[UPDATEx2]Reggie Carter, Logan Paulsen & Bruin Seniors Let Down UCLA Football
by Nestor on Dec 15, 2009 1:44 PM PST
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This is unreal:
The UCLA players decided not to practice today. They didn't tell anyone. Certainly not the coaches.
They jumped over the wall on the side of Spaulding Field and took off.
So, no practice update today.
If this is true Reggie Carter, Logan Paulsen - the captains of this team - and the entire senior class should be ashamed of themselves. This was a ridiculously, stupid tradition established during Donahue era, that epitomized UCLA football for being mediocre, mentally soft, and lazy. After the shenanigans from CRN's first year the senior "leaders" of this team swore it wouldn't happen again. Here is Reggie Carter in the DN last April (emphasis added):
"We were 4-8 last year. We can't afford to miss a practice," Carter said Friday. "Some guys argue it's tradition. Well, tradition started when they were winning. … Coach Neuheisel talked to me, and I said, `You don't have to worry about it. We're not going to do it.' If some guys try to slide away and organize it and do it anyway, we'll just go back in the locker room, rally them up and get back out here and practice, and deal with them after practice."
And Logan Paulsen:
When the Bruins did it last spring, the coaching staff was visible upset. Paulsen was one of the most upset about it, and has been a proponent of abolishing it this spring. "My mentality regarding the wall is I enjoy coming out here (to practice)," Paulsen said. "Every one of these practices is special to me, and I don't want to be wasting an opportunity. I understand there's a lot of things that go into the wall, a lot of tradition, a lot of camaraderie and team building, but in my opinion these spring practices are too valuable to pass up on." Well I'd like to hear from them what happened this time around. What changed guys? So were you guys lying back in April? Hey, here is a news flash Reggie and Logan. You are 6-6. We gave you benefit of the doubt and took encouragement as sign of progress. However, here is a news flash, you guys still haven't established any kind "winning" tradition yet and not living up to your own words is not going to help you either. This only makes you look like a total joke and full of hot air.
If I were Neuehisel I'd make sure to sneak in some two-a-days in next two weeks. This sends a pathetic message from this football team to rest of the world. It deservedly makes them look like bunch of phonies without any kind of substance.
The way it looks from outside, it doesn't look pretty and sends wrong messages from a program that is trying so desperately to get back on track. Again, Carter, Paulsen, ATV, Austin and the entire senior class should be embarrassed of themselves. This is not the way to go out and set examples for the underclassmen. Just pathetic. It will be interesting to see how Neuheisel treats this development.
GO BRUINS.
UPDATE (N): Neuheisel has made statements and frankly he sounds underwhelming:
Opening thoughts:
"A deal's a deal. When they were talking about it in spring practice, I said, 'Listen, the wall thing started in bowl practice. You get to bowl practice, then you can start to thinking about things like this.' So they did."On the players keeping it quiet (as Kai Forbath walks by smiling):
"They did a nice job of this one, keeping it under wraps. Look at Forbath with the big grin. I do compliment them on the choice of days. When you're still in kind of the get-back-into-football mode, and young guys are getting their chances to work, I think it was a wise day to pick. I'm pleased with the leadership in terms of the choice. But obviously I would have loved to practice."On the history of The Wall:
"This happened many years ago. Kenny Easley led the group over the wall, and it was a good thing. I enjoyed it more as a player than as a coach, though, I'll be honest with you. There's no question about that. Sometimes coaches forget what it was like as a player. I try not to do that."
If this is all we get from CRN, it will be the first strike against him as the head coach of this football program. If he and his coaches were involved in this, then they also look like total hypocrites after talking up the importance of bowl practices in public.
He needs to hold players like Carter and Paulsen accountable, who right now looks like total liars based on their actions. I don't care Kenny Easley did this back in the day. I care that Carter and Paulsen straight up lied on this issue. We shouldn't accept that and Neuheisel needs to hold them accountable for it. If he doesn't, I will lose a lot of respect for him from hereon out. GO BRUINS.
UPDATE II (N): LAT has more on this and it's not pretty. First up, here is senior "leader" Terrence Austin:
“We kind of wanted to have a complete season and decided to get this in,” Austin said. “We promised coach we wouldn’t do it unless we got a bowl. We decided to get it out of the way early so we could get back to work for the Washington, D.C. game. We didn’t want it to interfere with business.”
