Trying To Be Patient (w Guerrero's Search)
by Nestor on Dec 28, 2007 10:32 AM PST
in Football
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PrintI guess impatience is the operative word today in many corners of Bruin Nation and the beat press covering UCLA in Southern California. Bill Plaschke, who has made a name for himself from being wrong time after time, is the latest columnist from the LA area to jump on the bash Guerrero bandwagon:
This is when he convinces boosters and donors of the program's strength. This is when he convinces recruits of the program's savvy. This is when he provides the athletic program with a strong, decisive face.
Instead, nearly a month into the search, UCLA's brow is furrowed and its mouth is agape.
And if you don't think USC is e-mailing that photo to every high school football player in Southern California, then you don't know USC.
So far, Guerrero has looked more like a beggar than a chooser, which means he either doesn't understand football or doesn't understand UCLA, charges he could disprove by simply making up his mind.
But I want to give DG the benefit of the doubt and see who he comes up with. Right now everyone is guessing there has to be another mystery candidate who Dan Guerrero is waiting for. The question I have is if he is worth the wait, not to mention a huge gamble on the part of DG.
I think we can infer that whoever that person is, a deal with him is not in place. Because if there was a deal in place, DG wouldn't have pursued Mike Bellotti so hard just last week.
So, who are we waiting for? Well let's look at the options from college ranks who are getting ready for their bowl games:
- Brett Bielema (Wisconsin) = No Chance
- Gary Pinkel (Missouri) = No Chance
- Randy Edsall (UConn) = I don't see it
- Jim Grobe (Wake Fores) = I would love to but I am not seeing it.
- Ron Zook (Illinois) = ROFLMAO
- Mark Mangino (Kansas) = No Chance
- Frank Beamer (Va Tech) No Chance
- March Richt (Georgia) = Pipedream
- Bob Stoops (Oklahoma) = See Above
- June Jones (Hawaii) = Maybe (?)
- Mike Leach (Texas Tech) = Not Sure (?)
- Mike Riley (Oregon State) = Maybe (?)
- Dan Hawkins (Colorado) = Not Sure (?)
I have no clue as to whether Hawkins would be interested. I don't think he will be, given he is in his second year at CU. But I don't know enough in this scenario. I can see how DG could make a play for Riley given he was his first choice last time around and has done a solid job in Corvallis.
As for June Jones, there may be a shot. We have heard stories about how Jones might have been interested but was turned off by the idea of having to keep Walker on his staff. Can DG seal the deal with Jones in the next 6-7 days right after his bowl game without having any contacts with him? I don't know. Note though, I believe Jones is represented by Leigh Steinberg, who if I am not mistaken is based in Los Angeles. It can't be that tough to draft up rough parameters of a deal working with the agent/attorney of the candidate and then close in the final hours.
As for candidates from NFL, we have Herm Edwards and John Fox, who have UCLA connections. I am not particularly excited about any of those options, but I will take any of them over the DyNoMite.
Speaking of the DyNoMite, DumpDorrell.com has a good post on how the guy might have overplayed his hand. He is now signaling that he might be open to work under Neuheisel. Uh hum. Sure DeWayne.
And we can't mention the DyNoMite without Dohn. Dohn has a report up on the latest state affairs, which starts with all the predictable grafs about what a super, awesome candidate the DyNoMite really is and then transitions into Neuheisel's NCAA issues. Dohn did let this out:
As I said above, I have a lot of questions about how this search has turned out. However, I am going to do my best to be patient. Though I think we need to make it clear to DG (dguerrero@athletics.ucla.edu) that whatever he is planning, he should not be banking on the DyNoMite as his fallback plan. And if I were him, I would also stay in close touch with Coach Neuheisel, letting him know about where he stands and making sure he understands that if he were to take over at UCLA, we would embrace him as more than just a fallback plan in this coaching search.
So there you have it. We are kind of in limbo waiting for DG to show his hand. We will know enough in the next few days. Again, trying my best to have faith in DG. But given our history and what we have seen play out in public during the last few weeks, it is getting a little difficult to say the least.
GO BRUINS.
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Another plausible explanation for delay
Like you, Nestor, I am becoming restive over the rumors that SMU might be set to offer him a job.
Man, this is better that "Days of our Lives" or "Dallas". I can't wait until 2 January 2008!
by whp68 on Dec 28, 2007 11:00 AM PST reply actions
Hawkins/Riley
Riley would be a good choice, no one in the conference does more with less year in and year out. He seems to know how to build a team, imagine what he could do if not in Corvallis.
by nikeu on Dec 28, 2007 11:00 AM PST reply actions
hiring process
I must admit that until very recently, I was absolutely opposed to bring in Neuheisal in light of his past issues (and conditions in which he left UW and Colorado). However, in reading the recent posts here in BN, I have to say that I have certainly warmed up to Neuheisal. I think a coach with a true passion for UCLA (I think KD only had a passion for being blase) would be a huge asset to the program. Walker appears to only have a passion for self-promotion and sees the head coaching position as a springboard to the NFL (didn't I see somewhere that he really aspired to coach professionally?).
So unless DG has some secret-super-special-steal-of-a-coach up his sleeve somewhere, he just needs to get off his butt and hire Neuheisal already. The longer he waits, the more desperate it makes us look and it doesn't exactly give the new coach a great vote of confidence either.
Other schools are not saddled w/ a ball and chain
I See It Differently
The easy thing is to jump in, make a quick hire, and get everyone off you back.
The hard thing is to hold out, play out your hand to maximize its value.
I trust that DG is doing it right.
