Only @ UCLA: Honesty from a Head Coach

by impaulv on Jan 27, 2009 1:59 PM PST Comment 5 comments

he deserved a T. He was taunting the kid...

So AA2 actually deserved the T. I thought at the time that AA2 got in that guy's face in a pretty abrupt way, so I wasn't too surprised when they T'ed him up especially after the way he acted in reaction to the ref. However, the point I wish to make here isn't that AA2 deserved the technical or that he's a bad guy (because I firmly know him to be of outstanding character through his body of work) but that our coach has the integrity to tell the truth about the matter.

Did Coach Howland have to say anything about the matter? Probably not. Did he? Yes, and he told us what happened. He didn't try to make up some BS excuse like "coaches" at other schools. I'm pretty sure that at some point since the game CBH had a firm talk with AA2 to figure out what exactly happened and then took corrective action, providing guidance. That is the sign of a great coach and program, well in keeping with the tenets of the great Wooden.

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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Well, you know, he's a freshman

Oops…nope :)

But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.

by tasser10 on Jan 27, 2009 3:06 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

No, He Didn't Deserve the T

With all deference to CBH who believes the T was justified because it violates his strict sense of conduct — with the way this game was being called, and with the non-call last year for the ball in the face — short of physical harm, the T was not appropriate. And, particularly not at that time in the game. A warning would have sufficed.

I don’t want to get into this, again — but those who implement rules have to use good judgment and apply the rules consistently and fairly. The failure to do so damages the legitimacy of the rules and those who enforce them.

In the context of Pac 10 officiating, this call was bad.

CBH’s statement makes clear his high standards. Unfortunately those standards are not universally accepted or enforced in the Pac 10.

This is the perfect statement to make days after the call — because it lets AA2 know that he should never put himself in a place where this can happen — and I doubt that he will again.

sjh

PS. I find it hard to see “Stop flopping” as taunting.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Jan 27, 2009 4:44 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I don't disagree whatsoever

and not to beat a dead horse, but according to today’s Trojan Times, Aboya said that he deserved the T. Assuming Aboya said this (and, obviously, a direct quote from Aboya would have been far too difficult for this reporter), it shows that this kid is all class.

Here is this excerpt from today’s rag (emphasis mine): http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/ucla/la-sp-ucla-basketball28-2009jan28,0,7403413.story:

After watching replays, Howland and center Alfred Aboya seemed to differ on whether Washington forward Jon Brockman intentionally delivered the elbow that required three stitches in Aboya’s forehead.

“You can use your own judgment,” Howland told reporters. “I’d be happy to get you the tape.”

Aboya thought the blow was inadvertent. He also said he deserved to get a technical — the first of his college career — for taunting guard Venoy Overton.

by Barnes2JJ on Jan 28, 2009 9:10 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Of Course.

CBH is the Caretaker of John Wooden’s program, and he walks his talk. AA2 follows this example, in an exceedingly accountable and dignified fashion.

In some ways, it doesn’t actually matter what “really” happened…it matters how they’ve responded afterwards. They don’t whine, screech, point fingers, make up stories, talk trash…

So glad I’m a Bruin.

Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on Jan 29, 2009 7:48 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I agree, BG 83.

Think about what it must be like across town. There is probably a percentage of kids who go there who begin school with a modicum of integrity. Think about the first wave of shock and revulsion they must feel when the see what’s going on. What happens to those kids? What changes in their psyche and persona such that they can’t see what everyone else sees? How can they all be seduced by the dark side of the force? What is it about Figueroa Tech that destroys integrity?

Seriously, the most humane thing we could do would be to start a campaign to get Coach installed as the president of that school, or at least the athletic director. It would mean the death penalty for them for sure, but it would also give a generation of trOJies a chance to go through life with a semblance of pride.

by Fox 71 on Jan 29, 2009 9:34 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs