Trick And Treat

Friday, October 30, 1998

Trick And Treat

Coach Bob Toledo conjures up nothing less than magic from the depths of his playbook

By Jeff Kmiotek

Daily Bruin Staff

Merlin. Harry Houdini. David Copperfield. Bob Toledo.

They have captured imaginations and invoked awe.

They are masters of their magical domain, wizards of their work.

They have entertained and impressed their audiences like no others.

But Bob Toledo?

He doesn't use smoke or mirrors or abracadabra. Toledo's mystique stems from his ingenuity with a football playbook.

UCLA football coach Bob Toledo treats Bruin fans to trick plays virtually every week. But these gadget plays aren't just for entertainment value - they serve a purpose. They keep opposing defenses on their toes and anticipating the gadget play they'll be reliving on the highlight reels.

"The big thing that trick plays do is give you an opportunity to make a big play, and if they're successful, it gives you a momentum swing," said Toledo. "Also they're exciting and entertaining and fun for me to do in practice."

Toledo chooses his trick plays intently, exploiting the aggressiveness of each defense. Every week, he searches though his thick folder, appropriately titled "special plays," searching for the knockout punch. Toledo then visualizes which play will be effective against each team's scheme and personnel.

"I try to utilize what they're coaching and use that against them," he said. "So it's like a sleight of hand deal. You see this, but that's not what you're gonna get."

Against Arizona, the Bruins utilized the option play throughout the first half, setting up a gamebreaking trick play in the third quarter.

With UCLA leading 31-28, Cade McNown faked an option, stepped back and lofted the ball to a wide open Danny Farmer. Farmer then easily beat his defenders who were out of position trying to stop the run. The 60-yard touchdown proved to be the nail in the coffin.

"We bait them into something, and we do something else," said Toledo.

Last week vs. California, Toledo reached into his bag of tricks and pulled out another treasure. Toledo's slyness broke open what had been a close game. Up by five, tailback Jermaine Lewis took the handoff from McNown and ran right.

Just as the defense collapsed to stop the run, Lewis found the seams of the ball and fired to receiver Jon Dubravac, who slipped behind an unsuspecting defender. Dubravac caught the perfect spiral and ran in a 30-yard score.

Toledo's trickery doesn't end there, though. From the halfback pass to quarterback quick kicks, Toledo has a play ready for any situation.

He's been building his playbook since he began coaching at the University of the Pacific 19 years ago, when he began using trick plays to compensate for his teams' lack of talent.

Now Toledo has an abundance of talent, but the trick plays haven't disappeared. While most football powerhouses don't use debauchery, Toledo's tricks remain a key component to UCLA's magical season.

"I go into every game with some kind of trickery," said Toledo.

He feels trick plays come with plenty of upside and little downside. Toledo's only concern is the possibility of spies watching practice. Football practice is usually open to the public, and a wide array of people gather on the bleachers to watch.

"There have been a couple of games where we ran a trick play and there's no way they should know it's happening, and they've defended it too well," said Toledo. "I'm not big on closing practices. But it is a concern, especially with the Internet."

But for now, fans can still expect a gimmick play every week. Toledo's ability adds another dimension to UCLA football games, and his wizardry is enchanting and entrancing. Even with the added spectacle he provides, the Bruins win football games, and that's the bottom line.

Saturday is the holiday known for mystery and magic, so will Toledo conjure up a special play or two?

"Oh yeah, it's trick or treat, isn't it? We've got a few wrinkles up our sleeve."

"But it's Halloween every game for me."

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