Bandwagon?

by redsand514 on Sep 16, 2007 6:42 PM PDT

I think tasser summed it up best a while back. After reading the threads over at Bruin Gold, I was really tempted to throw my laptop off my balcony, and hey that might be upgrade because it's a POS. Anyways, a common theme was the word bandwagon. Anyone who criticized Dorrell's meltdown yesterday was accused of jumping off the UCLA bandwagon. The critical flaw in this statement is that most fans of collegiate sports are either students, alumni, family of alumni, or in U$C's case, anyone in south central who can pony up enough $$ to attend a game.

So please explain how any of us are jumping off the UCLA bandwagon, when there probably wasn't one to begin with. Please explain how fans who have an affiliation with the university and bleed their schools colors regardless of how there team is doing, is jumping off the supposed bandwagon.

I've been a UCLA fan my whole life, first because I grew up in a UCLA family, dad is employed by UCLA and secondly I worked my ass off in school so I could attend this fine institution. So please, don't call me a bandwagon, fair weather fan or any of that BS. I want UCLA to win and succeed, and not lose to teams who are very far below them. Myself and bruin fans elsewhere, aren't going to wish it upon these student athletes to lose. It's just very upsetting when these kids bust there ass, but the coach for whatever reason continually puts them in a position to fail.

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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My take

I don't think most of the BG posters are alums. In contrast majority of the folks here on BN are alums.

I have always maintained that an alum or a student has a different emotional relationship with his or her respective school's athletic teams (if they happen to be major programs and that individual is a college sports fan). It's different bond that simply cannot be explained.

And this is by no means is disrespect to some incredible fans, season ticket holders who frequent BN who never attended UCLA.

There is a reason as alums and students we feel so strongly about this. All of us worked our asses off to get into one of the best schools in America, competed against the best of the best in our respective classrooms. We worked to get into UCLA, we worked to get our our degrees.

And we are proud of an incredible institution that excels in every facet except for football (despite having a damn good football history).

And it bothers us and it should bother us.

When I browse some other message boards, I don't get that feeling, and I don't sense that connection.

When we launched this place we made no apologies for expressing our pride in being alums, students, and make this place specially inviting for rest of he alums, students.

Its just one reason why despite some persistent efforts of outside folks of trying to label us as haters, Trojans whatever, the allegations never stuck.

Not only we have continued to grow and make this an online bar for our alums, students, but hopefully make it inviting to everyone who believes in our vision that UCLA athletics should excel in everything (including football) to match our alma mater's glorious tradition off the field.

So don't let nonsense people accusing us of jumping off the bandwagon bug you.

This is it.

This is the place for everyone and anyone who bleeds Bruin blue and gold.

GO BRUINS.

by Nestor on Sep 16, 2007 6:56 PM PDT reply actions

So attempting to salvage a fallen program

is jumping OFF it's bandwagon? That's news to me.

For the record, I'm yet to attend the greatest public university in the world, but should I be blessed enough to receive an acceptance letter, I would/ will be be a fourth generation Bruin. My great grandparents met at UCLA (first graduating class out of Westwood), my grandmother and grandfather met at UCLA, and my beloved parents were fortunate enough to encounter each other during their time at UCLA. My blood runs blue and gold; people who lack the vision to see through KD's charade as a football coach apparently don't want what's best for our beloved Bruins.

Duke and North Carolina called: They want Steve Lavin back. GO BRUINS!!

by Allofmybros on Sep 16, 2007 7:05 PM PDT reply actions

From another perspective

The "bandwagon" concept suggests that the bandwagon is labeled "Coach Toledo's successor" rather than UCLA. I have been on UCLA's bandwagon for 50 years. Nothing can make me get off. Frankly, it's my bandwagon, which a gladly share with fellow travelers.

But to suggest that criticism of a phony and a pretender is somehow dishonoring UCLA and my shared UCLA bandwagon is absurd and insulting. I am not worshiping at the shrine of Coach Toledo's successor. He should have no bandwagon. He doesn't deserve one, because he has earned nothing. He stubbornly sticks with his beloved West Coast Alleged Offense even though it doesn't work and never has worked. He makes no adjustments AT ALL during a game. We all know his communications skills are nil. I believe it was Henry V who said, "This and so much more than this." I could go on and on about our alleged coach, but he doesn't deserve the mental energy being devoted to his ouster.

I deny the existence of a bandwagon for our current coach. Hence, criticism of Coach Toledo's successor does not mean I am jumping off any bandwagon, but means just the opposite -- I am clinging to the UCLA bandwagon and trying to get it headed in the right direction.

And if you children at BG don't understand this, then I challenge your Bruin credentials, and indeed challenge your right to call yourselves Bruins. You demean the word, just as Coach Toledo's successor demeans the title "Coach."

by Fox 71 on Sep 16, 2007 7:12 PM PDT reply actions

Question

Has there ever been an instance where a head coach changed his offense scheme drastically because he saw that it wasn't working?

I say drastically because Dorrell, if he were to hypothetically stick around after this year, would have to dump the WCAO. That's a huge change.

Anyone know?

by BruinFan1 on Sep 16, 2007 9:20 PM PDT up reply actions

Oregon's offense changed a couple years ago

I'm not sure how drastic the change was, but their Head Coach did not change.

by SuperBruinMan on Sep 17, 2007 12:17 AM PDT up reply actions

Bandwagon my a**, its a passion for excellence

I am an alum.
I attended many football and basketball games as a student.
I have had football and basketball season tickets for several years.
I have the means to donate dutifully to the Wooden Athletic Fund, as well as to other UCLA funds.
And I hastily planned a family vacation to Atlanta last year to watch the Bruins play in the Final Four.

Therefore, anyone who would label my support for the statements of discontent with Dorrell (I mean Toledo's suck-cessor)as "jumping of the bandwagon" can kiss my behind.

From my perspective, the reason why many of us are reacting to this loss so passionately is because, as alums, and/or fans of all Bruin sports, we follow our teams because we have a passion for excellence.

WE busted our butts to get into UCLA and to get out of it.

WE bust our butts to do the best we can to be the best in our chosen endeavours so that we can be a positive influence in the world to our kids, family, friends, co-workers, etc.

When WE find the time in our busy lives to invest our passion in Bruins sports, we don't do this because we just like the colors, the pageantry, or great coverage on the Versus network.

WE spend time with the Bruins and we take our children, spouses, and friends to Bruins games because we enjoy watching the dedicated student-athletes and coaches who SHOULD share, demonstrate, and faithfully represent the passion for excellence that UCLA as an institution stands for.

WE are not some bunch of frustrated athletes in our middle age trying to live through the exploits of teeangers and young adults.

WE want to be part of something, in watching and cheering for the Bruins, that is greater than any one of us, but yet is something we can feel a part of because our Bruins share our passion for excellence...so that when life is kicking our butt, when we reach a tough spot,and when we need something to inspire us to be better than we think we are, we can always find that inspiration in the game between the lines...to be a part of a school and team that share our values.

Therefore, WE are not jumping off any bandwagon as far as I, and others like me are concerned. Rather, WE have simply had enough of a coach whose leadership and direction are in direct conflict with our values and the values that WE believe our school should uphold. I say this without malice to Dorrell the person. I say this with passion about Dorrell and his performance as coach of the UCLA football team.

WE have had enough of him.
WE will continue to dutifully cheer for all UCLA teams and hope they will emerge victorious.
WE will hope that UCLA has the courage to find a coach who will lead our team to perform in a manner that better represents our shared values.
WE are UCLA.

by LostinBruinsnation on Sep 16, 2007 10:17 PM PDT reply actions