Anderson Set for Speedy Challenge

Safety Marques Anderson can hardly believe his ears. He understands the need for UCLA to contain Wisconsin tailback Michael Bennett in Friday’s Sun Bowl, but he does not understand why the UCLA coaches believe it’s over if Bennett escapes into the open field.

“If he gets into the open, we don’t have anybody who can catch him,” defensive coordinator Bob Field said the other day.

Anderson, the fastest Bruin, wonders whether the coaches have forgotten the play at Arizona, when he saved a touchdown by running the width of the field and half the length to corral Wildcat quarterback Ortege Jenkins. Sure, Bennett has Olympic-caliber speed, but . . .

“If he gets into the open field, I think I can go get him,” Anderson said. “This will be a real good test to showcase his speed and my speed.”

Bennett ranks third in the nation with an average of 160 yards a game. He rushed at least 20 times in each game, including 28 carries for 290 yards against Oregon and 48 carries for 293 yards against Northwestern.

“The guy is good, and he’s fast, but he’s not that physical,” Anderson said. “If we hit him good a couple times, I think he will fold. But we have to get 11 guys to the ball every time.”

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Anderson’s remarks echo a theme that UCLA coaches stressed last week at practice.

The coaches have reminded players of postgame comments made by Wisconsin players after the Badgers’ 38-31 Rose Bowl victory over the Bruins two seasons ago. The coaches have verbally highlighted references to the Bruins being soft, particularly on defense.

Ron Dayne rushed for 246 yards and the Badgers rushed for 343, with the Bruins limited to 120 rushing yards in 38 carries. But UCLA’s Cade McNown passed for 340 yards, and the Bruins outgained Wisconsin 538 yards to 497. The Badgers scored the clinching touchdown on an interception return by cornerback Jamar Fletcher.

“That wasn’t close to a butt-kicking,” UCLA receiver Brian Poli-Dixon said. “We’ve just talked about how they think they manhandled us, and that wasn’t the case at all.”

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Although the Bruins do not expect to make money on the Sun Bowl, despite its $1 million payout, the Bruins will profit on the bowl season.

Pacific 10 Conference schools split bowl profits equally. UCLA, USC and the other eight conference schools are expected to receive $1.7 million apiece in bowl revenue, Commissioner Tom Hansen said, up from $1.4 million last season thanks largely to Oregon State’s invitation to a bowl championship series game.