That sounds as lovely as Austin's punt and kickoff returns. Way to show leadership Terrence. Not. Apparently Kevin Craft might not have been on board while Paulsen gave a "no comment":
Not all players seemed on board with the plan. Asked if he was aware of the plan, senior quarterback Kevin Craft said, “no," tersely. Senior tight end Logan Paulsen declined to comment.
Not good enough and it's reflective of their mediocre play on the field. It still looks make Paulsen look like a liar based on what he said this past spring. Meanwhile, Neuheisel sounds underwhelming and frankly weak:
“They caught us all by surprise with this one,” Neuheisel said. “I do compliment them on the choice of days, when we are still getting back into football mode. I am pleased with the leadership in terms of the choice.”
Not the kind of "leadership" we want to see around UCLA football coach. That explanation doesn't fly and will not do much to gain confidence in a football program, which at this moment looks like a total joke. Pathetic. GO BRUINS.
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Dumbest "tradition" ever created....
Free Brandon Wood!
love thiss
hahahah its so funny. why is everyone getting their panties in a bunch? these ballers did their work and get paid for it by skipping practice. BADASS TRADITION if you ask me. Keep the tradition alive Bruins!! Paulsen and Carter are my new favorite players.
by harveyismyboy on Dec 15, 2009 5:50 PM PST up reply actions
I am shocked.
Simply shocked. This team NEEDS the practice. They had two weeks off for dead week and finals. It does not appear that UCLA will come close to getting in all of the practices permitted to bowl teams (15, I believe).
Then, CRN cancels practices last Friday and Saturday because of weather.
And now, they waste another day?!?!?
I cannot comprehend this at all.
The 15 days of practice rule is dead
Now, the rule is the same as during the regular season where they get a certain amount of hours per week to practice, but I can’t remember the number. Hopefully, CRN will have them make up the practice hours during the week.
by bornagainbruin on Dec 15, 2009 3:20 PM PST up reply actions
The basketball team wishes they could do the same thing
against NMSU tonight.
Hey, we’re a women’s water polo school anyways!
by TheTJCummingsEra on Dec 15, 2009 1:59 PM PST reply actions
I'm mad
Come on guys really? I’m at a loss for words.
"The entire world that bleeds blue and gold ... they have been dying for this." - Coach Rick Neuheisel
These losers
Not sure any other way we can describe them need to issue an apology to the entire Bruin Nation. Perhaps it’s not worth it to emotionally invest in these primadonnas.
Unbelievable, if true ---
Had I known this was going to happen, I’d have raised my voice against going to a bowl game.
We wanted a bowl game to see the seniors get one more chance to go out on a win. And, to get the entire team some more practice time in order to prepare for next year.
If the seniors participated in this, I don’t care if I never see them on the field again.
And, those who needed the practice will get no better by jumping over a wall.
There are some who say the outcome does not matter — but it does. Both internally, to establish momentum and show Bruin Pride, and externally for recruiting.
This game is not a gimme. Temple could very easily embarrass us. One way to avoid that is to come into the game prepared.
Do these players really think they’ve been playing at a level that justifies missing practice? This “tradition” was started when we were a strong winning program.
We are not one, now.
You have to earn the right to go over the wall and this team has not done so.
I feel bad for CRN and the remainder of the staff who are working so hard to make something out of this team.
Unbelievable — if true. I still don’t believe it. I’m hoping they are conducting a secret practice somewhere else.
sjh
I am having second thoughts
For sacrificing my vacation in California and coming back 2 days early to watch this team. They are not committed why should we do the same?
Troubled
And, I am troubled that we are showing so little character on both of our main focus teams.
sjh
Will be interesting to see how Rick handles this. imo, he didn’t handle Paulsen well this year, with his constant penalties/lack of focus. At what point does a SR Captain get benched for something like that?
Seniority should be valued, but only when it is exhibiting leadership qualities that are trying to be instilled in the Brehaut’s, Carroll’s, Presley’s, etc.
What kind of message does this send?
So Sad
So missing the point of all this. Already got a day off last week b/c of the weather. CRN and Chow will need to step it up for the bowl game and next year. Our program has become a joke and these things are adding up.
