BRUINS ABLE TO SMILE AMID RUINS.

Byline: KEVIN MODESTI

PASADENA - Scott McEwan's freckled face is beaming, his soft blue eyes dancing to the UCLA fight song being blasted by the band outside the locker room.

``This feels great,'' the quarterback is saying after leading the Bruins to a 52-42 victory Saturday at the Rose Bowl.

And I'm biting my tongue to keep from saying: What are you so happy about? Big deal, you beat Arizona State.

Bob Toledo's chest is puffed up with pride, his grin wide as he recounts the Bruins' recovery from a 7-0 deficit.

``A lot of people would have folded their tents right then and there,'' the head coach is saying.

And I'm biting down harder to keep from saying: Yeah, and a lot of people did fold their tents against USC.

The Bruins players and coaches are loud and boisterous as they dress after what was, barring a surprise bowl-game invitation, their final game of 2001.

``Once we got up (14-7), I was just enjoying every minute,'' defensive tackle Ken Kocher is saying. ``I was sitting on the bench, trying to take it all in.''

And I'm tasting blood, trying to avoid saying: Fine for you, but for your fans, the end of a four-game losing streak is not quite a moment to savor.

But I can't say it. I can't tell the Bruins they have no right to celebrate at the close of such a disastrous season. When men lost in the desert find water, I'm not going to tell them it's bad manners to gulp.

Bittersweet? Meaningless? Too little too late? Unranked UCLA's victory over unranked Arizona State was all of those things and none of those things.

``It's not bittersweet at all,'' McEwan said. ``I'm just happy we won.''

Go ahead, you tell Scott McEwan to wipe that glow off his face.

McEwan's story, all by itself, should lighten any Bruins-watcher in the crowd of 45,271 who left the Rose Bowl frowning about a team that began the season 6-0, led by a America's finest running back, only to wind up the Gary Harts of the national-championship and Heisman Trophy campaigns.

It's too sweet a story to spoil: Senior makes first start of college career, throws three touchdown passes in victory.

``I couldn't ask for a better game for myself,'' McEwan said.

McEwan could not see the ``Yeah, but ...'' in any of this. He saw the bright side of everything.

Meaningless game? ``I think it will help us with recruiting. Hopefully we showed recruits that UCLA never gives up,'' McEwan said, blocking out the fact UCLA rolled over against its cross-town rival two weeks ago.

Small crowd that shrank as the chilly day went on? ``Those people are the real, loyal fans that support us no matter what.''

Questions about whether McEwan's 20-for-36, 280-yard, one-interception, one-sack performance means Toledo should have started him sooner over Cory Paus? ``I think things happen for a reason. I was very supportive of the decision to go with Cory. He earned the job.''

McEwan's favorite moment was his second touchdown pass to Craig Bragg, a 39-yard play on which the quarterback hid the ball behind his back and then hit the flanker in stride a few steps from the end zone. It was a play McEwan and Bragg had perfected in practice, a play the coaches promised they'd use. That combination of practice and payoff is something the Thousand Oaks High grad, 23, rarely had the opportunity to enjoy the past four years.

For him, it didn't matter that this is a pearl lost in a pile of jagged concrete.

McEwan came off the field to cheers from the fans over the locker-room tunnel. He handed a sweatband and towel to a pair of boys. (``I thought they were cute kids,'' he said, shrugging.) He waved to his girlfriend, classmate Ashley Stowell, and her family. He slapped palms with some diehards in blue and gold.

By the time UCLA opens the 2002 season Sept. 7 against Colorado State at the Rose Bowl, McEwan will be an alumnus. He's excited about what he expects to see.

``I think the future of the program is in great hands with this coaching staff,'' McEwan said. ``(Defensive coordinator) Phil Snow did a great job this year, coach Toledo does a great job recruiting. As far as I'm concerned, I don't know why anyone would want to go anywhere different from UCLA.''

Of course, McEwan was excited about everything Saturday.

``It's like a storybook ending to a not-so-storybook season,'' he said.

And that's as realistic an assessment as you'll hear from this locker room.

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

UCLA quarterback Scott McEwan beat Arizona State in his first career start.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer