BEST BETS Major League Baseball Baltimore at Seattle, NBC (6), 8p.m. Suspensions leave UCLA in trouble Repeated marijuana use is a key factor in the suspension ofjelani McCoy and Kris Johnson The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — The way things are go ing, UCLA might not have enough players to field a team when the basketball season begins in two months. And this was a team hoping to contend for a national championship. It still might, but not if swingman Kris Johnson and center Jelani McCoy aren't a part of it. Johnson and McCoy, who helped the Bru ins reach the Midwest Regional finals in March, were suspended indefinitely Mon day for violation of athletic department poli cies and team rules. The suspensions were announced 10 days after the family of freshman Schea Cot ton learned that the NCAA’s Eligibility Clearinghouse had invalidated the SAT score he earned in June to establish his eligi bility. The Long Beach Press-Telegram reported Tuesday that Johnson and McCoy have test ed positive for marijuana usage “on more than one occasion” during their stints at the school, which, at least in part, led to the players’ suspensions. Student-athletes at NCAA member insti tutions are subject to random drug testing throughout the school year. The Press-Telegram also quoted sources as saying there had been concern in the UCLA athletic department over Johnson’s involvement in a number of fights in his three years at the school, the most recent be ing with UCLA freshman point guard Earl Watson during the summer. It was not known what role, if any, that had in his suspension. UCLA said in a statement issued Monday there is a possibility that Johnson and Mc Coy might be reinstated later, and it also said university policy precludes discussion of details regarding the suspension. UCLA sports information director Marc Dellins refused comment on the Press Telegram story. “We won’t comment on any speculation in any of the media,” Dellins said. “The two young men have a right to their privacy, and it’s unfortunate that people feel the need to speculate on the reasons for the suspen sion.” Dellins also wouldn’t speculate as to whether the two players might be reinstat ed or when such a development might take place. Washington State Leader of the Pac COURTESY PHOTO Ryan Leaf leads the nation’s fourth-ranked offense into Autzen Stadium this Saturday to face the Ducks, who gave up 578 yards to Stanford last week. Heisman hopeful Ryan Leaf leads Pac-10 in total offense with 328yards per game and 13 touchdowns By Alex Pond Sports Reporter This week will likely include several sleepless nights for members of the Ore gon secondary. After getting chewed up by Stanford’s offense, led by quarterback Chad Hutchinson, for 58 points and 340 yards passing, the Ducks don’t exactly get a re prieve in the schedule this week. Not even close. Not with No. 15 Washington State coming to town, led by junior quarter back and possible Heisman Trophy can didate Ryan Leaf. And the Ducks thought Hutchinson was impressive. Leaf comes in ranked fourth national ly in total offense at 328 yards per game and is eighth in the nation in passing ef ficiency with a rating of 162.0. In just four games, Leaf has already thrown for 1,327 yards and 13 touchdowns, tops in the Pacific-10 Conference in each cate gory. Those kinds of numbers, combined with the fact that the Ducks rank last in the Pac-10 in every major defensive cat egory, while the Cougars rank first in passing and total offense, will likely cause the Oregon defense to change things a bit this week. "[Loaf] knows where to go in zone, and he knows where to go in man to man, so I think you have to change the looks of the secondary,” Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti says. “You have to pressure him. You have to get people in his face, and that’s hard because he’s [six-foot-five], and he’s a very good physical athlete.” Leaf has grown up as a quarterback on the fly, starting every game since late in his freshman season. He has matured to the point where he now has significant control of the Cougars offense and has the freedom to call audibles whenever he deems it nec essary. “I think it’s because the coaching staff has stayed the same and the playbook Turn to LEAF, Page 18 Oregon State on its way up after 26 seasons of futility The Sun Devils were lucky to get out of Corvallis with a win, head coach Bruce Snyder said By Ryan Frank Spoils Editor The Oregon State Beavers may very well be head ed to their 27th straight losing season, but don’t count on that streak going much further. First-year head coach Mike Riley has the Beavers passing the ball for the first time in recent memory, and the defense has been playing well. As a result, Oregon State could conceivably be 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the Pacific-10 Conference. Instead they are 1 2 overall and 0-2 in conference. “I’m excited and disappointed,” Riley said Tues day. “We had great effort from our players and we had opportunities to win big, big games; we’re just not finishing them off.” The Beavers were one defensive stop away from beating Stanford in Corvallis for the second straight season and one field goal away from beating Ari zona State in Corvallis last weekend. "We’re lucky to get out of there with a win,” Ari zona State head coach Bruce Snyder said. “We struggled like the dickens with them all the time. The kids there play extremely hard, and I really re spect them for that.” Riley said his team is learning each week. “Each week is monumental,” Riley said. “We need to get a win under our belt, and the opponent doesn’t matter. It is us performing. We lost two tough ones in a row, we need to come back and win a game.” With back-to-back home games coming up against San Jose State (0-3) and Utah State (2-2), making it five straight home games to start the sea son, don’t be surprised if Oregon State is above .500 heading into its game at UCLA Oct. 25. Game of the week With the San Francisco Giants in the playoffs, it may not be the biggest thing in the Bay Area, but Stanford’s home game against Notre Dame is the • game of the week in the Pac-10. The Irish are 2-0 at Stanford in the 1990s, but have lost two of three in South Bend to the Cardi nal. The Irish should have plenty of motivation to go 3-0 at Stanford after losing to Michigan and Big Ten powerhouse Purdue in their last two games. Considering Stanford’s play of late, Notre Dame has to be salivating at the opportunity to go against the Cardinal defense that gave up 49 points and 530 yards in total offense to Oregon. “I hope that was an aberration,” Stanford head coach Tyrone Willingham said. Catching Keyshawn Cal wide receiver Bobby Shaw hasn’t been quot ed saying, “Just gimme the damn ball,” but he may on his way to breaking Keyshawn Johnson’s confer ence record of 90 catches in a season. Turn to PAC-10, Page 19