Class of 66
I agree, at this rate Temple will embarass us. People in Philly would riot if the players acted this way.
You have one good win, Tennessee,
the entire season, and you pull this stunt! Losers.
What I don't understand is
why they would lie on record straight to our faces. At least me enough of a damn MAN to admit you’re going to do, or don’t lie about it. Chickenshit move on their part.
by inhowlandwetrust on Dec 15, 2009 2:38 PM PST reply actions
Well he needs to be internally
and then take appropriate actions. Actions will speak louder than words at this point. We are going to watch closely.
Sort of...
“A deal’s a deal. When they were talking about it in spring practice, I said, ‘Listen, the wall thing started in bowl practice. You get to bowl practice, then you can start to thinking about things like this.’ So they did.”
-CRN
It sounds like he realizes that he needs to watch his words around those kids
It definitely seems like a throwaway comment meant to strongly discourage them from doing it in spring practice, not realizing that it was implicit permission to go ahead and do it during bowl practice.
Whatever it is
He needs to hold Carter and Paulsen accountable for their words. In my eyes, until I hear an apology, those guys are not only bunch of losers, but pathetic liars.
Well then l guess the thought of some sort of discipline may not be realistic because they were almost given the go ahead…
In that case
If he and his coaches were involved in this, then they also look like total hypocrites after talking up the importance of bowl practices in public.
Well, l agree w/ the above that it was a throwaway comment – that he probably didn’t mean to give permission – he was trying to make a point – but the players totally didn’t get it.
l’m disappointed in Rick for allowing, but just as disappointed in the players for considering it. Esp. because of the QB situation. Ugh.
CRN is Cornered -- but the players not exonerated
They should have had the good judgment to know that backing into one of the lowliest bowls does not qualify them to jump the wall.
We are not playing all that well and the practice time does matter.
From CRN’s comments it looks like the veterans screwed the young guys and, thereby, the future of the team. It looks like the young guys were getting these early rep’s and that the starters would get them, exclusively, as we got closer to game day.
CRN may not be in a position to punish anyone — but statements like his early statement about “bowl games” have to be taken in context. It’s one thing to jump the wall when you’ve had a strong season, won the Pac 10 and are going to a BCS bowl game.
It’s another when you have had a weak season and really need the practice time.
Reading between the lines — CRN is disappointed. And, he should be.
sjh
Not start the seniors?
Keep the kids in the rep’s and just go with them?
Yes, they may have jumped, too, but there is no doubt in my mind that they would not have done so if the Sr. leadership had said “no jumping”.
I’d have no problem keeping the seniors on the bench.
sjh
The senior captains
Especially the ones who vocally promised that this wouldn’t happen again shouldn’t put on a UCLA uniform again unless they apologize for lying to the Bruin family.
I went back and looked at who was talking about winning the bowl game
Because if it was a senior, I was going to have yet another fit about this. Fortunately(?), that player was XSF.
I don't want to get too much into law analogies
What with all the lawyers on here, but this reminds me of the difference between the spirit and the letter of the law. The implied message was that when the team starts consistently winning and bowl practices are a foregone conclusion, then they can consider pulling pranks like this. The players evidently took it literally, where bowl practice = jump the wall.
You get an A in "Law 101"
In law school we learn that things have to be interpreted in context.
I don’t think anyone looking at a statement made before the season, in spring practice, when put at the end of this season — would justify what they did.
If they think that statement meant it was ok to jump, this year, I wonder if they went to their classes.
sjh
The coach is to blame for not making the context EXTREMELY clear
Cleary, they thought this was OK to do. That’s the coach’s fault and nobody else’s. He didn’t condemn the tradition when this happened last time, he said it was justified in happier times. Well no serious football school ditches practice as part of their “tradition.” This is all CRN’s fault.
Yeah...no.
Everyone has to accept responsibility for this. There are plenty of seniors on this team. They have so little time left. They talked about righting the ship and bringing this program back to where it belongs. Saying it’s ALL CRN’s fault is absolving them of wrongdoing, and that’s bullshit.
Not absolving them
But this is 2 years under CRN now. He has had ample time to get a culture-message across to his team. Do you see a Howland team ever pulling a stunt like this? They’d be afraid for their lives!
