I'd like to acknowledge the graciousness and class of the UT fans that our group encountered last weekend in Austin. Despite the disappointing outcome of the game, you guys showed a tremendous amount of class and sportsmanship. After the game and thru Sunday, people came up to us wherever we went to congratulate us and wish us the best.

Before the game, people welcomed us in a sincere manner and wished our team good fortune. You guys really know how to party and the food was fabulous. Those smokers were amazing!!

On the way back to the hotel following the game, we tuned into the post-game call-in show on The Horn. Naturally, the "Chicken Little" syndrome was in play. I hope that overreaction has yielded to reality -- the Horns are a force in the Big 12 and will be playing in a major bowl game (not like the Eagle Bank Bowl) at season's end.

We were particularly impressed with your tradition. The marching band was sensational and the I've never seen an entire stadium sing in unison like you fans in Austin.

You should be very proud to be a Longhorn fan and I wish you good luck for the rest of the season. You guys are the best!!!  

 

I'm sure many of you have not forgotten the last time the Bruins came to Austin. The year was 1997, which now seems like centuries ago. Since that time, the Bruins and Horns have gone in opposite directions. The only thing the two programs have in common is that since 1998, each has beaten U$C once.

Please be assured that all Bruin fans are greatly indebted to the Burnt Orange Nation for your Rose Bowl victory over that now-disgraced Trojan team. Having said that, we come to Austin this week feeling like we're going to have to pay for that beatdown in "97. Our victory last night over Houston, a far from flawless performance by the Bruins, gives us some reason to believe that the Bruins can play with the Horns on Saturday. Good luck to both teams.

Four friends and I are coming to Austin for the game. Last year, we went to Knoxville to watch the Bruins beat the Vols and Lame Kiffin. We were overwhelmed by the unmitiagted hospitality and generosity of the Tennessee faithful. We expect no less from the Horns' fans this weekend.

I have a couple of questions:

1)  Where is the best tailgating area? We have no interest in hanging out with Bruin fans (we do it all the time) and want to experience what Texas football is all about.

2)  In order to get into the prime tailgate area, how early should we arrive?  I understand the game is set for 2:30.    

We look forward to a great time not only on Saturday but also all weekend long in Austin. There's no need for you guys to seek revenge for what happened 13 years ago. After all, you beat us at Pauley a few years back. Can we call it even?

Thanks for your responses to this post and I look forward to meeting some of you this Saturday.   

I'm a UCLA alum (Class of '78) who is eagerly anticipating the trip to Knoxville for the Vols-Bruins game. I have been longing to attend the game since last year's game at the Rose Bowl. During the pre-game tailgating last year,  I met so many UT fans who made the trip from TN and elsewhere. By far, they were the nicest  out-of-town fans I have encountered in the 20+ years I've been attending games at the RB. I promised myself then I would make every effort to make to this year's game.

I have discovered that UT football is steeped in tradition and I'm sure I'll be singing "Rocky Top" before I leave town. Neyland Stadium itself is a classic and has always been on my list of college stadiums to visit. Win or lose, this should be a great weekend.

I will be joined by 2 friends and we will be arriving in Knoxville Friday afternoon. I would like some recommendations on the following:

1) Are there any activities on Friday night that are worth attending?;

2) Where is the prime tailgating spot? (We'll want to witness the Vols walking into the stadium);

3) How early should we arrive on Satuday to get into the prime tailgating area?;

4) Where can we find the best BBQ in K-Town?;

5) What is the best sports bar in town?

Any and all responses will be greatly appreciated. Based on last year's experience, I expect to find the Vols fans to be very hospitable and classy. I hope you can say the same about those Bruin fans who will be attending.

Thank you very much.

p.s. Please do not make the mistake of comparing us to the fans of that school across town. The words "classy" and "Trojan fans" are never found in the same sentence. 

Over 24 hours since the disappointing loss. Plenty of time to reflect on the meaning of the defeat and ample opportunity to peruse the rantings of the "chicken littles" in the Bruin blogosphere and listen to local media types write off the season. I even saw someone on this website refer to the team as "underachievers." What part of 21-3 is underachieving??

I am an eternal pessimist (I'm an SF Giants fan --nuff said?)and I still believe this team will make it to San Antonio. Why? Because they know how to win. They are, to a man, winners. And not even winners win every game.

Are they not entitled to have a bad game against a talented, well-coached team with nothing to lose, a team with their backs against the wall which is desperately trying to salvage their season in front of their loyal fans?

The Bruins walked off the floor with their heads down, as a team ashamed of their performance should do. But they did not lose their dignity. No post-game excuses were offered. Nobody said the extra day threw them off. Nobody said they missed Luc. Nobody said DC was feeling under the weather. Aside from some ill-advised grumbling from a frustrated KL--which I guarantee you've heard the last of--the team comported themselves like the champions they are.

