Ball security would normally be the issue for a game matching two teams with 11 combined fumbles in three games. Not this Saturday.

In light of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, game plans for Saturday’s Ohio State/UCLA game are taking a backseat to security plans.

Still, UCLA coach Bob Toledo stressed that his team would be able to maintain focus by game time Saturday at his weekly press conference yesterday.

“I think it will be kind of emotional, particularly early,” Toledo said. “You take that field and someone sings the national anthem. It will be a touchy thing.”

But he said once 12:30 p.m. roles around, his team will be ready.

“I think football brings out aggressive people and eventually when you kick it off, I think you will see some good football,” he said.

At the crux of the Bruins’ game plan will be senior running back DeShaun Foster. In two games this year Foster has ran for 289 yards on 52 carries and one touchdown. As a sophomore against the Buckeyes in 1999, Foster ran for 51 yards on 17 carries and had one touchdown.

The Buckeyes won that game 42-20. Toledo said revenge is not on the mind of the Bruins.

“We had 11 freshmen and sophomores that started in that game. This is a different football team,” he said. “As far as motivation, I think Ohio State coming to the Rose Bowl is motivation enough.”

He also had nothing but praise for the Buckeyes and their program.

“They are big, strong, tough, physical and athletic,” Toledo said. “They are an outstanding football team and they have a rich heritage as far as tradition is concerned.”

For Saturday’s game, UCLA selected senior fullback Matt Stanley as its captain. Stanley hails from Columbus and went to Bexley High School. In the 1999 OSU game, he caught a deflected pass and raced 67 yards for a touchdown. That touchdown is the lone score in Stanley’s career.

UCLA is 2-0 and last played Sept. 8 at Kansas. After falling behind 3-0, the Bruins scored the next 27 points and rolled to a 41-17 victory.

On Sept. 1 the Bruins opened their season against Alabama. The Bruins fell behind early against the Tide, but stormed back for 20 unanswered points and then held off a late rally to prevail 20-17.

Sophomore flanker Tab Perry is the Bruins leading receiver thus far this year. He has six catches for 162 yards, including the game winning touchdown reception against Alabama.

Saturday’s game is UCLA’s home opener.

“It will definitely be another difficult test for our football team. The nice thing about it is that it is our home opener,” Toledo said. “I think there will be a great crowd and there will be a national television audience. A lot of eyes will be on this game.”

Even after all the game planning, Toledo admitted it is difficult, but not impossible to concentrate on football.

“They (his players) will never forget what happened. Nobody will. But they do realize that if you are going to play, let’s go play then. Otherwise, let’s not play at all,” he said. “You can’t have any fear. You have to move on.”

Against Big Ten teams Toledo is 1-4 in his six years at UCLA. UCLA last played a Big Ten team last December in the Sun Bowl. They lost to Wisconsin, 21-20.