From a Dorrell supporter

Bumped. We all appreciate these kinds of posts where Bruins (who I will not confuse with certain Dorrell cultists) are manning up and making this an unified Bruin Nation. We need everyone's voice at this point to make our chorus for change in Westwood louder and stronger. GO BRUINS. -N

[My first post here - I apologize in advance for the length and thank you all for the bandwidth.]

A few years ago I went to an event where Dan Guerrero was present (being honored for being named by SI as one of the most influential minorities in sports, iirc) and without going into details found myself sitting next to him after dinner at a table with a bunch of ladies, i.e., I basically had a one-hour one-on-one conversation with him.  This was shortly after he had fired/hired coaches for our two biggest programs (football and basketball) and we spoke mainly about basketball, Coach Howland, and of course Coach Wooden.

With respect to hiring Coach Dorrell, Mr. Guerrero was very pleased with the selection - he needed a class individual to get control of the program, didn't have the salary to offer to a truly 1st-tier coach, and felt fortunate to hire not only a former Bruin from a successful era but also a person of color that would highlight the (then anyway) very diverse nature of our university.  And I don't think anyone can deny Coach Dorrell brought the program under his control and has presented a positive face for the program.  Mr. Geurrero was under no delusions that Coach Dorrell wasn't in over his head from the get-go, but felt he could do a solid job recruiting and was very hopeful that he would grow into a first class (in the tactical sense) head football coach.

With the realities that were present at the time, hiring Coach Dorrell was a solid decision.  Deferring to our AD's insight, I understood that patience in Coach Dorrell was necessary.  I had no tolerance for Linda Lavin's tenure as head basketball coach (I thought he was likely one of the best coaches in America - had he been an assistant) but I could give Dorrell time.

As we stand five years later, it is clear that Coach Dorrell has not grown into an effective head coach as most in the program had hoped.  In my eyes, I allowed for him to learn on the job, every year hoping that he would grow into the job.  And every year something would happen during football season that would make me look forward to basketball season.  To say that Coach Dorrell did not make progress would be inaccurate; but it simply has not been nearly enough, not by a longshot.

I ran out of faith last year in South Bend.  Ultimately, the philosophy of "bend/don't break" and "playing not to lose" (vs playing to win) are Coach Dorrell's undoing.  The contrast was so damn plain as day at the end of the half last Dec 2nd, when UCLA had the ball near mid-field with about a minute and a half left, and Coach Dorrell was trying to run out the clock to go into the locker room DOWN rather that going for a score.  WTF?  The coach on the other sideline was calling timeouts, trying to get the ball back with any time left on the clock, even knowing that he would not have good field position.  As y'all will recall, a pass to a tight end - and his ability to break a tackle to pick up first down yardage - allowed Dorrell to run out the first-half clock.  Some measure of success, eh?

This type of attitude permeates our football team.  Dorrell's incarnation of the "West Coast Offense" seems to be to try not to make mistakes.  So many short passes without a chance for real success unless players can somehow break numerous tackles - how many times must we witness completed passes on third downs that still result in punts?  I think I can speak for all Bruins in saying that I'd rather see my team lose while giving it their all, rather than luck into wins while playing it safe.

Our last game was particluarly pathetic.  The defense seemed quick as would be needed but always chasing air, running the wrong way.  Confusion seemed to be the norm on offense.  Their QB had plenty of time to throw, ours never enough.  For some reason the coaches decided to try to establish the running game once we were down by three touchdowns.  And once the game was truly out of reach they left in key players, which for many reasons (risk of injury, gaining experience for others - why did Dorrell travel with so many players anyway?, sending a message to the starters,) was just poor.

When our team has had success it appears to have been in spite of the coaches.  The highlights of the Dorrell era for me will be the comeback win against Cal two seasons ago and the 13-9 win last December.  Plus any inspired performances that may come this season, although at this point that's tough to foresee.

I believed what was being written in the papers before the season began, hoped our high ranking might be justified, and was looking forward to a great year.  But the Stanford win did not look nearly as good as the scoreboard indicated, and the BYU win was strategically very ugly.  We were soooo set up for a big fall.

I will still be at the Rose Bowl for every game, and will be hoarse every Sunday this fall (yes, I yell at the TV, too).  And I hope our kids can overcome this staff and win every upcoming game (although as a realist I can't see that happening).

I thought the win over 'SC was going to buy Coach Dorrell two more seasons in Westwood, and I really hoped that he would somehow change his approach.  But this tiger's stripes have not changed and apparently cannot, and I now have no doubt that this will be Coach Dorrell's final season as Bruin head football coach.

I appreciate the opportunity to vent.

GO BRUINS!