Sure you are
When it’s all someone’s fault, it is by definition no one else’s fault, so you are absolving the seniors of any blame for this.
Guilt and blame are different things
Convicts are guilty of escaping prison — but you blame the lousy warden for his lax security.
You could blame the seniors the first time this happened when nobody saw it coming. But when they were basically encouraged and now CRN is “pleased” with their leadership.
Really?
We’re comparing practice and the privilege of going to a bowl game to prison? Stop right there. That’s where your analogy falls apart. Note that I’m not saying that CRN is without blame here. You just overreached and I’m bringing this back to the center by pointing out that there are plenty of guilty parties.
That's fine, it's not ALL his fault
But it’s ultimately his fault, for the same reason crappy play would be the coach’s fault even though the players are strictly guilty of it.
At this point, we know what to expect of these lousy seniors. But after two years, with so much of the future and culture of the program in the balance, this means more for the leadership than a bunch of Dorrel losers.
Even in that case
I’d still get after a player that continuously produces crappy play (that’s within his own control). We do not allow personal shots on our players around here, but that doesn’t mean that we have to sit back and assign no personal responsibility to players for their actions. The seniors may not be the most talented group, so yes, we know what to expect from them in that regard. Staying at practice or squashing thoughts of skipping practice is well within their control.
Well the ball is on CRN's court
If there is no apology from Carter and Paulsen, I don’t want to see them in a UCLA uniform again. I will not be rooting for lying hypocrites on Bruin Nation (or anyone who props them up).
Unless there are apologies from these losers, I will hold the entire program including the head coach accountable. I hope Dan Guerrerro conveys that to his head coach too.
What I want, most of all
Is a definitive statement from CRN that stops this garbage from happening in the future. I don’t care how he gets it done. I’m sick of hearing about this stupid “tradition”. Ideally, we’d get players into the system that don’t even entertain these kinds of thoughts, but that’s a different complaint altogether.
I also want him to send a message
beyond offering statements. Unless we see an apology from Carter and Paulsen for letting us down by lying to our faces, I will not consider them as Bruins again.
Message-statement-whatever
Doesn’t matter to me. I don’t care if he has to make that wall 20 feet high or threaten to bench all the starters if it ever happens again. Whatever works.
The benching should happen for this bowl game
Unless these seniors who right now look like total liars come clean.
Honestly I think he's hamstrung by his own words
on this one. CRN is gonna have to take this one on the chin and make for damned sure that it doesn’t happen next year (or the year after or the year after). Now whether the players apologize or not, I’m don’t even care all that much what they do with that…because they’re not the reason I want this bowl game. This one is for the young guys, who just got a dose of a very unfortunate message.
Don't think he is hamstrung
Two of his seniors went on the record saying it will never happen again. He doesn’t lose anything by holding them accountable. His players lied to Bruins Nation. It’s simple. He can’t have his guys lie and then skate free. If he does that, he will lose a lot of respect in my eyes.
More from CRN, per Gold:
“It caught us all by surprise. But that’s kind of the fun part of it for the players.”
Do you really think it was unclear -- when he said it in the spring?
That a reasonable player, at the end of this very weak season in which we backed into a low level bowl game, would say “A bowl is a bowl” and cut?
I expect more from the players.
I expect them to want to win and understand that to do so they have to practice.
Even if they could not figure out the context, I expect them to stand up and say “No”.
We don’t have traditions that jeopardize winning games.
sjh
Some people seem to think players need to be babied
I don’t. Like you, I expect them to want to win and do whatever they can to achieve that goal. I expect that full grown men as the seniors most certainly are to understand the consequences of their actions. This whole thing reminds me that there are certain things about the remainder of KD’s recruits that I’m not going to miss.
I read it from the LA Times "Fabulous Forums"
by LoveMyBruins on Dec 15, 2009 3:06 PM PST up reply actions
CRN said
that basically they agreed it could be done before a bowl game. He was “pleased with the leadership” on the choice.
-LA Times
by LoveMyBruins on Dec 15, 2009 3:13 PM PST up reply actions
Going over the wall in spring practice
is a lot different than doing it in season. Very disappointed at the players. So much for using these practices to evaluate young players for next season. Very disappointed in these kids.
Our first home game in 2010 is against Houston. Maybe Bruin fans can “jump over the wall” too. Let them play in front of an empty Rose Bowl.
Whatever
In order to “make it to a bowl practice,” they had to pray for the loss of another team.
Losers.
by inhowlandwetrust on Dec 15, 2009 2:52 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Coach Toledo's Successor
I can’t bring myself to type his name.
I'm in shock
With all his talk of having fun and keeping up the tradition, it sounds like CRN is endorsing this, not actively but passively. These clowns think they can celebrate like this after a .500 season and 7/8th-place pac 10 finish?
In fairness to Paulsen, it sounds like he was against it in the Times report. So was Craft.
Does any highly successful program do this?
Nestor, can you send out a question to all the SBN sites and find out if anyone else does this, or is this stupidity is limited to our team.
I just lost a big case, so rather than prepare for and take the key deposition for the next case, I think I’ll go over the wall.
Sorry, guys, you can’t call this a tradition, unless you want to call 6-6 a tradition, too.
I see a bunch of players lounging around the village right now
Playing with cell-phones on the benches. What the hell do they have better to do than practice?
Unfortunately that is the way kids are now days.
They don’t have the work ethic that previous generations had. They expect to have everything handed to them and are disappointed when it isn’t. They just don’t understand that if you really want something, you have to earn it. I applaud any kid that puts forth the effort even if the results aren’t what we hope for. I am not sure what I think of this team. I almost wish they weren’t in a bowl game, I am not sure they deserve it.
I don't want to blame today's kids
I think this is something culturally ingrained with UCLA football. CRN talked about “culture change” and we heard a lot about it from players. Yet we continue to see the same BS, lying and evidence of players acting like dishonest, entitled brats, who talk a big game, but come up short again and again and again.
Unless Rick Neuehisel puts a definitive stop to this beyond offering sugary sweet public statements, UCLA football will continue to be what it has been for this past decade: the ultimate joke of all college football.
Alas, my stone-age blackberry does not
Though if I run into any of the guys I actually know, I will ask them what the hell they’re doing away from practice.
wow...
I agree that it was a bad decision but I do not agree with calling them losers and liars. As CRN said, they told him they wouldn’t do it during spring practice. CRN told them that it was something that should be done during bowl game practices. CRN has been talking about letting the guys have fun and not making practices overly serious. I still love the seniors and I don’t think that name calling is deserved for this. still, not a good tradition to have and I hope this is the last year we see it in any way, shape or form.
by King J77 on Dec 15, 2009 3:39 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
fine...
i’ll give you that. But there’s no reason to start calling them losers and saying you’d never want to see them in Bruin Jerseys ever again or that they won’t be considered Bruins anymore. Regardless, they are and will forever be Bruins.
I think that's a fine line between
lying and going back on your word. Lying implies deceit. Going back on your word is lack of integrity. Both cases are sh*tty, however.
devil's advocate:
I think it’s even arguable whether or not they went back on their word. The Carter and Paulsen statements from earlier this year seem firmly rooted in the context of spring practices. They didn’t actually say they’d never do it or support it—just not in the spring. Besides, even if someone does swear “never” at one time, it’s perfectly human to change one’s mind and feelings later on, whether it’s kids, young men or otherwise.
I don’t condemn them for this, really. I don’t like the tradition or their choice of upholding it right now, but it’s not that horrible a thing to do. They run the risk of hurting their public image moreso than themselves or anyone else in a tangible way. For them as players and coaches, once they get back on the field for practices and games, it’ll have no impact.
When you have to stretch so much
to “advocate” for something, there is a problem. The context of those comments were not just about spring practices but practices at Spaulding Field. They are even more relevant consider what a big deal Rick Neuheisel, his staff and players made about benefit of extra practices from the bowl game. It doesn’t look good and trying to defend this makes one look as pathetic as the ones who were stretching and looking for something to defend Dorrell/Lavin back in the day.
Their career record at UCLA
23-27
Translation: they’re losers.
they might
not have won many games on the field. But they made it through four years of UCLA and from what I’ve seen they are on their way to earning degrees. Unfortunately, they have had a certain mentality engrained into them which we don’t approve of.
