BRUINS DO HAVE A CHALLENGE.

Byline: Billy Witz Staff Writer

There will be thousands of fans dressed in red, enough motor homes parked outside the Rose Bowl to make it look like a trailer park, and the visiting team lining up in white uniforms and red helmets.

Maybe UCLA can convince itself that it's playing Alabama again.

That figures to be the biggest challenge for the Bruins, convincing themselves that this afternoon's hole in the middle of their schedule - Fresno State, surrounded by games against then-No. 3 Alabama and current No. 3 Michigan - is worth getting excited about.

To that end, UCLA coach Bob Toledo stepped up the intensity in practice on Wednesday with his coaches barking orders and a sense of urgency pervading drills. He's even broached a subject with his players that would have seemed ridiculous a week ago - playing for a national championship.

``They realize what's at stake,'' Toledo said. ``I asked them, `If you're going to pick the BCS now, who would you pick, Alabama or UCLA?' We've done some nice things. For us to stub our toe would be a real tragedy.''

While the 16th-ranked Bruins are 14-point favorites over Fresno State, Toledo said it is important just to win, not score a big victory. However, if the win over Alabama proved that the Bruins have top-10 caliber talent, this game should be a test of whether they have national-caliber character.

If the Bruins can run the ball down the throat of Alabama, why can't they do it to Fresno State? If the Bruins can smother Alabama's offense, why can't they do it to the Bulldogs?

There will be no letdown, assured center Troy Danoff.

``There's no reason for it,'' said Danoff, who with guards Brian Polak and Oscar Cabrera, tackles Bryce Bohlander and Mike Saffer, and tight ends Gabe Crecion, Mike Seidman and Bryan Fletcher dominated Alabama's front seven.

``In football, you only play 11 games - 12 if you get the opportunity to go to a bowl game - so it's not too hard to get excited. You only have 11 chances. It's not like basketball or baseball.''

The Bruins game plan is just as obvious: Put the ball in the hands of DeShaun Foster, who carried for a school-record-tying 42 times for 187 yards and three touchdown against Alabama. In all, the Bruins ran the ball 57 times against Alabama.

``I don't know if they'll give it to (Foster) 42 times, but if it worked that good against Alabama, I wouldn't change it,'' said Fresno State coach Pat Hill. ``They have a lot of confidence in the running game right now with their big guys up front. If I was an offensive lineman and a running back, I'd want to run the ball.''

Hill said stopping UCLA's running game is his top priority, another way of saying: Let's see what Ryan McCann can do. The sophomore, who replaced injured Cory Paus after the first series last week, will be making his second career start and isn't as proficient as Paus at reading formations or picking up second and third options. Moreover, one option who won't be available is receiver Brian Poli-Dixon, who is out with a hamstring injury.

If Fresno State, which stopped Ohio State on six plays inside the 3-yard line in last week's 43-10 loss, loads up eight or nine defenders to stop the run - and the Bulldogs held Foster to 30 yards on 12 carries last season - then the onus could shift to McCann.

``If people do something and you can't take advantage of it, they're going to keep doing it,'' Toledo said. ``It's like a shark when there's blood in the water. You gotta get the blood out of the water. They're going to test him and he's got to prove he can do it.''

Defensively, the Bruins are coming off perhaps their most impressive performance against a quality opponent since their 66-3 route of No. 10 Texas in 1997. Not only did they limit Alabama to 265 yards, but they also forced three turnovers.

There could be an opportunity for more against Fresno State. Quarterback David Carr threw four interceptions last week in his first college start and Ohio State returned two interceptions and two fumbles for touchdowns.

Fresno State at UCLA

Today, 4:30 p.m.

FSN2/; 1150 AM