UCLA NOTEBOOK: AZTECS IRKED BY TACTICS.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

After UCLA shredded San Diego State's defense, rushing for 204 yards in an easier-than-expected 23-point win last season, Aztecs coach Tom Craft accused the Bruins of illegal tactics.

Craft said UCLA used illegal chop blocks. That game, played at the Rose Bowl, featured Pacific-10 officials. After an investigation, the Pac-10 said UCLA did nothing wrong.

When the teams open the season Saturday at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, Mountain West Conference officials will be on charge, and Craft can be expected to make his point with them.

``I think for the safety of the game, if there are some things that we need to alert the officials to, we do it,'' Craft said. ``But my focus really hasn't been on what they do with their blocking scheme or how they do it.''

In last season's game, UCLA was flagged for one illegal chop block, which is when one player blocks a defender high, then another player dives at his lower legs.

Afterward, Craft said UCLA employed ``blatant posts and cuts'' and called it an ``irresponsible practice.''

``There's nothing illegal about it - there's nothing I take back,'' UCLA center Mike McCloskey said. ``There might be a mistake, a high-low now and then, but that's totally unintentional.

``They kind of have this vengeance for us. They're tired of losing, and they're a real feisty team. Whatever they can use as an excuse, or something to build momentum on ... I guess that's the only thing they can use. For them to believe in something like that, and for it to be in their heads that much, it's kind of amusing.''

McCloskey, the veteran of UCLA's offensive line, said Craft's accusations sting and that they add another element to a series the Bruins have dominated. UCLA is 19-0-1 against the Aztecs.

``It makes it a little personal when they're accusing you of your tactics being unsportsmanlike,'' McCloskey said. ``Personally, I find it amusing. There's nothing illegal about it, so I'm just going to go out there and play harder.''

--London's health: Justin London hasn't been healthy for more than a year, and although he is experiencing some lingering soreness in his right ankle, he is anxious to play without searing pain.

``It's been almost two years since I played healthy,'' London said. ``This is kind of the quiet before the storm. I'm just excited to get out there. I'm quieter than usual because I don't want to jinx it.''

London injured the ankle last August and played the season with bones rubbing together because all the cartilage was destroyed. He underwent surgery in which holes were drilled into his bone to allow the bleeding to produce new cartilage.

--Also: Instead of choosing captains for the season, Bruins coach Karl Dorrell said he would appoint them on a game-by-game basis. ``There's too many good leaders on this team, and we want to recognize all the great things this team has done,'' Dorrell said. ... UCLA will practice with crowd noise today for the first time.