SB Nation - Brandon Breazell

BN Roundup: Happy Bruin Father's Day Edition

Nestor — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 15:52:49 -0000

Wow. It looks like the North-South question put up yesterday had caused a little stir here on a slow weekend in the off season. I had a feeling it was going to make people come out and represent. As I somewhat expected it looks like the North is out to a commanding lead in our current poll. But I do know there are lot of Bruin athletics addicts on the South Side too. Even though I ended up on the North Side when I graduated, I spent my first two years on the South before the Physics 6 series finally came up as a rude awakening and huge obstacle to going to Strattons on Tuesdays for $1 pint night. Made the switch to North Campus and life became even more beautiful in Westwood.

So for those Southies who manage to finish in style while not compromising the good times at UCLA, I salute you. I know you are out there and if you are make sure to vote so that us Northsiders can't gloat too much about it's us who really get behind our football/basketball teams. Speaking of supporting our football/ben ball teams, if you are current student also don't forget to vote for your favorite Den shirt design for next season (HT Bruin4ever15)

As for some news and notes on this Sunday, Dohn reported recently that three UCLA incoming signees have their work cut out for them in this summer season to get into school:

Most of UCLA's freshmen football class will move in Sunday and begin summer school Monday, but three signees are in danger of not qualifying academically and have academic issues to clean up during the summer in order to enroll when August training camp begins.
Irvine High offensive/defensive lineman Nik Abele and Long Beach Jordan linebacker Taniela Maka both have work to do before being accepted into UCLA, according to sources.
Both players still have the possibility of taking care of their academic business before training camp begins, and if they do, both will enroll. However, if the academic situation is not rectified, either or both could still enroll in January 2010.

Also, JC transfers Eddie Williams has some work to do as well before enrolling in August per the same Dohn post. Good luck to these kids. Perhaps Brian Price can reach out to them or UCLA coaches can serve Price up as an example on how they can get themselves in a rewarding situation at UCLA if they stay determined and get their academics in order.

As football football players who have already completed their time at UCLA, some interesting news from the official site. Bunch of recent alums along with Coach Howard are participating in an a senior bowl game in Japan:

UCLA assistant football coach Todd Howard and six former UCLA football players are scheduled to participate in the New Era Bowl 2009. The bowl is scheduled for 6:00 pm on July 4 at Oji Stadium in Kobe, Japan. Howard and the six Bruins - wide receiver Brandon Breazell, fullback Chad Moline and wide receiver Mike Angelo on offense and defensive tackle Chase Moline, linebacker John Hale and cornerback Michael Norris - will leave for Japan on Friday, June 26. They will arrive on Saturday and practice for the week leading up to the game on July 4. They are scheduled to depart from Japan on Monday, July 6.

Good luck to them.

Lastly, it's Father's Day in Bruins Nation. So I thought I end the note with this great update from the UCLA Athletics tweeter feed:

Bob Field and Valorie Kondos Field had dinner with Coach Wooden and his daughter Nan tonight. Coach is doing well.

That was last night. So I am sure Coach is out in Southern California enjoying a wonderful Dad's Day. Wish everyone else here the same. Have a great Sunday and if you are not hanging out with your Dad today don't forget to call him and wish him a Happy Bruin Father's Day.

GO BRUINS.

Spaulding Roundup: Another Recruit Commits & Transfer Notes

Nestor — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:42:25 -0000

Some quick football related news and notes from the football front. Looks like Rick Neuheisel has picked up his second commitment in this recruiting season:

Fresno (Calif.) Edison defensive back Tevin McDonald verbally committed to UCLA on Thursday, just days after receiving a scholarship offer from the Bruins as a result of a very good performance at UCLA's One-Day Camp.

Go here to read up the scouting report on Tevin. Here is the thing. McDonald has Trojan bloodlines. His Dad Tim McDonald was an All American at U$C*.

The McDonald family from Fresno is going to have an interesting time during the UCLA-USC football game in 2010 now that cornerback Tevin McDonald from Fresno Edison has committed to the Bruins. His older brother, T.J., will be a freshman defensive back at USC this fall. And his father is former Trojan Tim McDonald.

"It is crazy that I am the only Bruin in the family and I was the last boy, but that's how it has to be and I'm ready to take that challenge in," Tevin McDonald tolds Rivals.com.

He was a great defensive back for the Niners that played a huge part in the 1995 Super Bowl championship season. Perhaps it's appropriate. The two Trojans I have ever rooted for - Lott and McDonald - they both will have sons going to UCLA (although Tevin's older brother TJ signed with U$C* this February.

Edison is turning out to be a pretty good pipeline for UCLA. Currently we have Courtney Viney on the team who is an Edison alum. Also the school sent players like Ricky Manning and Brandon Breazell to the program. Not bad. So once again welcome to Westwood Tevin.

Meanwhile, while we are excited about Tevin join the Bruin family, other players who have made decisions to transfer out this off season are finding places to land. Raymond Carter is headed over to Colorado State and Dominque Johnson is headed over to Cal Poly SLO. Per Dominque he transferred primarily for family reasons:

Former UCLA receiver Dominique Johnson, who is from Moreno Valley, said family issues were the driving force behind his transfer to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. His family will re-locate to the SLO area.
If there wasn't such issues?
"I think there was a strong possibility I would have stayed,'' Johnson said.

Best of luck to both of them. Lastly, speaking of transfer note the Brandon Warner saga continues to remain bizarre. He is apparently now heading to New Mexico State and said the following to Dohn:

"I am going to head to New Mexico State,'' Warner said. "Right now, me and UCLA were having problems. I am on my way to call (Bruins coach Rick) Neuheisel today."
As a side note, Warner said he is fully qualified, meaning he would be eligible to play at UCLA.

(Editor's note: Sources told me that Warner was told if he received his A.A. degree and was NCAA qualified, UCLA's admissions said they would admit him to school.)

I am sorry but there just way too many gaps in Brandon's story. I just don't think we can really go by with his statements suddenly turning on UCLA after all these weeks of saying how committed he was to joining the program. Given what we have seen from Neuheisel to date, it would be laugable for anyone to claim that he wasn't attentive to any concerns he might have presented before. One thing we have seen from Neuhisel that is pretty clear from last two years: he pays attention to all details when it comes to recruiting. I find it amusing that it took him months to get this transcript situation all figured out for UCLA, yet it took him just days to get all signed up with New Mexico State.

Something is really missing from this story and I am not going to go with the version we are hearing from Warner. Whatever. Time to move. Wish him luck in New Mexico. For us, we have a football program that needs to be focused on rebuilding brick by brick, and less drama there is around it, the better.

GO BRUINS.