Well they have been losers on the field
And given their actions they look like losers (and liars (or dishonest hypocrites)) off it. You might not like the sound of it but it’s reality staring at us right now.
No worries though Dragovic and Anderson will cheer us up with their 25+ mins later on tonight.
I'm afraid I'm going to have to agree with King on this one
Yes, this is the stupidest tradition I’ve ever heard of. Yes, I expect much more leadership from our seniors. Yes, them being hypocritical based on their comments from last year is incredibly disappointing.
But to say that we don’t want to see them in UCLA uniforms ever again is a bit too much for me, especially for someone like Carter, who we’ve seen sacrifice himself and his body time and time again just for UCLA football (sometimes detrimentally so). And Paulsen, despite his stupid and inexcusable mental mistakes on the field, has for years thrown himself out there for UCLA football. And on campus, Paulsen is always a visible presence, engaging with the students. I can’t in good conscience go along with this and call them losers. Everyone makes mistakes. I just hope they own up to theirs.
Agree
I’m extremely disappointed by this, but I’m still going to watch them play because of the sacrifices they’ve made. I’d like to see why they feel missing bowl practice is a good idea.
GO BRUINS!!!
by moutekicksboute on Dec 15, 2009 3:59 PM PST up reply actions
This is the most irresponsible thread that I have read on BN. Whether you disagree with their decision is irrelevant; calling our plays “losers” and “liars” because of ditching practice is ridiculous. I don’t think they should have done it, but I won’t stoop to this level. Ever.
by AllHailMightyBruins on Dec 15, 2009 3:59 PM PST reply actions
So answer a simple question
Were Carter and Paulsen being honest in their statements back in April? Based on those statements do you think it is unreasonable to call them out for not being truthful?
What are their records as seniors at UCLA?
Just reply with facts. Thanks.
In context, weren't their comments about Spring practice?
The way I read the information above, the gave their word to CRN that it would not happen during Spring practice. To which he apparently replied – you can think about the tradition when you make it to a bowl practice. So, they did. Somehow that makes them liars? Seems like quite a stretch of the facts to me.
I am not a fan of their choice, but liars and losers? I’m not with you there.
I don't really care if you are "with" me
I never cared who was with me or against me when we started blogging here and will not start caring now.
Those comments from spring were in context of practices at Spauling in general (given the shenanigans from CRN’s first year). It goes the heart of rhetoric of culture change.
They are even more relevant consider what a big deal Rick Neuheisel, his staff and players made about benefit of extra practices from the bowl game. It doesn’t look good and trying to defend this by saying they were just talking about spring. It makes one look as pathetic as the ones who were stretching and looking for something to defend Dorrell/Lavin back in the day.
Based on their statements, they weren’t dishonest. They said they wouldn’t skip a spring practice, and they didn’t.
As seniors, their record is 6-6.
by AllHailMightyBruins on Dec 15, 2009 4:12 PM PST up reply actions
Uh nice selective record
What is their total record at UCLA.
And no … don’t try to narrow this and buy CRN’s spin that it was all about the spring. Look up the word “culture change” and how many times we have heard that from Neuheisel.
You asked what their record was as seniors.
Look, I am not going to defend the choice. I think it was stupid, especially for those who do not have much organized football left to play. They should be savoring every second. But, I will not start throwing names around. I don’t turn on my own.
by AllHailMightyBruins on Dec 15, 2009 4:17 PM PST up reply actions
Turning on my own
And I am not going to keep my mouth shut when we attack Trojans for lack of character, and stay quiet when our Bruins do the same.
I think there is better ways of voicing your opinion than by calling our players “liars” and “losers”.
by AllHailMightyBruins on Dec 15, 2009 4:36 PM PST up reply actions
There's no point in arguing here
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Nestor has his, you can have yours.
Spring practice =/= bowl practice
Regardless of the stupidity of this ‘tradition’, there would seem to be a reason for it to happen during the spring, and not during the season or the postseason.
formerly bruinhoo
I don't really care what they said then
I care about what they did now. They could have said then that they were going to go over the wall at some point and then not done it. That would be OK to me, even though it would look like they were going back on their collective word. The problem is going over the wall at any time. How does that help the team? If they don’t need practice, then don’t practice. Just say you don’t need to practice and leave. There is precedent for that — just ask that paragon of the work ethic Allen Iverson.