Don't forget, they still are kids. They can't get jacked up for every game. They left nothing on the floor in Pullman and it showed in Seattle. It was just a bad game -- their worst of the year.  So what.

I can always measure the strength of a Bruin team in the way I react to an unexpected loss. Just think back to your reaction to the Utah and ND losses. When the anger subsided, you really weren't surprised were you? Compare that to yesterday. I was not angry.Surprised? Yes--I firmly believe this team can win every game. Disappointed? Yes. Worried? Nah.

With or without Luc, I guarantee you they will find a way to win on Sunday. The intensity and focus will return. And so will the smiles on your faces.
     

Just like all of you, I hate $C with unbridled passion and my hatred often clouds my perspective. That being said, I've come to realize a couple of things which only serve to justify their vile nature.

First, the Reggie Bush scandal. Before last night, I thought the whole thing would just go away with minor, if any, repurcussions. Sure, I thought Bush was violating NCAA rules, but, hey, who doesn't?

Last nite I watched the piece featuring Lloyd Lake on HBO's Real Sports. Lake made a very good case against Reggie who arrived on campus to discover that he needed better wheels to ride around in. Hence, the flow of monthly payments began leading eventually to the purchase of the house for mom and lowlife stepdad. The money "lent" to Reggie totalled $291K with Reggie promising to repay. According to Lake, Reggie needed cash, averaging $3K per month, to enable him to buy clothes and other trimmings that befit his BMOC status. Soon Reggie had a pimped out car and a shitload of new clothes. Lake said he would drive up from San Diego to make the drop-offs which Bush went through great lengths to conceal. Obviously, Bush knew he was violating NCAA rules.

Of course, $C will cloak itself in Sgt. Schultz defense. My question is, and this goes for any major college, at what point should the schools know that something is amiss and take it upon themselves to investigate? Somebody in the administration or football staff knew Bush was riding around in a pimped out car and was wearing expensive clothes, etc. They also knew he came from a family whose income could not provide for these goodies. I'm certain Bush was not the only one getting the goods and it is implausible that the school would not know what was going on.

Bush's conduct is also a result of the $C footballers thinking that they are above the law. Remember the immortal words uttered by Ray Malaugga (sp) after he punched out a student at an off-campus party: "We own the police!" Where does that come from??? After the school conducts its mandatory briefing of the "student-athletes" on the NCAA rules, do they wink at the players??

Next, I noticed the Trolie BB team has 3 players who attended Stoneridge Prep. I looked up the school and learned it is a basketball mill. They do not play any home games at Stoneridge Prep. The team is akin to a high school travel team which spends weeks on end playing top high school teams around the country. For more info on the "school" you may want to read an article by Eli Sasnow in the March 12, 2006 edition of the Washington Post. (Sorry, as a Luddite, I do not know how to link the article.)

Taj Gibson, a Stonridge 'grad," went to high school in his native New York before he came west to attend Stoneridge. I believe he was 20 when he "graduated."

Has Timmay sold his soul? Stoneridge and other "schools" around the country are nothing more than waystations for aspiring B-ballers. I would be embarassed if UCLA recruited a kid from this type of "school." (I'm thinking AA and LRMAM may have attended similar academies, however, as foreigners, I think there's a valid distinction.) Fortunately, we have academic standards and BH.

On a closing note, I would like to point out, as many others have here, that $C's rise in BB helps us out during the conference season. But there has to be a limit to their ascent. When they were way ahead of NC in last year's Sweet 16 game, I was facing my worst fucking nightmare -- a banner at the (Gaylen) Center. God help us all.  

We're all spending lots of time specifying what we want in our new coach. Here's a list of 20 things I do NOT want to see in our new coach:

I do NOT want a coach who:

1. Has no previous head coaching experience;
   
2. Is recommended by Terry Donahue;
   
3. Has perfected the "deer in headlights" look on the sidelines;
   
4. Spends more time preparing his game wardrobe than preparing his game plan;
   
5. Stuffs his play chart down the front of his pants;
   
6. PLAYS NOT TO LOSE;
   
7. Uses the word "opportunity" in every other sentence;
   
8. Will use the words "learning" and "growing" when describing his team;
   
9. Cannot articulate a thought without using cliches;
   

10.Shields his players from the media;
11.Ignores background checks on potential asst. coaching candidates;
12.Spends halftime doing anything other than thinking of needed adjustments;
13.Does not know which players on the roster are eligible to play;
14.Has no balls on 4th and short (see #6);
15.Sleeps good at night after a loss;
16.Throws players/asst. coaches under the bus;
17.Gets a new OC every year;
18.Thinks the WCO is easily learned by college players;
19.Looks like he doesn't give a shit; and
20.Is in over his head.

