BRUIN DEFENSE: A FIELD OF SCREAMS PLAYERS SUPPORT COORDINATOR DESPITE CONSTANT STRUGGLES.

Byline: Billy Witz Staff Writer

EL PASO, Texas - With notebooks poised and television cameras rolling, UCLA coach Bob Toledo was asked Thursday by an out-of-town reporter whether he expected today's Sun Bowl to be as high scoring as when the Bruins and Wisconsin put up 69 points in the Rose Bowl two years ago.

``Have you seen our defense?'' Toledo cracked.

And so, there it goes again, Toledo's love-hate relationship with his defense. One day, Toledo's rankles when he's asked about the future of the defensive coaches. The next day, he's getting laughs at their expense.

Of course, that's what a defense that has given up a school-record 347 points (and counting) can do to a man.

Do you laugh or cry? Curse or pray?

Or just make changes.

There has been speculation about Bob Field's future as defensive coordinator ever since a 38-35 loss to USC nearly six weeks ago. Toledo, while saying there was nothing wrong with Field's scheme, declined to offer Field a vote of confidence after the USC loss.

Instead, Toledo said he would evaluate all his coaches at the end of the season.

The Bruins' defense - even without starting defensive ends Kenyon Coleman and Rusty Williams - is as healthy as it's been since September. It is matched up against a physical, run-oriented team - the type that has rolled over the Bruins in recent years. Edgerrin James, anyone? Ron Dayne?

But if the players view the Sun Bowl as a nationally televised opportunity for redemption, it is not a referendum. This will not be a final exam that makes up for a semester's worth of missed assignments.

``I'll evaluate this game along with the rest of the season,'' Toledo said. ``It's very important to evaluate the whole year. I don't think you base these things on one game. We have to look at the whole season and why things work and why they don't, and what we can do to make (the players) better. This game is just one part of the puzzle.''

Field, who is in his second year as Toledo's defensive coordinator, served in that capacity for 14 seasons under former coach Terry Donahue. He has been at UCLA for 22 years and as a result is more likely to be reassigned than fired.

``I have no idea,'' Field said when asked whether he expected to run the Bruins' defense next season. ``That's not a primary concern of mine right now.''

If Field is reassigned, either another member of the staff would be shuffled into the position (linebacker coach Marc Dove has been a defensive coordinator at Mississippi State, North Carolina and TCU) or another coach would have to leave to make room for a new hire. Toledo hasn't fired a coach in his previous four seasons, though he was happy to see former defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti to the door.

Linebacker Robert Thomas, the Bruins' leading tackler, said Wednesday that Toledo's decision on Field could play a role in whether he returns for his senior season or applies for the NFL draft, though he must make that decision by Jan. 12.

To a man, the Bruins - including Thomas - have publicly supported Field.

``He's done everything he could for us,'' senior cornerback Jason Bell said. ``He's an excellent teacher and technician. He's teaching us every day. Believe me, he knows what he's doing. We just haven't made the plays.''

The Bruins thought they answered all these questions in September. They held Alabama's offense to 10 points in the season opener, limited Fresno State to 26 yards rushing, and were respectable against Michigan and Oregon.

Indeed, Toledo frequently remarked that this was the best talent the Bruins had on defense since he came to the school in 1994. The soft-as-their-powder-blue-uniforms tag was on its way to becoming myth.

``All of a sudden, we lose a couple of games and we're not physical anymore,'' defensive tackle Ken Kocher said. ``We hear about it a lot, but you try not to listen to it.''

The breakdowns coincided with a litany of injuries.

Coleman went down against Michigan. His backup, Sean Phillips, was lost against Cal. Kocher was hobbled by ankle and knee injuries, as was fellow tackle Anthony Fletcher. The two starters who stayed in the lineup all season - Williams and tackle Rodney Leisle - played through injuries that require surgery.

