COLLEGE FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT / UCLA : Polak Is Suddenly a Leader

Look who has become the dependable part of the offensive line--the newcomer and primary worry on the unit from a year ago.

“It’s crazy,” right tackle Brian Polak said. “It’s like last year, the big controversy was if I could fill in or not. Now, I’m a seasoned veteran. It’s very weird the way that happened.”

Polak is more than a seasoned veteran. When UCLA opens the season Saturday night against Boise State at the Rose Bowl, he will be the only returning starter on the line, since left guard Oscar Cabrera will be serving a two-game suspension.

That means the junior from Hacienda Heights will also be counted on to step forward as a leader on the unit, a year after everyone wondered if he was up to the task of simply starting alongside the since-departed Shawn Stuart, Andy Meyers and Kris Farris.

“It’s quite a transition,” Polak said. “It’s one I kind of fell into in the off-season because I knew I would have to. It’s kind of weird, but it’s a new challenge and one that I accept.”

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It’s only practice, but it’s still impressive. After countless throws his way in drills and scrimmages, all of which were charted by the Bruin staff, split end Brad Melsby did not drop a single ball. “That’s the first time I can ever remember that a receiver has never dropped a ball in practice,” Coach Bob Toledo said. . . . Lovell Houston, a reserve defensive back, is not expected to play against Boise State because of a strained leg muscle.