Blue Thunder ...

... the name of the chopper CRN has been using on the recruiting trail last couple of years. How do I know?

Well pretty sweet writeup in the New York Times today on CRN and other coaches around the country using choppers to get to high school recruits. Of course when the story first popped up last year it immediately created a huge buzz. I am sure there are many see it as nothing but a PR stunt. However, as Pete Thamel and Thayer Evans note in their article today for UCLA there is a big practical angle to using a chopper on recruiting trail:

From a practical standpoint, U.C.L.A.’s use of a helicopter makes sense. With traffic in Los Angeles among the worst in the nation, especially on a Friday afternoon, Coach Rick Neuheisel said his use of Larry Welk’s helicopter, which is called Air Bruin or Blue Thunder, allowed him to attend four or five games around the Los Angeles area instead of perhaps two while driving. To illustrate just how nightmarish traffic is, Neuheisel said that when he flew to a game at Compton Dominguez on a recent Friday afternoon he had to walk to the field because the U.C.L.A. staff member scheduled to drive him to the game was stuck in traffic.

Neuheisel said it was just as important to fly over the field so the players and fans notice the helicopter as it was to land and watch the game.

U.C.L.A.’s director of on-campus recruiting, Angus McClure, said that because staffs are only allowed 42 in-person evaluation days, the helicopter was invaluable. McClure recalled traffic being so bad last year that it took him four hours to drive to a game 60 miles away in Corona.

"It may be more fluff than practical if it isn’t difficult to drive," Neuheisel said. "But I think when the practicality is there, then it’s certainly a useful tool."

As the article notes there is nothing in the NCAA rules and provisions about coaches using choppers to travel to high school games. Note though this is very different from a situation in which coaches use choppers or limousines to transport recruits which is not kosher per NCAA rules. Of course that NCAA rule didn't prevent you know who from coming after Brian Price with cheesy offers of ride in a stretch limousine.

The UCLA chopper per the NYT "comes courtesy of a grandson of the composer Lawrence Welk," and as we wrote ealier UCLA compliance officials looked into it and cleared it before CRN decided to take advantage of the perk. So thanks to Mr. Welk for giving a boost (no pun intended) to CRN's efforts to rebuild UCLA. It is certainly getting attention both locally and nationally in a positive way (I wouldn't worry too much about whining coming from the Trojan front) and helping CRN and his staff given what we have seen in terms of recruiting results from last two years.

Now if we can just take care of business on the field and get into a bowl game, we are going to be in even better shape.

GO BRUINS.