Enough apologists like Dohn have turned on Dorrell, for wasting red shirt seasons, etc. It is really amazing how bare the cupboard was coming into this season. This will be a slow process.

Petey gets way too much credit. Tyrone Willingham went undefeated in Big Games as Stanford’s coach. This says way more about Holmoe and Gilbertson than it does about Willingham. Similarly, Petey got to coach against Toledo on his way out and against Dorrell. The tide will turn with CRN, and when it does it won’t be pretty for $C.

By the way, although I almost agree with N’s comments, I can’t agree in congratulating $C. Congratulating these thugs (think Malalua’s running helmet to helmet cheap shot) is like congratulating drug dealers for a profitable quarter. They deserve nothing but what the NCAA is too chickens… to give them.

Not sure what’s more disturbing. The fact that we lost…..again, or the fact that it doesn’t seem to bother me as much as before . . .

they have a better football team. Big deal. We are better at everything else…

I felt like there were some encouraging developments that transpired throughout this game. Our defense held up relatively well against a bunch of offensive 5 star recruits. Our offensive line provided good pass protection and seems to have gotten slightly better as the year progressed. I also felt as though the players played with great passion and determination (although sometimes their passion led to some unfortunate mistakes – like Ayers late hits and Carter’s penalty on roughing the punter). I was certainly pleased to hear Craig’s endorsement of UCLA at halftime – and I hope that the nation at large was listening (especially if you happen to be a young athlete that can bench press 400 plus pounds or can run a 40 yard dash in around 4 seconds).

Now, there were definitely some areas that need to be addressed in the future – and I was hoping that a few of you could comment on what areas you see as essential in improving our organizational depth and talent.

First, recruiting absolutely needs to reflect the level of success that we are hoping to achieve. We should consistently be pulling in 5 star recruits. In particular, we need better talent at the skill positions (haven’t had a break-out receiver in awhile – and our runners need to be more dynamic and shifty – perhaps last years recruits will help out here).

We also need to find some defensive ends that can hunt down a quarterback like their next meal depends on it (like Bruce Davis, the Ball brothers, etc). How many sacks did we have this year? As good as our Defensive tackles were – the ends were somewhat disappointing.

Clearly the offensive line needs some more talent – but I would expect for the returners to be better next year with more experience under Palcic’s tutelage. Currently we have two (or did we get a JUCO transfer?) offensive line recruits – one which looks like a stud – the other is a middle of the pack lineman.

We also need to address special teams – which I felt like was poorly coached all year long (which was surprisng to me – because Ganss – sp? – seemed promising). Our coverage seemed late and ill conceived – and some of the mistakes today really hurt us today.

Finally, I feel like we should never be out-schemed. While the level of talent on the field may not be able to effectively compete for national titles yet – the talent level on the sidelines and in the sky boxes should be able to compete with anyone in the country. There were times where I felt like this was the case this season – but overall – it was defintely debateable. Could you definitively state that we grew as a team this year? In what ares did we truly progress and what players development was blatantly obvious?

Furthermore, at the end of the game today – how many third downs did we give up for first downs? It seemed like we could not stop SuC from getting first downs when they wanted them. While I did feel as though the officiating was overly tendentious – the coaches should also have been in the players ears about late hits and holding (I swear SuC’s offensive line was consistently getting away with holding). I also think that offensively we were aware of our identity from an early point in the season. Therefore, shouldn’t we have identified a clear plan for getting most out of that talent and helping players progress for next year? I would have liked to see some more creativity with the offensive play calling – even though I will acknowledge that Chow, Neuheisal, etc, are much wiser than me when it comes to doing their jobs – but they should be – they are getting compensated fairly well to do this professionally. If I produced the same outcome as a psychologist that they have on the field – it would be fair to critique my performance.

Finally, watching Carroll shake hands and joke around with the refs all day today really pissed me off. I feel pretty certain that those refs go to bed in SuC pajama’s and have a autographed pictures from Petey on their business desks. However, I would like for CRN to utilize his considerable charisma to work the sidelines so that we can get favorable calls – and put UCLA charm in the minds of other schools and fans.

As a very last note – in order for this program to make a complete turn into national prominence – we need to help out on the grassroots level. There needs to be an investment on all UCLA supporters parts. Our enthusiasm and confidence should be infectious. So when our kids, neighbors, co-workers, strangers, etc – think about where they are going to attend college – they will ineluctably think about going to UCLA because of the profound impact that we imparted upon them. If we can offer that to CRN, his staff, and the players – we will have played an integral role in creating the cultural change and paradigm shift that we have been so desperately calling for.

Let’s quit talking about KD – his era is over and it was a depressing one at that. Now it’s time to be a part of the solution as we inculcate and propagate a collective environment of excellence. Thanks everyone here for sharing in my joy, pain, and renewed hope! Have a great Christmas season (or Hannukah, etc)!

First, I was standing in line for some food at halftime and I heard the lady behind me talking to some girls. Turned out she’s Rahim Moore’s grandma. She was talking about how nice of a kid he is, and how he’s God fearing and all that. All that we heard in the media is true. I told her that I know who he is and he’s gonna make it to the NFL given how he’s playing as a Freshman.

Second, what’s the deal with the Den?? When I went to my seat I saw 2 guys in SC shirts sitting a couple of rows behind. Then around halftime there were 2 girls walking up the steps of section 7. My friend told me they were sisters, one a Bruin and one a Trojan. The crowd started the “Take off that red shirt” chant, and the girls went back down the steps to get out…thats when the crowd tossed the blue pom poms at her, and there were shouting matches. I understand about the whole SC shirt in the student section deal, but that’s low class for me. Meanwhile the 2 SC guys behind me watched the game untouched.
I also heard some “F.. Craft” screams.

And I understand it’s finals week, and I understand SC was the better team, but the student section was emptying at about the start of 4th Q. Heck I missed the first touchdown because I waited for my friend to finish up some work in the campus labs and the parking lot was full.

28 7 was respectable compared to the SC slaughtering all season…even OSU didnt score a touchdown

gotta get back to studying

of Neuheisel’s lack of an aggressive game plan. But it seems to me that he had a very sound plan: to use our three main weapons—the defense, the punter and the field-goal kicker, to put our somewhat challenged offense on a short field a number of times. That would have given us a chance to put some points on the board. Unfortunately, over-aggressive plays leading to big penalties on crucial plays doomed that approach. Can’t fault the Bruin effort though, and we made some outstanding defensive plays. They really made a great effort. Hope recruiting is going well. Looking forward to next year. Oh, and let me add that I see another very fine Ben Howland team taking shape. As always, Go Bruins!

First, I think that many Bruins are justified in thinking your home jersey move did not have the rivalry in mind. I think you are like most trOJays when you think that our rivalry isn’t important. It has become clear to me now why you did it and it infuriates me: You did it to express some sort of “this is our house sentiment.” Your players before the game gathered on the UCLA logo and did some sort of circle-jerk about how OUR house is yours. Sorry Petey, you play in South Central with your SCandal prone Seasoned Criminals. Your arrogance is unfathomable.

I got news for you Petey, this ain’t your f**king house. You and your team’s arrogance in suggesting that you “own” Los Angeles is pathetic as well given that your university doesn’t even have “Los Angeles” in its name. We represent Los Angeles because WE ARE THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES. We are academically and athletically superior to your university in every way except for football (this year). How dare you claim anything to the contrary.

Another thing Petey, you have become the whiniest piece of shit in all of college sports. First, you lose to OSU. Then you struggle with other weak Pac-10 schools. Then you think that you should be in the title game. You whine because you haven’t got a shot in hell of making the title game now that OU beat the number 20 team in the country by 41 points. Your arguments are EPIC FAIL Petey. The only way you can get a “NC” is by getting the AP to anoint you again. Not going to happen. So console yourself in winning the Pac-10, I hope it makes you feel like the consolation prize that it is. Don’t feel bad, the consolation prize for you beating us this year is knowing that we had a little part to play in exposing your mediocrity and that you will not get a NC.

Complaining about “late hits” was pretty funny. I enjoyed that “alleged” rapist getting smacked around. It’s a great hit, helmet to helmet or otherwise, when one of your players hits Cowan or Craft, but when we get a little payback, then you cry like a bitch. What’s the matter? You can dish it out but you can’t take it?

Lastly, UCLA will contend again: Everything that rises must surely fall. This is the mode of the universe. You will fall and until you do, I will be there wishing with every once of my being that it happens sooner rather than later. I pray to God that I will be there to see it when it happens and let EVERY trOJay know that I will have a smile on my face.

Yours Truly,

Biggest Penn St. fan.

They can say it until they’re blue. But the Rose Bowl will always be synonymous to " The Granddaddy of Them All" and Bruin Football. Period

Today in the OC Register, someone wrote in this comment and how true it is: “Pete Carroll says that’s just usc being usc. You mean immature, taunting and arrogant? Such a non-class football team! Hopefully they’ll be humbled and humiliated in the Rose Bowl – then their antics can be squashed while Penn State does their own dancing!”

As we all know, $c is not known for its class in anything!!!! Cheatey Petey complaining about whiney Sanchez being hit – look who is calling the kettle black!!!!! sc is known for its cheap shots (Rey M. on Pat Cowan and many others). They are also known as the team scoring the most touchdowns without the ball (and mostly against UCLA). The Refs act like they are Cheatey Petey’s best friends – shaking hands with him before the game and talking to him nicely throughout the game. The sword being put into the center of the UCLA on our field SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DONE!!!!! You do that on your own field – NOT OURS!!!! I agree with "Biggest Penn St. fan – GO PENN STATE and show $c they are not as great as they perceive themselves to be. $c really does SUC!!!