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Around SBN: Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire Vow To Fit In With Lin

How USC May Have Helped UCLA

It is quite possible that the USC debacle helped UCLA in a couple areas. While it has already been stated that USC's loss took a lot of the thunder out of KD's epic failure, I do believe there are a few positives that need to be mentioned:

  1. Stanford was able to beat the #2 team in the nation with a back-up quarterback with negligible experience. KD's game plan prevented UCLA from succeeding in the face of Ben Olson's unintended injury. Stanford proved that success is possible with untested talent. KD proved that he cannot win when things don't go his way. In fear of beating a really dead horse with a huge stick, I will quickly mention that it is uterlly ridiculous to not have a better QB plan set up when you are one injury away from disaster. Stanford, with inferior talent, took it to USC in their home and blew away their 35-game home winning streak. In summary, my point here is that good coaching overcomes adversity. Bad coaching creates adversity. 18% of the nation saw the latter.
  2. This point is both good news and bad news mixed into one. While USC's loss definitely overshadowed ours in the media, don't think for a second that the media didn't notice. Here's a local example - I was driving home from UCLA last night and was listening to John Zigler (KFI 640AM). For those of you who do not listen or get this program, it is essentially a program dedicated to the day's news.  John decides to take a left turn with the program and talk about UCLA's deplorable showing at the Rose Bowl. It was quite interesting to here from a guy who does not care about UCLA one bit. On the national level, Jay Leno just said that UCLA stands for "U Can Lose to Anyone" during his monologue. Again, I understand that being the laughing stock of college football is not something to celebrate, but it is a good sign that both the local and national media still think UCLA's important enough to mention and that they notice the terrible job KD is doing. At the very least, they are making KD's incompetence apparent.
  3. Beating USC will not save KD's job this year. They have already lost to Stanford and had a poor showing against Washington. I am willing to bet that USC drops at least one more game to either Cal, ASU, or Oregon. They have some real issues on that team that stem from a lack of execution and preparation (injuries are surely playing a huge role as well). If UCLA goes into the Coliseum when USC has nothing on the line besides a Holiday Bowl (Cal, I'm looking at you to ensure this), then even a win over USC does not have nearly the same effect that it did last year. Beating what would be considered the weakest USC team in years would not be an accomplishment for one to hang their hat on. Knowing KD, he'll probably win this game out of pure dumb luck. That's why I thought this was important to mention.
There's really not a lot to be happy about in the realm of UCLA football. I just thought there might have been a few beneficial points that were missed because our thoughts on our football program are clouded with negativity (who could blame us?).

I'll leave you with a positive quote that I read in the Daily Bruin today. This is how Shannon Tevaga responded to MBT's play during the ND game:

"I don't even know what was going on (with our pass protection). I'm speechless. (Bethel-Thompson's) a soldier. Mac has the biggest heart on the team. The job he did to come in, on the third string, break the huddle - he's a soldier. I'd go to war with Mac any day."

We appreciate your efforts too MBT.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

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Question
May someone explain the origin of the nickname "The Law Firm" to me? Thanks.

by BruinFan1 on Oct 9, 2007 2:38 PM PDT reply actions  

The nature of MBT's name
Some people here observed that it sounds like that of a law firm (or accounting firm, for that matter).

by bruinhoo on Oct 9, 2007 2:41 PM PDT up reply actions  

Because MBT's name
sounds like 3 last names of 3 partners of a law firm.

by bluegold on Oct 9, 2007 2:44 PM PDT reply actions  

Disagree
I think SUCs loss did more harm than good.

As has already been discussed, local media coverage was heavily weighted towards SUCs loss than ours. The more coverage of our coaches ineptitide, the better.

SUCs loss, along with Michigan's to App St., Florida's to Auburn, Oklahoma's to Colorado, and so on, has made this a surreal season, where upsets are commonplace, parity is cited, and has brought out the feeling that "anything can happen". All of a sudden, an upset to 0-5 Notre Dame doesn't have that same earth-shattering impact, and becomes another oddity in a season full of oddities.

It also makes our Stanford win (hey, they beat SUC!) more impressive to apologists.

And while a win over SUC this year would not have the same effect as last year, I know for a fact that there is a sizable contigent of UCLA fans that would still be absolutely giddy for a win over our rivals, and that just might provide enough sentiment to keep the Sleeper around.

"If I don't do my job, I will get fired" -Karl Dorrell

by godblesstyus95 on Oct 9, 2007 3:00 PM PDT reply actions  

There's A BIG Difference
For $c the loss to Stanford was of epic portions, but it was an anomaly based on their performance over the last five years.  The Notre Dame loss for UCLA was another, in what is becoming a regular occurrence (Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, Fresno State, etc., etc., etc.) of unfathomable losses by a KD coached team.  KD has not earned any benefit of doubt to explain away a poor performance, PC has. To put it in UCLA terms: as fans we were really upset when the Bruins failed to beat Miami and make it to the NC game.  However, after a 20 game winning streak, we could cut Toledo some slack.  We gave him the benefit of the doubt because he had delivered something special.  KD has done nothing in five years, with the exception of last year's $c win, to earn a pass when it comes to another dismal failure.  When KD can point to a NC, a conference championship or any other measure of success, then, maybe he would have earned some goodwill to cash in on his next abysmal failure.  Right now, KD has a goodwill deficit and since there is no sign that he can turn this situation around, it is time for him to go.

by Bruin77 on Oct 9, 2007 4:31 PM PDT up reply actions  

I don't think the effect is that big
Just because fans nationwide weren't hearing a lot about our loss doesn't mean DG didn't hear about it, and it doesn't mean the UCLA fanbase didn't hear about it.

It's never a bad thing when USC loses.  

by SuperBruinMan on Oct 9, 2007 5:34 PM PDT up reply actions  

Good Job BF1
Whether or not everyone agrees with your conclusions, we all agree that the are the product of careful and thoughtful analysis.

I tend to agree with you.

I'm really glad that you posted the Tevega quote.

I feel terrible for the Firm. He did play his heart out, stood tough, and deserved better than he got from both his O line and his coaching staff.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Oct 9, 2007 3:14 PM PDT reply actions  

One More Thought
I would love to see KD and his O line coach stand behind that O line and take the hits their QB's have been taking.

After that, they might find a way to "fix it".

sjh

by Class of 66 on Oct 9, 2007 3:16 PM PDT reply actions  

Glad Tevaga is standing up for Law Firm like that.
With rumors of dissension floating around, that's nice to read.

M

WHY NOT US? WHY NOT NOW?

by Meriones on Oct 9, 2007 3:23 PM PDT reply actions  

Why is it
the college kid Tevaga is taking responsibility for what happened and not blaming it on someone else, yet out head coach can't? Tevaga took full responsiblity on behalf of the o-line and gave credit to The Law Firm, yet our head coach can't do the same. He's running out of people to blame though...soon he'll start blaming the kids in section 6 for switching seats at halftime and thus ruining the good luck they build up in a 1st half.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Oct 9, 2007 4:34 PM PDT up reply actions  

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