Neuheisel Brings the Lumber

by theREAL_LOGAN5 on Dec 21, 2007 4:37 PM PST

The other night, before the whole Belotti tease reared it's [pretty] head, I had Dream: That in the end, it was Rick. And that, aside from all our initial reservations, He really was The One.

Half depressed about going into YET another weekend with nothing but rumors, tidbits and teases to talk over beers, I re-read T.J. Simers piece about the Belotti talks and found this impressive bit of cheer:

As for Neuheisel... he made a power-point presentation to [Gene] Block, brought along a former UCLA fraternity brother who is a big UCLA donor, and promised to have the donor pay for the salaries of DeWayne Walker and Norm Chow, who would be his coordinators. (emphasis mine)

Dang! Sounds like Skippy came correct!! Along with (hopefully) laying it all on the table regarding his complicated past, I'm sure that part got their attention. It sure got mine.

Buutt Wait! There's more! Simers throws some warm water into Rick's kitchen sink, adding:

[Neuheisel] also promised to deliver $4 million from donors to help with the Pauley Pavilion redo.
(emphasis mine)

Seriously... wow, man. I don't know about the rest here on BN, but I think between DG's apparent Hail-Marys and Rick's Big Talk, it sounds like we might just have us One HELLUVA Backup Plan.

On a personal note, more and more, I find myself pulling for you, Rick. The dream was vivid, but real and grounded in reality. It wasn't some fantasy either; there was A LOT of work to do, but you were more than up to the task.

Anyway, that morning I woke up with a strong feeling that this truly was your job to lose. I can't see the whole picture just yet, but after everything we've been through I suddenly feel at home with the idea of you coming home.

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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makes you wonder

Neither Neuheisel or Chow are currently employed with NCAA teams waiting for bowl games, so there is absolutely no reason why DG should not have hired them long ago if one or both of them were his top choice. The fact that we're still waiting indicates DG has other options in mind.

by AZBruin on Dec 21, 2007 4:55 PM PST reply actions

Chow refused

to leave the Titans before the season was over.

by joeb @ Bruins Nation on Dec 21, 2007 5:03 PM PST reply actions

Simers was joking, right?

The PowerPoint, maybe.

The fraternity brother and the bribes? No, way.

Add, Chow and Walker -- that's a nightmare.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Dec 21, 2007 5:19 PM PST reply actions

UCLA coach

Neuheisel is the more logical choice. He will be a great recruiter.Belloti teams always crumble in November.

by manchu25 on Dec 21, 2007 5:54 PM PST reply actions

I just hope Neuheisel doesn't get us into trouble

If we hire him, he better have left his shady recruiting practices behind him. We run a clean ship here, and it would be a shame if he mucks us up as much as he did in Colorado.

by joeb @ Bruins Nation on Dec 21, 2007 6:28 PM PST reply actions

Ironic that you would talk about a dream.

I had one too (seriously). In my dream, Skippy got the position. Not only did he get the position, but he brought the lumber (as logan said) AND he brought the hardware (aka BCS bowl trophy).

This dream happened about two weeks ago, but I remember it vividly. I'm never one to take my dreams too seriously. I usually forget about them rather quickly. But this one...this one is something else.

Dream aside, I have a VERY good feeling that Rick will do well if he's hired. My intuitive feelings are always right. Yes, I said ALWAYS.

by OutOThsWrld on Dec 21, 2007 6:52 PM PST reply actions

Well start sharing the wealth

Give us the appropriate bets to put down on all the bowl games. Let that intuition put a dollar or two in the pockets of all your Bruin brothers and sisters.

by Fox 71 on Dec 21, 2007 7:30 PM PST up reply actions

You Ain't Right, Fox.

GO BRUIN BLUE.

by theREAL_LOGAN5 on Dec 21, 2007 7:49 PM PST up reply actions

Please do

I'm heading over to the Mandalay Bay sports book in a few minutes (cashing in on a successful MNF bet before leaving town), and wouldn't mind some intuition advising me on the future bowl games.

by bruinhoo on Dec 21, 2007 10:56 PM PST up reply actions

Haha

I wish Fox. If it were like that, I'd be betting myself and contributing to the cause of finding a quality coach.

But in all seriousness, I'm truly never wrong wrt my intuition. However, it's not something I have all the time. Meaning, every now and then I become overtaken by an INTENSE thought or emotion. That idea/feeling, then remains with me until it comes true.

This is how I feel about Neuheisel right now. I don't claim to be psychic, but merely sharing some info about myself and my experiences. I realize that this strays greatly from all the logical and well thought-out explanations posted on this board, but I can't help but feel the way I feel.

by OutOThsWrld on Dec 21, 2007 7:49 PM PST reply actions

right there witcha

mine was pretty damn lucid too. we're definitely talking "backup" at this point. Though it's fairly evident that the best hand (RN's) is already on the table. The dealer's calling it and you can almost FEEL DG scanning the table/playing for all the time he can get...

