willing to help finance the organization to get it going and help them reach their goals,'' he said. ``That's our business. We help people.''

Bonds said Huma first contacted the steelworkers by e-mail about three months ago. The union already is helping to form CAC groups on other campuses.

McCutcheon is a longtime friend and former teammate of Huma's at Bishop Amat High in La Puente before he joined the Trojans.

``Being from USC, I'm a little surprised they let me on campus,'' McCutcheon said.

McCutcheon said he used to send part of his monthly scholarship stipend home to his mother when at USC.

``When it came down to it, the groceries I was putting in her refrigerator, I was taking out of my refrigerator,'' he said.

``The NCAA is a big business, with a $325 million budget a year. I think the players on the field should do better by that organization, and I'm glad they are standing up for themselves, because no one else is going to.''

Huma, who suffered a career-ending hip injury his redshirt junior season but was kept on scholarship the next year, announced the CAC's action agenda for the first time Thursday. It requested:

--Full health coverage for any athletes injured during offseason workouts. UCLA associate athletic director Betsy Stephenson, a member of the NCAA Management Council, said the Pacific-10 Conference has made a proposal to expand offseason health coverage that is currently being reviewed.

--An increase in the monthly stipend. UCLA players receive $820 per month during the school year for room and board. Huma said the amount is determined on a national average by the NCAA and doesn't meet the minimum amount determined necessary at UCLA by the school financial-aid office. He said another $300 per month would match the financial-aid office's minimum.

``It sounds like a modest request, but it would go a long ways for the student-athletes,'' Huma said.

--An unspecified increase in the $10,000 NCAA life insurance. ``We're just concerned, because the $10,000 on that benefit does not seem like enough to have an appropriate burial service and compensate the family for its loss,'' Huma said.

--Eliminating the $2,000 cap on the amount an athlete can earn during the school year. The CAC also wants to eliminate restrictions on the type of work allowed during the summer, and create an employment program for players pursuing careers outside football.

``This is not a revolt or an uprising,'' UCLA guard Brian Polak said. ``Players have felt this way for a long time; it's just been too long until people were organized to do this. It's OK to speak up. It is their right. There's nothing illegal about voicing your right and trying to make a situation better. We want to have a say in what goes on.''

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Photo: Ex-UCLA linebacker Ramogi Huma talks about the formation of the Collegiate Athletes Coalition, which wants better health coverage and more expense money.

Reed Saxon/Associated Press