It seems to me, though, that if a 12-0 team practices before a bowl game, then a 6-6 team ought to practice twice as much. So no going over the wall ever. Not before a bowl. Not before the season. Ever. You can’t do it. I suppose we should put in an exception, seeing as how it was started by Kenny Easley. As soon as the consensus is that you’re as good as Kenny Easley, you can climb the wall. I don’t see any Kenny Easleys on this team.
I agree with the many comments to the effect that Coach Neuheisel has to put his coachular foot down now. If it happens again, the player doesn’t play at a minimum. If it were up to me, I would be guided by Coach, who told a long-haired Bill Walton that his teammates would miss him. I would tell anyone who didn’t want to practice to turn in his scholarship along with his uniform as soon as he hit the ground on the other side of the wall.
And BTW, let's say we were 12-0 and preparing for the BCS
Would this be excusable then, as CRN’s past comments seem to imply? Would we really be at a full practice disadvantage to the opponent to uphold this holy tradition?
Is this why our teams were so magnificently prepared against the likes of Wisconsin after those great regular seasons?
by bluebland on Dec 15, 2009 4:05 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
OK
THAT is funny! hehee!
"The entire world that bleeds blue and gold ... they have been dying for this." - Coach Rick Neuheisel
Teams that are 12-0 and preparing for the BCS
Don’t jump walls, and they sure as hell don’t need their coach to tell them whether they should or not.
by Tydides on Dec 15, 2009 4:08 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
My thoughts exactly
There should be some kind of backlash to this type of attitude. Championship teams don’t pull stunts like this. Especially if these are supposed to be the guys who lead UCLA’s fooball program back to respectability.
"If you don't take out his battery, he's going to keep going all day."
A mature Carter and Paulsen would say
Hey, we promised our coach we would not pull this stunt, so we have to keep our promise. Obviously, they have fallen way, way short on standing behind their words. They might have been caught up in the moment, but in my books a man is only as good as his word.
If CRN had balls
He would’ve said it was a stupid tradition when his own teammates started it in 1980 (or whenever) and a stupid tradition now. He would’ve then talked his players into a different kind of “fun” tradition, one that doesn’t entail not playing football.
Which way do you guys see Spring vs Bowl practice?
I can understand kids in Spring ball saying, we sucked last year and need to get it together for next season.
And then, those same kids getting to a bowl and saying, we can have some fun now, we earned it by getting to a bowl.
The guys at spring training are building towards the next season. The seniors at bowl training are not. I can understand them seeing it as a different situation, regardless of whether or not it is selfish and wrong (which I think it is).
Just curious as to whether people think this is worse than jumping the wall at spring ball or not. (putting aside hypocrisy/crn questions). Seems less bad to me, but the reaction here suggests other people disagree?
Last time UCLA was in this situation
Going to a bowl game with a 6 win team in a coach’s second season, the seniors allegedly showed up drunk during player meetings in Vegas.
Based on what we have seen so far, we are seeing more of the same this time around.
Exactly!
Seems like we’ve had this over ever since that F**CKIN Maimi game, the same lackluster pattern has been around.
The Seniors just screwed the younger players from getting their shot. Nestor is right, this crap needs to stop. We’re in CRN’s second year, and same problems keep popping up.
a worrying precedent
though I would rather have people jumping a wall than showing up drunk; either way, not promising.
by britishbruin on Dec 15, 2009 4:30 PM PST up reply actions
It's equally crap
Do these guys enjoy playing football or not? Do they care about being the best they can be or not?
WTF is fun about ditching the thing your supposed to be passionate about? The fact that we suck only makes it more ridiculous and shameless.
Just Win...
I think this just turns the heat up a little more (can the heat get any hotter?) to produce a win in the bowl game for CRN. If they win, then all is forgiven…at least in my mind. A loss will most certainly be blamed on lack of intensity, lack of motivation, poor work ethic, poor coaching, etc. in addition to some of the other issues involved with the team this season. What is for sure is most people certainly will be citing the missed practice as a major contributor to the loss. So to Rick Neuheisel I say, “win, baby, win” otherwise you will definitely be in the hot seat going into next season.
