BRUINS LOOK TO END ROAD WOES.

Byline: Billy Witz Staff Writer

BERKELEY - UCLA, for the only time this season, will not be on live television when it plays at Cal today.

This, censors insist, has nothing to do with the content of the programming. Yet, when the Bruins played Cal last year, the only words to describe their offensive performance were the ones Lenny Bruce couldn't say on TV.

UCLA managed a measly 168 yards in total offense in a 17-0 loss, the fewest points and the fewest yards of the 51-game Bob Toledo era.

Who can blame ABC or Fox Sports Net for taking a pass on the rematch?

``It was one of the worst games I've ever been a part of,'' said UCLA quarterback Cory Paus, who was 9 for 29 for 81 yards and two interceptions. ``It was horrible.

``It was the only time we've been held scoreless in ages (1994 against Washington State). We got beat up physically and emotionally. They killed us.''

Actually, the networks are only partially to blame for not airing the game.

ABC chose to televise the Oregon-USC game at 12:30 p.m. and under the terms of the Pac-10's contract with the network, no Pac-10 game may be televised opposite that slot.

Fox Sports Net, which is showing the Stanford-Oregon State game as its 3:30 p.m. syndicated game and the Washington-Arizona State game in its Pac-10 Game of the Week slot at 7:15 p.m., could have aired the game on Fox Sports Net 2. But that would have meant paying $75,000 to put up temporary lights at Cal's Memorial Stadium so the game could be moved to later in the day and not conflict with ABC's time slot.

UCLA might have also exercised its one-game exemption that would have required Fox to air the game, but the Bruins decided over the summer to use it on next week's home game against Oregon State, according to UCLA spokesman Marc Dellins.

So, those who can't be there in person must wait until Sunday at 5 p.m. to see the game broadcast on Fox Sports Net 2.

The Bruins hope it's worth the wait.

In addition to making amends for last season, the Bruins are looking to snap their seven-game losing streak on the road and a season-long trend of having to rally.

``I'm sick of having to come from behind by 10 or 21 points,'' said guard Brian Polak.

The absence of tailback DeShaun Foster (broken hand) and the presence of Cal's outstanding front seven notwithstanding, the Bruins couldn't have picked a better opponent to go hunting for their first complete game of the season.

UCLA is coming off a bye, which has enabled injured defensive backs Marques Anderson and Jason Bell, defensive linemen Ken Kocher and Rusty Williams, and tailback Jermaine Lewis among others to better recover from nagging injuries.

But no medicine may be better than Cal itself.

The Bears (1-4, 0-2) have lost four in a row and are averaging just 11.2 points per game in that stretch. They are last in the Pac-10 in scoring, ninth in total offense and looking as if they'll be the easiest mark on UCLA's schedule this season. Consider that the other contender, Fresno State, snuffed out Cal 17-3.

It's a chance for the 13th-ranked Bruins (4-1, 1-1), with Oregon and Washington playing on the road, to creep up in the Pac-10 race and perhaps pick up some ground nationally.

The key will be the Bruins' ability to solve Cal's defense, which in addition to last year's performance limited the Bruins in a 28-16 loss in 1998 to a season low in points and allowed them the second fewest yards that season.

While Cal's defensive front - led by All-American candidate Andre Carter and Quartz Hill High grad Jacob Waasdorf - looks just as good, the Bears have been vulnerable through the air. In last week's 30-10 loss to Arizona State, Cal allowed pass plays of 50, 47, 34, 68, 54, 29, 50 and 34 yards - three of which went for touchdowns.

The Bears, who have started three sophomores in the secondary at times, may be helped by the return of Jemeel Powell, their best cover corner, who missed the past two games with a hip flexor.

The Bruins, who have yet to have Paus and Foster on the field for more than one quarter this season, are counting on an improved passing game and Lewis and Akil Harris being able to compensate for the loss of Foster.

While the Bruins' offense has sparkled at times, turnovers and poor execution have taken turns putting them behind. With potentially huge games against Oregon State and Arizona looming the next two weeks, it's a good time to put those problems behind.

``You'd think at this point we'd demonstrate some consistency,'' said offensive coordinator Al Borges. ``That doesn't mean scoring 40 points and getting 500 yards every week. It means moving the ball and not giving our defense a short field to work with. We don't necessarily have to become rip-roaring, just efficient.''

Something that might be worth watching.

UCLA at CAL

Today

12:30 p.m.