I'm sure y'all can come up with a lot more. So have fun and go for it!    
   

This sort of feels like the first AA meeting...

I have been a Bruin fan since the early 60's, graduated from UCLA in '78 and have been a football season ticket holder since '82.

Like all of you, I eagerly awaited this season. We had 20 returning starters, a soft schedule and a solid defense. This was to be the year we have been patiently awaiting.

The season ended for me on 9/15 when we lost to Utah. Since then I attended only the ND and Cal games, electing to give my tickets to friends. The only game I watched in its entirety was the WSU game, a most agonizing experience.

I believe KD was hired because he (a)is a Bruin; (b)is African-American; (c) came cheaply; or (d) a combination of all three. Why else would a school with UCLA's athletic tradition hire a coach with no head coaching experience and relatively little asst. coaching background? I accepted it and, like the rest of us, hoped he would grow into the job.

During the first year, I sensed a flaw in his game coaching. He coached not to lose games. To establish an offensive attack that relied on safe plays and a defense that typically played it straight up. Nothing was left to chance...there were no risks to be taken. This proved to be the wrong approach as evidenced in many games but none greater than last year's ND game where we needed one first down -- one goddam first down!-- to pull off one of the greatest wins in Bruin history. Everyone saw ND pack 10 men into the box. A simple play-action pass would have easily netted six or more yards on first down. But even that was too risky for KD. Three running plays up the middle and wake up the ghosts. I'll never forget walking out of ND Stadium, with the roar of the crowd ringing in my ears, and encountering several disgusted Bruin fans who were calling for KD's head. On the bus ride back to the parking lot, several Irish fans, noticing our shell-shocked faces, attempted to console us by mentioning the names of Bob Davie and the other Irish coach, whose name I can't remember, that brought shame to their program. They knew a shitty coach when they saw one.

A month and a half later, we witnessed 13-9 and he was off the hook.

This year, coaching not to lose has reared its ugly head in almost every game. The punt on 4th and 1 in the Cal game still rankles me. Why do coaches play it that way? Do they lack confidence in their players to execute, fearing that a mistake will blow the game? Are they fearful of unbridled criticism for taking a chance that fails? I simply do not understand. To me, it sends the wrong message to the players that are heavily recruited and nurtured through the program. How can those kids have confidence in their coach if he does feel confident they will execute properly?

Don't let me get started on lack of preparation. As JRW says, failure to prepare is preparing to fail. Just ask Ben Howland.

I am somewhat ashamed to have abandoned this team. They deserve my unmitigated support. They deserve to hear us screaming for the defense on a key third down play. But I really don't care anymore. There -- I said it. Shame on me? No, shame on my school that did not care enough to hire a coach who would not coach not to lose and would have his team fully prepared every Saturday. Was anybody noticing Steve Lavin?

Between 1965 and 2002, I attended every SC game. Not this year. I broke my string of 38 consecutive games in '03 when I chose not to go to the Mausoleum to witness an ass-whooping. Three minutes into the game, I knew I made the right call. I feel the same way this year. Of course, I hope I'm wrong and we find a way to beat those mfer's.

I trust that DG will heed the call and end this charade. UCLA's legendary athletic tradition demands a team that is well-prepared and plays hard every Saturday..not just when it's back is up against the wall.

F**k SC and GO BRUINS!!!

   

"The change it had to come, we knew it all along."

Leading up to the Wazzu game, I promised myself I was not going to buy into the crap that this game would be no different than Utah or ND. I read and ignored the quotes from players during the week saying that the seniors would step up and not let it happen again. Not even Nestor's confidence that a win would be forthcoming was a compelling reason to feel good about the game.

I've been down this road too many times before. I wasn't going down it again. I had no reason whatsoever to think it would be different this time.

The $C loss got me fired up for the 3:30 kickoff. Bell's TD run on the 3rd play from scrimmage was comforting, but how many times have I seen a team score on their 1st possession only never find the endzone again?

The sickening feeling started on WSU's first drive which came with unexpected ease. I accepted Bell's injury on the ensuing possession as our fate. Markey's fumble sealed it. At that point, halfway thru the 1st quarter, I knew the game was lost. Nevertheless, I continued to watch. The train wreck mentality.

Like all of you,I am so bitterly dissapointed. Not so much at the losses, but at the way the team comes into games totally unprepared and the inability of the coaches to make in-game adjustments.