At linebacker, Thomas played on a foot with a stress fracture the last half of the season and will have surgery on both shoulders after the season. In the secondary, Jason Bell had heel problems, Marques Anderson an undisclosed, non-football-related surgery and nickel backs Jason Stephens and Joe Hunter battled injuries.

Over the final seven games, the Bruins gave up less than 31 points just once - to Arizona, the worst offense in the Pac-10 - and allowed an average of 451 yards per game.

``You can't always outscore people,'' Field said. ``We have to carry our weight and win some games. We did that early in the season and I thought we developed some confidence. We did a great job of making plays and carrying our weight early in the season. It would feel good to do that again.''

If the Bruins stay healthy and Thomas and Anderson return for their senior seasons, the Bruins will have an experienced and - if recruiting experts are correct - talented defense.

Who will be the one directing them is another question.

This much, however, is clear. If the Bruins, who have allowed more than 28 points a game under three different coordinators in the Toledo era, aren't markedly better next season nobody will be laughing with the head coach.

They'll be laughing at him.

SUN BOWL

UCLA (6-5) vs. WISCONSIN (8-4)

--Where: Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas

--When: 11:15 a.m. today

--TV/Radio: Ch. 2/1150-AM

UCLA vs. WISCONSIN

Kickoff: 11:15 a.m., Sun Bowl Stadium.

--TV/Radio: Ch. 2; 1150-AM.

--Records: Wisconsin 8-4 (fifth in Pac-10), UCLA 6-5 (fifth in Pac-10).

--Series: UCLA leads series, 7-3. Wisconsin has won the last two in Rose Bowls: 21-16 in 1994 and 38-31 in 1999.

--Injuries: UCLA - T Mike Saffer (dislocated shoulder) probable, DT Kory Lombard (broken arm) out, DE Rusty Williams (shoulder) out, DT Rodney Leisle (flu) probable. Wisconsin: PR/KR Nick Davis (suspension) out, OT Brian Lamont (sprained knee), doubtful.

--Keep an eye on: Whether the Bruins can stop Badgers back Michael Bennett (1,598 yards rushing), and whether the Bruins can establish DeShaun Foster for one of the few times since September. If not, it will be a dark day at the Sun Bowl. Perhaps more worth watching than the game itself is the matchup between Wisconsin's Thorpe Award winning cornerback Jamar Fletcher and UCLA's Biletnikoff Award finalist receiver Freddie Mitchell. This is likely the last college game for the two juniors.

--Wisconsin update: The Badgers will start running threat Brooks Bollinger at quarterback, but Jim Sorgi, a 6-5 freshman pocket passer, will also play. Sorgi, who completed 45 of 67 passes (67.2 percent) for six TDs and one interception, rallied the Badgers to road wins at Michigan State and Indiana when Bollinger was hurt. . . . Wisconsin should enjoy the advantage of playing on artificial turf. The Badgers' home field is the same surface and UCLA has lost its last three games on artificial turf by a combined score of 119-45. . . . Kevin Stemke, who averaged 44.8 yards per kick and had 21 of his 65 punts land inside the 20-yard line, won the inaugural Ray Guy Award as the nation's top punter. . . . Defensive tackle Wendell Bryant, a semifinalist for the Lombardi Trophy given to the nation's top lineman, was a handful for the Bruins as a freshman in the Rose Bowl two years ago. He had two tackles for losses, deflected two passes and sacked Cade McNown on fourth down with 1:07 left to seal the Badgers' 38-31 win. . . . The Badgers are 5-1 in bowl games under Barry Alvarez, including Rose Bowl wins the past two seasons. . . . Wisconsin has eight players from California, including backup free safety Carlease Clark (Montclair Prep). Freshmen receiver Chris Catalano (Westlake), offensive lineman Jonathan Clinkscale (Muir) and kicker Adam Espinoza (Arcadia) are redshirting.

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo: BOB FIELD

Defensive coordinator says he has ``no idea'' whether he'll be back next season.

Box: UCLA vs. WISCONSIN (see text)