COLLEGE FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : UCLA : Redshirt Freshman Thrust Into Key Role

Chad Sauter has come a long way: from getting three plays in garbage time against Nebraska to starting at left guard against Washington.

There wasn’t much choice. UCLA is just about out of offensive linemen. Sauter didn’t even know he was starting until three nights before the game.

“Before the Washington game I was so nervous,” Sauter said. “I didn’t know what I was going to do. I don’t care if I make a mistake and get yelled at, but I do care if I make a mistake and get a quarterback hurt.”

While others socialized and snacked in their Seattle hotel rooms, Sauter spent the night before the game with his playbook, trying to make sure that any of his Saturday mistakes weren’t mental.

“I made a few at first, but as the game went on I just played football,” he said. “I felt good. I’d forgotten what fun it was to play football.”

Sauter’s last football had been for Torrance South High, where he played both ways and seldom left the field. His redshirt season at UCLA was difficult because his only football was played on the practice field.

Sauter became a starter when James Christensen was injured against Washington State. He joins another redshirt freshman, tackle Chad Overhauser, and junior guard Mike Rohme as newcomers on the offensive line.

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Fullback James Milliner has joined the list of those who will not make the trip to Berkeley for Saturday’s game against California. Milliner has a shoulder ailment, and without him and Greg Ford, who has been out two weeks because of a back problem, the Bruins are reduced to one scholarship fullback: Daron Washington. Walk-on junior Greg Cass will back up Washington. . . . Other starters who will not play Saturday: wide receiver J.J. Stokes (bruised thigh), guard Matt Soenksen (knee), guard Christensen (knee), tackle Paul Kennedy (knee, out for season) and cornerback Carl Greenwood (ankle, out for season).