At this point, I'm also downright angry. I'm pissed at the way our coach is so dismissive about these failures. His comments to the press are demeaning and childish. His cliche laden verbiage is nauseating. (I swear if he uses the word "opportunity" one more time ...)

I'm pissed because my alma mater, the school that prides itself on being the 1st to win 100 NCAA championships, cannot put a well-prepared, well-coached team on the football field. It's a disgrace and an embarassment.

As a season ticket holder, I have no desire to attend any of the remaining home games. I know the players deserve my support and I may change my mind as my anger subsides, if it does subside.

This is so reminiscent of the Lavin years. It was hard to watch those teams lose to CSUN and N. Arizona. Our beloved basketball program kicked to the gutter. At that time, as I do now, my expectations were not to win every game and win NCs...that would be unrealistic. My expectation was that my Bruins would take the court or the field fully prepared to do battle and play hard throughout the game. That is not an unrealistic expectation. If they were well-prepared and played hard and still lost, I would have no problem with that.

As the final seconds ticked away in Pullman, I found solace in the knowledge that this was the proverbial straw. There is no way DG can keep KD beyond this year. He's got to end this five-year long roller coaster ride. Until he pushes that button, I'm getting off. I've had enough and besides, the Ben Ball Warriors are warming up.

I hope DG does not compound his previous mistake and hire Walker as a replacement. "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.            

The only college football pleasure I had this week was watching Trojan Rewind the other nite. Needless to say, I skipped Bruin Rewind which should be re-named Bruin Unwind.

Immediately after the game, the Trojans blew off the traditional congratulatory meeting of the squads in the center of field and instead sulked off to the tunnel with nary a handshake. Even Trojan shill Pete Arbogast said on the air that he was embarassed for his Trojans.

Don't really believe that was the "humanitarian" thing to do. Pom Pom looked even more shellshocked than he did on 12/2/06... if that's possible.

Cameras caught female fans bawling and other fans looking like they just witnessed armageddon. Many remained in their seats, numbed in disbelief. Great, great stuff.

Never was the following cliche ever more appropriate....the bigger they are, the harder they fall.

Alas, the joy of this monumental upset is tarnished by the sad state of our football program. But why should I be Gloomy Gus? We're in first place and we beat Stanford...in their crib. Those losses to Utah and Notre Dame are just a blip on the radar. We've got a whole new season ahead of us. 6 and 0 baby!! Can't you feel it?!?!  

Forgive me if this has been discussed here already, but my quick check of weekend posts did not find any mention of what I considered to be a huge mistake on KD's part. I was listening to the game on the radio (which often can cause confusion to the listener courtesty of CR) and it occurred on OSU's 2nd TD drive. OSU was flagged for holding on a 3rd and 2 play which went for no gain at around the Bruin 34 yardline. Rather than accept the penalty, moving the ball out of FG range and creating a 3rd and long situation, KD declines and OSU goes for it and, of course, gets the first.

Even the color guy called out KD. I thought it was a no brainer. OSU's QB was even shakier than ours; we were down seven with no signs of life for the offense -- why risk going down by 14? Did KD really think OSU would kick a FG on 4th and 2?

I was really pissed off and even cursed in front of my 13 y/o (which I try hard not to do, but during Bruin games, it's nearly impossible). My son asked me why I was so mad and I told him that OSU would come down and score -- which they did and my anger crested anew.

Later on, after the Bruins won, my son reminded me of my outburst and commented that KD made the right decision since we won. I could only laugh, especially when I realized that is the same logic many Bruin fans use when analyzing KD's coaching ability.

Did anyone have the same reaction to the play?      

I was listening to the game radio broadcast the other night (something I rarely do) and repeatedly heard, during commercial breaks, a 5 second station ID which said something like: "KLAC 570... where the Bruins beat Troy."

It struck me kind of odd and as I kept hearing it, it made me realize how everyone associated with the Bruin football family, from the team on down to its broadcasters and fans, needs to move on. Yes, 12/2/06 was a great, great day in Bruin history. I still get goosebumps watching highlights. But really folks, is that the pinnacle of our success? In a way, it's very symbolic of our lowered expectations -- that we crown the achievement of beating our arch rival during a season filled with disappointment and unfulfilled expectations.

But, what did that victory really mean? Here at BN, we all know that victory, much like Lavin's 2nd round NCAA tourney victories, saved KD's ass and assured another season of inconsistent play from unprepared teams. It assured that we would live to see another day like the Utah game.

So as some continue to celebrate that great win over $C, we need to understand that winning that game masked a cancer that is slowly killing our beloved football program in agonizing fashion.    

Last week, following the BYU game, I commented on BO's performance and stated that KD may put BO on a "short leash."