And, there is some proof to that. He hasn't let the msm and Walkeristas stampede him into a stupid decision. First, the "losing all the recruits" crap, then WSU, then Washington. He has calmly called each raise and played his hand.
This does not look like the play of a desperate man.
sjh
PS. There is more desperation being shown in the msm and on many blogs than is warranted by the facts.
by Class of 66 on Dec 28, 2007 12:35 PM PST up reply actions
Yeap
I have no problem with a professional going about this job search in a methodical way and lining up his contingency plans. But to interview for another position and letting the word out on it the same day he goes after his big prize. Just a bad tactical move all around.
Right now it looks like UDub is his only public option. He may have an option at a faltering Miami program. But who knows. And certainly no one is giving him the time of the day as an HC.
Walker could save face and just off to UDub. No one here is going to miss him.
PUT UP A COUNTDOWN CLOCK!
Maybe it would bring us luck or something like that.
by whp68 on Dec 28, 2007 1:27 PM PST up reply actions
Has Anyone Considered....
None of us really knows the true story - but I'm sick and tired of all the negative crap which any "AH" can create - maybe, just maybe there is a positive spin as well.
by Griffin1 on Dec 28, 2007 11:09 AM PST reply actions
That may be possible.
MIM
Xlnt Point
Neither he, nor his brother have shot their mouths off.
I view this as a sign that RN is proving to all involved that he is an honorable man.
by Class of 66 on Dec 28, 2007 12:37 PM PST up reply actions
John Fox as a candidate
If he really is a candidate, I think John Fox would be an intriguing choice. I'm not saying he would be my first choice, but he has a very solid record in the NFL. He also coached in college as an assistant from 1978 to 1988, his last job being the defensive coordinator for Pittsburgh in 1988, after which he moved to the Steelers and began his lengthy NFL career. His record as a head coach at Carolina is 55-47 (5-2 in the playoffs), which is particularly impressive given that he took over a team that was 1-11 the prior year. According to the infallible source Wikipedia, he is the only coach other than Vince Lombardi to take a team that was 1-11 the year before he was hired to the championship game. He coached in the 2003 Super Bowl and also in the 2005 NFC championship game, both of which he lost. The Panthers have fallen off the last couple of years, so there is now talk that he will be fired. But, with the overall parity in the NFL, I think Fox's record is very strong. It certainly is a heck of a lot better than Cheatey Petey's record in the NFL!
Fox seems to meet Guerrero's criteria as he has extensive head coaching experience, has NFL experience and also is from the West Coast (he went to San Diego State). His background is defense, same as Cheatey Petey, which in the end wins championships. He would certainly have credibility on the recruiting trail and from what I recall of his t.v. interviews, he seems to have a good personality. He might do well as a college coach.
I understand that he is friends with Donahue. I don't view that as positive, but I don't think that disqualifies him. He would still represent a break from the incestuous hiring practices of UCLA.
Would he be a risk because he hasn't coached in college for a number of years and has never been a college head coach? Sure, but it seems that all of the named candidates present risks.
He'd be a great candidate
Walsh went back, but after taking a break.
Petey, Gailey, et al were NFL failures.
The others i can think of were all coordinators.
by silverlakebruin on Dec 28, 2007 11:37 AM PST up reply actions
If he gets fired by Carolina
Patience is right
If they don't have a coach by the BCS title game, then I panic.
Absolutely no reason to panic
There could be NFL people
by silverlakebruin on Dec 28, 2007 11:35 AM PST reply actions
Nestor asks the question re JJ
There is no reason to believe that the contact hasn't already been made and a deal structured - not saying that's the case, but neither party would be precluded from conversation due to Hawaii's date in the Sugar Bowl. All of this is, of course, conjecture.
I spent a little time over at BRO last night - for grins - and am surprised to see some evidence of DWW slippage there. Some posters are apparently becoming reconciled to the potential hiring of RN.
Maybe we can all come together after the decision is announced; then again, maybe not.
by SecondGenBruin on Dec 28, 2007 11:50 AM PST reply actions
Not necessarily in disagreement
I do think the furrowed browe and agape mouth is more likely how the DeWayne is looking right now.
He and his shill's have been working it so hard the last couple of weeks it should be pretty obvious that DG does not want to keep him and has not made his retention a condition of hire to any new HC. I bet he has so much as told the DeWayne that to his face. For the DeWayne it's pretty much HC or out the door as far as UCLA goes. He know's it, the Doh! knows it, blah blah blah.
Now, why not just hire the Rickster and be done with it? Simpliest reason is because someone better is out there and the deal is near done.
There is perhaps a gag agreement in-place so as not to disrupt the current employer and because I think the candidate really wants to coach his bowl game and put the exclamation point to his tenure at the current school. He can then say that he accomplished everything he set out to do there and it was time to move on to the next challenge..
I believe it's Leach honestly. Leach said early he was interested in the job. His AD is a good friend of DG's, Tech has come along way and his bowl opponent is a favorable match-up....June Jones is a close second in this scenerio.
Anybody know who Leach's agent is? Used to be O'Hagen who has a relationship with Coach Wooden.
Anyway, I think in a few days we are all winners and the trojies are (still) all whiners...boo hoo, snif, snif...
Which Is It?
Is it because Dan Guerrero is a bumbling idiot who can't handle a big time coaching hire?
Or, is Dan Guerrero an intelligent, thoughtful, and patient AD and alum of a major university, who also successfully hired Ben Howland to resurrect the most prestigious basketball program in history? (sorry, Kentucky).
Plaschke can write whatever he wants. I know the answer to my question.
See you on Jan 2, or shortly thereafter.
Horrible quote from Donahue in that article.
What a loser mentality. It's no wonder so many people on this site want a clean break from Donahue.
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