Dubravac Has Enjoyed Having the Blue Shirt Instead of a Red One

The redshirt season that wasn’t continued Saturday night at the Rose Bowl, where Jon Dubravac was in the lineup instead of simply in uniform.

He has gone from dressing and not expecting to play at all this season because of UCLA’s depth at receiver to playing in three consecutive games, ever since backup split end Brian Poli-Dixon was lost, probably for the year, because of a broken wrist. With Danny Farmer and Freddie Mitchell banged up at the same time, Dubravac was pressed into action.

“I was mentally prepared and physically prepared for it to happen,” said Dubravac, who had three catches for 39 yards and a touchdown last season. “But then when it happened, it was, ‘Oh my God.’ It was just ‘Pow.’ And it happened.

“The good thing was that they kept me in the rotation, even though I was going to, quote unquote, redshirt. I never really went down to the scout team, so I was always with the offense and was staying close to all the game plans.”

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Travor Turner, whose senior season ended when he ruptured a knee ligament in the Sept. 4 opener against Boise State, has started rehabilitation after undergoing surgery, and has maybe even started a comeback.

That’s for the NCAA to decide. Turner, the backup defensive end whose play in camp was one of the bright spots for the defense, is considering petitioning for a sixth year of eligibility, even while conceding that approval would be a longshot. The problem comes in that his redshirt season, 1995 as a true freshman, was used for developmental reasons and not a health issue, which usually makes the powers that be less sympathetic toward an actual injury claim later.

“They [UCLA officials] told me about that,” Turner said. “However, I’m still going to appeal and take it from there, instead of not trying at all.”

The consideration comes in the days after his return to campus--on crutches and in a brace following Sept. 30 surgery on the right leg--and as he plans to be around the team again. That could be his new important role, since Turner was regarded as one of the inspirational leaders of the defensive line in addition to its best pass rusher.

“I just want to be here for the guys, encourage them and lead that way,” Turner said.

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Through all the suspensions, inexperience and injuries, center Troy Danoff has emerged as the most consistent member of the offensive line--even if part of the reason is that he has been the only one consistently in the lineup.

“He’s been kind of the block of granite in there,” Coach Bob Toledo said. “He’s smart, he’s a good football player, he’s got good size. He’s going to be one of the best Pac-10 centers before too long.”

Danoff followed one, having spent 1998 behind Shawn Stuart, a second-team all-conference selection.

“It was just me knowing that I had to do it,” Danoff said of his solid job as a sophomore. “Last year, I was the backup and I got to learn from Stu. This year, I had the responsibility. I knew I had to step up.”