While I have every reason to believe that BO sustained blows to head which have caused him headaches, I also have some suspicion as to the  severity of the headaches and the absence of other symptoms of a concussion.

I know in pro sports, athletes who have underperformed are mysteriously placed on the disabled list with phantom injuries.

I am not saying BO's headaches do not exist. What I am saying, however, is that in KD's eagerness to jumpstart the team by inserting PC as  starter, BO's injuries may be exaggerated. I read earlier this week that BO first complained of the headaches either Saturday night or Sunday. I may be wrong, but I believe KD first informed the media on Tuesday that BO had the headaches. He did not mention it, I believe, at his Monday presser.

Now, after saying PC will likely be starting, he has not ruled out BO as the backup. Is this because if PC shits the bed, he can run BO back in?

Given the shadiness of KD's comments to the media (notice I did not say he was lying), what are Bruin fans supposed to believe?

I don't know what to believe anymore from this clown who masquerades as our head coach.

BTW, the loss to Utah really summoned up memories of the Lavin years. I specifically recall SL's comments after a blowout loss at Stanford where he joked about it being the largest deficit in history. I find KD's post-Utah comments to be equally despicable and horrifying.

I had some ugly flashbacks while sitting in my seat as the RB Saturday. With each poorly thrown pass or moment of indecisiveness, the boos slowly started to cascade throughout my section. They were not booing the coach (although there some of that as well), they were booing Ben Olson -- the "savior" of our program. It was, sadly, a Cory Paus moment and, even more sobering, was the harsh realization that BO, notwithstanding the hype, may not ever be ready for prime time.

I say this knowing full well that he has only started 7 games, etc., etc. The seeds of doubt were first planted during last year's game vs. UW when none of the several plays in the red zone during the first half called for Ben to throw into the endzone. I wondered why...didn't the coaches have the confidence in Ben? Did Ben have confidence in himself? It seemed strange that a QB who only 2 weeks before looked like the second coming of Cade McNown would all of a sudden turn into Rob Nelson. As you all know, Ben regressed even further in the ensuing games to the point that when he went down in the AZ game, I turned to my friend and remarked: "This may be the break we needed."

On Saturday, I saw Ben (1) consistently lock in on his primary receiver, failing to check off; (2) show an inability to feel the pass rush and step out of danger; (3) demonstrate the foot speed of the Victory Bell; (4) appear indecisive and tentative; and (5) make inaccurate throws, even on plays designed to hit wide open receivers in the flat -- the balls were thrown down and away thereby negating any chance of gaining positive RAC yds.

I do not want to engage a debate about how much the foregoing deficiencies are attributible to poor coaching. I merely want to focus on Ben Olson. Perhaps he's still slow in learning the offense. He may be another Carson Palmer who nearly took 3 yrs. to master Norman Chow's offense...or he may not. The reality is that this year represents the Bruins best chance for real success...BCS success. If Ben is slow in learning the offense, we will see soon see a game where we fall behind and need Ben to lead a comeback. At this juncture, I have no faith in his ability to do that.

They need to light a fire under Ben's ass and put him on a short leash. If he fails to rise to the occasion, he should be pulled. I do not agree that KD will live or die with BO ...he cannot afford to die with anyone. As it should, KD's leash may be the shortest of all.

We must not kid ourselves. If Ben Olson, for whatever reason, fails to do the things a QB must do to keep his team in the game, he must be replaced by some one who can. I'm not a huge Pat Cowan fan either, but the sense of urgency calls for the most efficient QB. I'm not talking about 350 yds and 4 TD's per game. I'm talking about efficient game management. Making the easy plays, instilling faith in his coaches to call for downfield pass plays to stretch the field thereby opening up the running game, avoiding sacks and just being a leader.

We all want the same same thing and we will disagree on how to get there, but we must agree that we need to have the best QB running the offense... if we are to have any chance of getting there.

   

During his radio show this am, ESPN's Colin Cowherd set forth a four-step test for determining whether a coach is good or not.

1. Does the team perform better in the 2nd half? -- can the coach make halftime adjustments and be able to coach "on the fly;"
2. Does the team improve during the 2nd half of the season -- a broader issue of #1;
3. Distribution of penalties -- a team committing a disproportionate number of offensive penalties in not well-coached. Defensive penalties are reactionary and are often the product of agressiveness; and
4. Consistency -- do you wonder week-to-week what team will show up?

Without looking at stats and box scores, I would say, based on #1 and 2, our coach is underperforming -- to put it mildly.

I do not need to see numbers for #4. On that alone, we know what kind of coach we've had for the past 4 years. Is it asking too much to have the Bruins play consecutive games in which they are performing well on both sides of the ball?

