UCLA NOTEBOOK: MCCLOSKEY'S ABSENCE LEAVES OFFENSIVE LINE WITH HOLE AT CENTER.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

The seventh-ranked rushing attack in the nation was dealt a serious blow as UCLA center Mike McCloskey, arguably the best of the Bruins' offensive linemen, is expected to sit out Saturday against Arizona because of a sprained right ankle.

McCloskey, who was injured Wednesday in practice, was on crutches and had his ailing ankle in a walking boot. Sophomore Robert Chai will take McCloskey's spot, and strong-side tackle Paul Mociler will backup, but the loss is big.

``McCloskey's done really well,'' UCLA coach Karl Dorrell said. ``He's the center of that offensive line, is the most quiet of all of them and does a great job with his leadership. He's had a great season up until this point.''

UCLA is hopeful McCloskey can return for the Oct. 16 game at Cal.

The quick and athletic McCloskey, who is 6-foot-5 and 275 pounds, spearheaded an offensive line credited with helping resurrect UCLA's offense. Behind the McCloskey-led line, UCLA has averaged 273.2 rushing yards per game, and tailback Maurice Drew has run for a Pacific 10 Conference-best 167.2 yards per game. He is averaging 8.4 yards per carry.

After allowing a conference-worst 51 sacks last season, opponents have sacked quarterback Drew Olson twice, the fewest number allowed in the league.

``We feel very confident in (Chai's) ability,'' Dorrell said. ``We're going to be just fine. We'll keep moving.''

When McCloskey broke his left ankle last season, Chai started the final eight games.

--Pac-10 backs UCLA: Pac-10 coordinator of officiating Verle Sorgen said he reviewed game reports and watched the tape of UCLA's contest against San Diego State, and determined UCLA was not using illegal chop blocks, as Aztecs coach Tom Craft alleged, as part of its blocking scheme along the offensive line.

Bruins fullback Michael Pitre was flagged for one chop block. Sorgen said one other chop block should have been called against UCLA, but it came on a pass play when one of the Bruins' tackles was trying to make a late block.

``I don't necessarily think that at any time it's a designed part of the offense,'' Sorgen said. ``I don't see anything in UCLA's offense that looks like a design to post and chop.''

Sorgen added that a tape sent to the Pac-10 had exclusively UCLA plays on it, but he found nothing illegal about the Bruins' blocking scheme.

``I think (Arizona) coach (Mike) Stoops has calmed down since the beginning of the week,'' Sorgen said.

--Page to return punts: After considering the situation, Dorrell said strong safety Jarrad Page will return punts instead of Drew. Earlier in the week, Dorrell said Drew would remain the punt returner even after absorbing a big hit last week against the Aztecs.

``It was an executive decision,'' Dorrell said. ``We want to see what (Page) can. It is scary when those opportunities happen (with Drew). He's a great value to our offense, and it is an area where you want to keep your best players in the best possible position.''

Page was a backup to injured Craig Bragg last season. Dorrell said Page has ``excellent hands. He catches the ball really, really well.''

--Hall inductions: UCLA will introduce its 2004 Hall of Fame class at halftime. Former Bruin footballers Dennis Dummit, Carlton Gray and James Owens head a class that includes former UCLA basketball guard Henry Bibby, now USC men's basketball coach, and hoopster Fred Slaughter, Steve Lewis (track), former L.A. Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid (soccer) and Natalie Williams (volleyball and basketball).

They will be honored at a dinner tonight. Bibby and Gray are not expected to attend the football game.

--Odds and ends: Dorrell said Derrick Williams and Chris Markey would return kickoffs against the Wildcats. ... Arizona reserve defensive tackle Yaniv Barnett, who has four tackles, will not play. He was suspended from the Wildcats following an arrest for alleged possession of marijuana.

Brian Dohn, [phone]

brian.dohn(at)dailynews.com