Ol' Rick's ALL IN at this point. That's why I love him.

...somewhere down at another table, you can almost hear Pete Carroll about to CRAP OUT.

GO BRUIN BLUE.

by theREAL_LOGAN5 on Dec 21, 2007 8:30 PM PST up reply actions

OK - my absolute for sure premonition

Second year law student, in wills class (mandatory attendance, or otherwise it would have been an empty classroom.) We got points for reciting in class, and the prof called on people at random. I was absolutely, positively certain that I would be called on to recite on Estate of Johnson, so I read the case (the only wills case I read the entire semester.)

She did not call on me. I was really PO-ed that I actually read a case, which made me the only guy in my study group to do so.

(The Prof was an easy grader, the tests were easy, and everything we needed to know was in Gilberts. I got an A in the course. I would have felt better getting an A and never having read even one case.)

by Fox 71 on Dec 21, 2007 9:04 PM PST up reply actions

RN and violations

Let's all decide how we want this to play out. I am sure RN has learned a lot of lessons and, since he, after all, a law school graduate, is a smart fellow, he will run a "legal" ship at UCLA. If the inhabitants of BN require no violations, strict academic admissions, etc. then decide how many wins season will satisfy you. If you want NC contention, then I believe you have to accept the judgement of the HC to run a winning program, but one that is under his control.

Remember the old adage, "I want my team to be under suspicion, but not on probation". That is a fine line, but one that may need to be walked. A coach who has an out-of-control program is the one to avoid like the plague. RN would have to, if there are "suspicions", have it carefully under his control. I, for one, would support him all the way.

UCLA may need to be a bit like SC in BB. Their HC is bringing in the best players he can find, and look at this issues. We may go thru a phase like that as well. Not saying it has to happen, but it might....
Bill

BillSouthBay

by Mensgym on Dec 21, 2007 8:47 PM PST reply actions

Yup

...my brother (and late father) had this funny way of saying that -- for us to "really" be an elite football program, we'd have to be willing to "rub some dirt" into those decidedly "pretty" (a la Muhammad Ali) unis of ours.

I just can't shake this feeling. Sooner or later, a guy like Neuheisel WILL make a comeback and so I'm thinking - aside from the transgressions (and who doesn't have them) - WHY NOT HERE? WHY NOT RIGHT NOW?

Just if he can promise the Nation that he'd NEVER, EVER bring that kind of hurt home... I'll write the check right effin now.

GO BRUIN BLUE.

by theREAL_LOGAN5 on Dec 21, 2007 9:02 PM PST reply actions

it all sounds so fantastic.

it's hard to believe. is this all I have left to hope for? So be it.

A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment. John Wooden

by MexiBruin on Dec 21, 2007 9:52 PM PST reply actions

I would rather have a clean HC

A HC without a checkered past of bending and breaking the rules would be my choice. Rick Neuheisel has been the center of a lot of negative media equal, if not more than Bob Toledo. Why take the chance on a repeat? Better to find someone else or we are going to start to look like those thugs across town.

by joeb @ Bruins Nation on Dec 22, 2007 1:26 AM PST reply actions

I would rather have a clean HC who WINS.

Let's hope DG can get us one.

"Because I'm tired of it. Year after year after year after year having to choose between the lesser of 'Who cares?'"

by Meriones on Dec 22, 2007 7:02 AM PST reply actions

agree Meriones

by joeb @ Bruins Nation on Dec 22, 2007 10:22 AM PST reply actions

logan

I am with you.

by Nestor on Dec 22, 2007 10:28 AM PST reply actions

My dream

I had a dream too. Neuweasel the sorcerer rides into Westwood on a pale horse under a dark cloud. He is surrounded by smoke which obscures his true nature. Is he the Saviour we have been waiting for? Many believe he is. He is anointed by Guerrero and becomes King of Westwood.

He wins 10 games his first season, and there is rejoicing on the Westside. The next year he wins 11 games and goes to the Rose Bowl. Many acclaim him as the Saviour we have awaited.

But there are whispers he has once again broken the commandments of the NCAA.

His third season, he wins 6 games as his own recruits are played and his own finesse style is fully implemented. The ruling council of the NCAA begins an investigation into his widely talked about ethical lapses.

His fourth season, he wins 4 games. The NCAA ruling council finds him guilty of many violations and the Bruin Nation is punished for his transgressions into the third year. Neuweasel is fired. His anointor, Guerrero, is also fired.

The Kingdom of Westwood is crippled by the recruiting limitations of its probation, and becomes the whipping boy for the other kingdoms of the Pac-10.

The Sorcerer Neuweasel evokes yet another plague upon the Kingdom of Westwood as he sues for $4 million dollars. No other king wants to come to Westwood, and we appoint the court jester Karl Dorrell as the new king.

This is actually the third kingdom that Neuweasel had brought to despair, but Guerrero thought he had changed his ways after the first two, and therefore anointed him, thereby bringing ruin to the Kingdom of Westwood.