Interestingly, Cowherd dismissed play calling as a reason to knock a coach. He reasoned that play calling is a product of a "90 hour work week" and that poor execution can undermine the greatest play calling. While I do not necessarily agree with him on that, I feel his 4 part test, when applied to the UCLA FB program, paints a clear picture of our "situation."  
 

Bumped from the diaries. Great post. -N

As a lifelong Niner fan (going back to late '60s) the passing of Bill Walsh hit me especially hard. I'm still amazed at the way he rejuvenated a moribund franchise in such short time. While his legacy will be the West Coast Offense, I will always remember how well prepared his teams were for each and every game (with the exception of 1987 playoff loss to the Viking) and how well they executed -- because, in large part, they were so well prepared. Walsh's philosophy was based on a boxing principle that you had to beat your opponent to the punch and by continuously doing so, would ultimately wear down the opposition. It all goes back to preparation -- running demanding practices that strive toward perfection.

While many coaches are quick to adopt the WCO, few have succeeded in duplicating his philosophy of preparation. I would not be posting, of course, if this was not somehow related to KD. Forget about his inability to recruit 5 star athletes, forget about what is happening across town, KD's teams have lost several games (and struggled in games against far weaker opponents) because they are not prepared. I never played football but have watched enough games over 45 years to know when a team is not adequately prepared. You can see it most patently in blown assignments and other blunders, however, lack of preparation manifests itself in a team's lack of confidence -- from the knowledge that you have the upper hand comes because you, as a team, are so well prepared.

That's what the Niners under Walsh had. Call it swagger or whatever, but if your team has it, you know that they will put forth their best effort everytime they take the field. I have never experienced that with any of KD's teams and it has nothing to do with the level of talent. It has everything to do with preparation and preparation falls squarely on the head coach and his staff. Just compare Lavin's teams with Ben's teams. Like so many have said here before, I do not expect to win every game, but I expect my Bruins to be well prepared for every game.

IS THAT AN UNREALISTIC EXPECTATION???      

First, I must admit something. While I attended UCLA from 1973-78, I attended 1 game at Sawtelle Field and found it unappealing and the facilities to be downright shoddy. I moved to Long Beach in the mid-80's and in the early 90's discovered Dirtbag baseball. Since then, I've attended dozens of games at Blair Field following the careers of the Giambi bros, Crosby, Weaver, etc. During that span, I attended 1 Bruin game at JR Stadium and one as Dildeaux Field.

Last night I went to the game with somewhat mixed emotions but as soon as I heard the first 8-clap, I knew where my heart (and lungs) belonged. It did feel a little funny not joining in with the LBS chants, however, there is no substitute for being a Bruin. I felt a strong camraderie with the corps of fans who were avid followers of the Bruin hardballers even though I was a "newbie" in their midst. It was a small but extremely spirited group of Bruins and the team openly acknowledged their presence.

As for the game, young Mr. Murphy was definitely on the ropes in the 1st but showed tremendous fortitude and confidence in battling back and dominating during the middle innings. Despite a pitch count over 100, he continued to get ahead of batters and appeared to lose little off his fastball. He finished strongly and looked like he could've gone another inning or two.  

The Bruin bats came alive following Curtis' lead-off blast in the 5th. That homer cleared the left field wall easily, not something you see too often at Blair, especially during the middle innings of a night game when the marine layer wafts in. Some timely hits produced enough support for Murphy.

This team, given the rested pitching staff, has a great shot at getting past Fullerton which is not as strong a team as recent ones. The regional undoubtedly will be played at Goodwin Field and the Bruins will need all the support they can get. So gas up the car and head out to Fullerton and let's get this team on the road to Omaha.

GO BRUINS!!!  

Yesterday morning I was listening to Doug Gottlieb being interviewed on ESPN Radio. The topic was tv ratings for the NCAA tournament and the host was commenting on last year's ratings, specifically the Final Four, being down considerably from the previous year. Gottlieb remarked that the ratings declined in large part to the absence of the marquee schools like "Duke, UConn and North Carolina." When the host mentioned that UCLA was in the FF, Gottlieb replied that UCLA is a "Johnny-come-lately."

My initial reaction was to dismiss the comment as just another cheap shot by Gottlieb who never has a kind word for the Bruins (ostensbily due to the fact that his Okla. St. team was eliminated by the Bruins in the'95 FF). I then seethed at the notion that the most storied BB program in history could be characterized as a "Johnny-come-lately." (How dare he!!!!)

When I finally calmed down and thought about it, I realized that Gottlieb's comment was not that far off the mark. First, in sports, at any level, it's all about "what have you done lately." Other than last year's run in the tourney, the Bruins of late have not distinguished themselves -- let's face it.

