Derrick Coleman’s day started well.
Coleman, a freshman running back, had carried nine times for 83 yards in just his second collegiate game. Starter Kahlil Bell was pulled in the second half because of his injured ankle, and the Bruins turned to Coleman as they tried to fight their way back against a tough Fresno State team.
The offense was almost there when Coleman dropped the ball.
On his 10th carry, Coleman took a crushing hit from Sharrod Davis and lost his grip. UCLA was just 10 yards away from the end zone and trailed by only five points when the ball popped out of Coleman’s arms. Fresno State defensive tackle Wilson Ramos scooped the ball away from UCLA fullback Chane Moline.
Coleman’s fumble, which came with 8:55 remaining, was the Bruins’ last offensive play.
“I should have had control,” Coleman said. “It can be hard to handle the emotions. You did well, and then all of the sudden you drop one like that.”
Injuries and an overall lack of depth have forced UCLA to turn to inexperienced players like Coleman at several positions. Bell carried 18 times in the first half but ran only twice in the second half because of tightness in his ankle.
“Bell is not a 100 percent back,” offensive coordinator Norm Chow said. “He carried 18 times and we felt like it was plenty. … The problem with Kahlil’s ankle is that you can’t keep shelving him in and out. That thing stiffens up. We used him as best we could, and then he retaped his ankle at halftime and we made a decision.”
Chow said that Coleman had played very well in practices last week. Coleman started strong on Saturday as well.
Early in the fourth quarter he gained seven yards on first down and then took a direct snap for a 44-yard gain, UCLA’s longest play from scrimmage. Those two runs set up quarterback Kevin Craft’s 20-yard touchdown pass to Moline.
“(Coleman) is going to be a great player for us,” coach Rick Neuheisel said. “He’s going to be an exciting back. … This was only his second game. The fumble just happened at a bad time.”
Fresno State took over at their own 10-yard line and then launched a bruising, methodical, 85-yard drive down the field. That drive succeeded in running out the remaining time on the clock.
UCLA players said that drive was what really killed their chances, not Coleman’s fumble.
“The fumble is a mistake that you have to learn from; it’s a rookie mistake,” middle linebacker Reggie Carter said. “It was our job to get them off the field after the fumble, and we didn’t do that. It’s a team loss. We take the wins and losses together.”
Coleman said he received encouragement from teammates and coaches after the game. Some reminded him of one of the team’s philosophies ““ one snap and clear.
“In the heat of the moment he’s got to shake it off,” Moline said. “Like the coaches always say, “˜one snap and clear.’ Obviously no one ever wanted that to happen, especially down there near the goal line, but “˜one snap and clear.’ We gotta get the ball back and go win.”
Players often talk about always having each others’ backs, but Coleman said he really saw it in the locker room after the game.
And as hard as it may be to erase the memory of Saturday’s game ““ the electric feeling after he broke that 44-yard run along with the pain of seeing Ramos recover his fumble ““ Coleman said he’ll only look forward to next week.
“It’s all confidence,” Coleman said. “The more carries I have, the more confidence I’ll get. You’re due to make mistakes, and I understand that now. You just really have to limit the mistakes.
“All I’m going to do now is come back next week and repay what I just did.”