COLLEGE FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : UCLA : Is It Shah for Sure? No, but Maybe

UCLA plans to start Sharmon Shah at tailback today at San Diego State, if Shah is able to play.

Shah has tendinitis in his right knee that is becoming chronic because of a congenital condition in his kneecap area. He says he can play if he is sufficiently warm--as he was at Stanford, where he carried 40 times for 187 yards in UCLA’s 28-25 victory--but adds that pain is ongoing.

He will be backed up by Ricky Davis and Derek Ayers, with Daron Washington, the first-game starter who has had a sprained ankle, available for spot duty. Coach Terry Donahue said he would not be surprised to see four players carry the ball at tailback.

Sidelined because of injuries are linebacker Rod Smalley, offensive linemen Jonathan Ogden and James Christensen, defensive tackle London Woodfin and tailback Skip Hicks.

*

Brian Allen is scheduled to start tonight at tight end. He caught UCLA’s first pass to a tight end all season last Saturday, but the play was nullified because of a penalty. . . . The last time San Diego State beat a Pacific 10 Conference team was 1985. The Aztecs tied USC, 31-31, last season and are 0-14-1 since beating Stanford, 41-22.