My blood boiled again when I thought about the reason why UCLA had faded from the spotlight and the mental picture of the slick-haired snake oil salesman who masqueraded as our coach for 7 years came to mind. Had UCLA made it to just one Final Four in those 7 years, it might have been enough to keep them in esteem as one of the elite schools. Some Elite Eight appearances, other than his first year, couldn't have hurt either. Instead, we had 2 impressive second round upset wins which were immediately followed by humbling defeats. Those 2 wins turned out to be mere abberations. Otherwise, the Bruins became, as has been mentioned quite often here, a laughingstock and they fell from grace. A whole generation of kids saw UCLA has an occasional upsart but nothing more as there was no consistency whatsoever. Worse, astute viewers saw the team as unprepared and soft, among other things.

The reality is that the Bruins really are, to a large extent, a "Johnny-come-lately," thanks to Steve Lavin and the school's athletic administration's pathetic hiring practices.

Anyone who reads this should be offended by Gottlieb's remarks, but, at the same time, should be realistic about UCLA's place in the current landscape of college basketball. The comment should also remind us how imperative it is for the Bruins to get back to the FF so we can regain some of our lost prestige and solidify the future. Finally, we must thank our lucky stars that we have a coach who fully understands all of this and is doing everything he can possibly do to resolve the situation.

GO BRUINS!!!    

     

From the diaries. An epic story. GO BRUINS. -N

Ever since AA first donned the Blue and Gold, my twelve year-old son has idolized #4. This is due partly to the fact that he spent the first 2 years of life, before my wife and I adopted him, living in Compton, just down the street from Centennial High, but more from my hyping AA as a winner and a great role model.

During halftime of a football game last year, I spotted AA and some fellow players out on the concourse. Unfortunately, my son was inside and I ran in to tell him that AA was out there. He took off immediately,however, AA and his buddies had since taken off to return to their seats. My son ran after him and finally spotted him, halfway around the RB, yards ahead. He called out AA's name and AA actually stopped to greet my son and talk with him briefly. Even though my son was beyond thrilled to talk to AA, he was disappointed he was unable to get his autograph because he did not have either a pen or paper.

Fast forwarding to today ... believing that today would be AA's last appearance at Pauley, I took my son to the game armed with a camera and pen. After the game, we stood close by Chris Roberts as he interviewed AA on radio. My son was captivated and I told him to listen how AA responded clearly to each question without any hesitation -- a quality rarely found in professional athletes, let alone collegiate athletes.

Following the interview, AA took off for the media room upstairs and stopped to sign autographs, however, we got there too late. AA said he would be back down to sign more autographs.

Nearly 20 minutes elapsed as we waited in the NE corner for AA to return. My son, growing impatient by the minute, walked upstairs to find AA and instead ran into Josh Shipp who told him that AA was still in the media room. I met my son upstairs and he related to me what Shipp told him. We walked toward the media room and I told my son to try opening the closed door. It was unlocked and we walked in to find the room empty except for AA sitting on a table talking on a cellphone conducting a live radio ingterview and UCLA's SID, Marc Dellins. After he finished his interview, AA greeted my son, signed the cover of the game program bearing his photo and posed for a picture. I told him how proud the Bruin Nation is of him not only for his on-court achievements but more so for his off-court exploits. He thanked me earnestly and when Dellins remarked that I forgot to tell him "One More Year," I simply told AA that he should do what he has to do, but that he will never forget his days as a Bruin. He smiled and thanked me again.

Needless to say, the whole time my son was virtually speechless (quite rare for a 12 y/o) but I came away more impressed with this fine young man than ever. No matter what happens from here on out, AA will go down as one of the greatest Bruins ever -- as we say here, the consummate BenBall Warrior.

BTW, Shipp and Mata both stuck around for 15 minutes signing and posing. Both struck me as great guys as well. Ben must be very proud of the character he has instilled in his players much like that done by JRW before him.        

I attended Saturday's game with a friend who is also a Bruin alum. Like many other Bruin fans, we walked into that hallowed stadium with expectations to merely stay in the game so as to justify the expense of flying halfway across the country for a game, which on paper, appeared to be a mismatch. All we wanted was to see a good, competitive game and stay dry.

We got both -- thanks to a well prepared, fired-up Bruin squad and some divine intervention. As the game unfurled, we started to believe that the game was imminently winnable. Our spirits soared to unchartered heights when the D held on 4th down. Despite the sudden euphoria, I knew that we needed just one first down to ice it and I knew we were not going to get it. I immediately told my buddy that we needed to pass on first down -- a simple roll-out and a pitch-and-catch to either a wideout or Pitre. I screamed for such a play when I saw the Irish defense bunched up in anticipation of the run up the middle. No need to rehash the ensuing devastating history.

I thought we were running a West Coast Offense, an offense that is predicated on the short pass. The roll-out play was there for the taking. How could KD and Svoboda not call for it if they are playing to win -- not just any game -- but one of the biggest in the school's history? The ground game had been stuffed all afternoon. How could KD expect Markey to break one, especially given the defensive alignment? As they say: "No balls, no glory."  

One last thing ... we were fortunate to have 40 yardline seats about 10 rows behind the Bruin bench. From our vantage point, we closely observed the sideline confusion on getting plays in on both sides of the ball. More than 5 times, Cowan was in the huddle looking toward the sideline with  panicked body language and gestures, urgently looking for the play. Same thing, much less frequent, on defense. That is inexcusable and is indicative of an unprepared coaching staff. It hurt the team immensely in the form of unnecessary timeouts which had a dramatic impact on the game.

I walked out of ND Stadium with very mixed emotions. While I was proud of the way the team played, I could not stem the flow of anger at the coaches -- especially the 3 running plays on the second to last possession -- for a lost opportunity for glory for a team I love so dearly.

One aside ...I was very impressed with the class of the ND fans. They were so kind and down-to-earth. I have completely changed my opinion about them. Besides, how bad can they be? They hate SC almost as much as we do. Let's treat them with an equal amount of class when they come to our house next year.      

Bumped from the diaries. - N

Like so many other Bruin fans, I was bitterly upset at the Bruins loss in Seattle. I wanted to post immediately after the game, but realized my anger precluded me from being objective. Six days later, the anger has subsided, however, the doubt about the future of the program has blossomed.

I was a KD supporter until about 7:00 last Saturday. The following day, when I read his post-game comments about his "growing" team, it was haughtingly reminiscent of quotes from a slick-haired, snake oil salesman who masqueraded as our BB coach for 7 long years. I always interpreted Lavin's comments about his team being a "work in progress" as "we [coaching staff] don't know what the hell we're doing."

In KD's case, the coaching mea culpas are convincing evidence that the coaches are at a loss to deal with adversity. I was particularly upset about Walker's calling out of Rodney Van. I know why he did it, but I didn't like the why it was said. No one expects Van to say that his missed tackles were a result of poor coaching.

At this time, I believe the program could implode if we lose either of the next two games. There is a tremendous amount of pressure to win those games in dominating fashion. Let's not get carried away with the final score -- scoring 50+ points or pitching a shutout is not all important. Resurrection of a stagnant offense and validation of a stronger defense is paramount. There has to be a solid effort on both sides of the ball (I'm like a broken record) plus the game plan has to work and the coaches must make any necessary in-game adjustments. If we get this, the focus shifts to building off the solid effort the following week against the Wildcats.  

Going back to the Lavin analogy, what appalled me most about his teams were the lack or preparedness and effort. KD's teams have not shown much of the latter,but plenty of the former. Nothing disgusts me more to see players blowing assignments or being out of position -- it usually goes back to coaching ...or lack thereof. We all bristled everytime Lavin dismissed blow out losses, joking that he coached the team to the worst loss in school history. I am growing increasingly displeased about KD's dismissive comments -- he is not exhibiting strong leadership and that filters down through his staff to his players.

The comparison to Lavin is indicative of the seriousness of the state of the UCLA football program. It is not my intent to be an alarmist but the warning signs are out there and we cannot ignore them. This website is filled with persons, like myself, who are genuinely concerned about the future of the program and the direction to which it is heading.

Fianlly, I'd like to make a comment about Ben Olson. In the Utah game we saw him making sharp, pinpoint passes to wide open receivers. Since then, when his receivers are blanketed in coverage, he has appeared confused and tentative. The refusal of Svoboda to call a pass in the endzone screams out that he has no confidence in BO. He is too worried about the pick in the endzone and, instead, calls either a running play or a pass underneath, neither of which is a good way of getting into the endzone, especially when the running game is impotent. BO gets a pass due to his "rustiness" but at some point he has to get it -- or will he? Could he be another Carson Palmer, who coming out of high school was a gifted athlete with chiseled physique but had a reputation for not being too bright, and who took four years to develop? Only time will tell, but I am concerned. How about you?

I do know one thing -- that once the ball is kicked off at the RB tomorrow nite, everyone here will put aside their gripes and concerns and will root balls out for the Bruins. The players deserve our support and we deserve a great win -- even if it is over what could be the worst team in Division IA. Think of it as the start of something big.

Wow, I feel some much better now that I've gotten that off my chest. Thanks for reading and .....GO BRUINS!!!!