As for the senior leadership, I think that this team cannot afford some of the luxuries that other teams in the past have been rewarded with, whether the coach agrees with this notion or not. A leader is one who guides others to do the right things. Perhaps the decision to skip practice really kind of wraps up this season in a nutshell…much improvement over the previous year, but they just couldn’t get over the hump. Maybe next year’s leaders will do a better job of leading the team to the promised land. Go Bruins!
i say to all those negative bruins here...GET A LIFE!
these young guys want to have fun…why not?…they are the ones sweating day to day to play football…not us bleacher bums…we sit at our computers and bitch…jeez…so ridiculous…LET ‘EM HAVE SOME FUN…isn’t that what college should be about?…WE ARE NOT PLAYING FOR THE NATIONAL CHANPIONSHIP MAY I REMIND YOU…:)
by bruincheerleader on Dec 15, 2009 4:50 PM PST reply actions
Maybe if we practiced instead of having fun we could be playing for the national championship
I had plenty of fun at UCLA. I paid my way, and did not have a scholarship. These guys are all getting for free what I had to work to pay for. They need to remember that they got the free education in exchange for playing football, not for having fun. (I assumed that playing football was fun, by the way. I’m in the chorus of Opera Tampa. We get paid a nominal amount, and we have tons of rehearsals. No one goes over the wall, because we need all the rehearsal time we can get, but beyond that, we wouldn’t think of going over the wall because we enjoy what we do. I thought the football team also had fun.)
Another way to have fun, I suppose, would be to moon Cheatie Petie. Maybe that’s a new tradition. At some point, instead of a run or a pass, everyone runs over to the trOJan sideline and moons Cheatie Petie. Wouldn’t that be hilarious? And I’m sure it would help us win.
To Terrence Austin
"We kind of wanted to have a complete season … "bq
A “complete season” to those of us who have been around a while means beating sc, fighting for the Pac 10 title, and earning, not backing into, a top bowl game.
When you have the other components of a “complete season” you can talk about ruining a practice.
sjh
This one is on Neuheisel
I personally asked him about this tradition after it happened in Spring practice last year, specifically, I wanted to know if he would take steps to abolish it. He kind of avoided the question, really, and said something to the effect of turning it into “something positive”. When it came up again in Spring practice this year, by all indications he had a chance to do away with it, but instead, turned it into some sort of motivational tool: “get to a bowl and then you can do it”.
It’s a dumb tradition and sends the wrong message about a program that is trying to turn itself into a winner. It is unfavorable to the image of the program and needs to stop.
Go out and kick Temple’s ass in a few weeks and that will help to dissipate the disappointment in Bruin Nation. Anything less than a stellar effort in DC will invite warranted criticism of the leadership of this team, given what took place today.
"I don't forget very much" Rick Neuheisel, 11/28/09
Agreed
I understand the “carrot beats the stick” and “turn it into something positive” mentality, but I don’t think there’s a way to turn this into a positive. Neuheisel needs to put his foot down and make it clear that this crap won’t stand.
The only players who deserve it are champions, and as Tydides pointed out above, champions wouldn’t do this.
Winners love the game and fight to the final whistle
Curious to know how many schools have this pathetic tradition? Google “college football ditching practice” and see if the first page of results impresses you.
When I was in high school, one day there was a holiday, so there was no official soccer team practice. I loved to play, though, so I practiced on my own for hours. The next day, when I mentioned in passing that I’d practiced, my coach called me a liar. I was completely bewildered. Why would anyone, let alone my coach, think I would do anything other than play the sport I loved, any chance I could get? That coach lost respect in my eyes, and I remember that moment to this day.
Our team should field players who love the game and who show it by giving their all. Furthermore, winners believe fun comes not from the pursuit of leisure, but from the pursuit of excellence. Shame on the “leaders” for letting down KC and the other guys who love the game and want to turn UCLA into a power. CRN may be trying to minimize the negative spin in the press (That’s the only justification I could stomach.) , but I hope behind the scenes he’s tearing into those guys. We need to come out on fire to end our season at a peak.
by bryanucla on Dec 15, 2009 5:12 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
I did the google thing
“LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Lake Maumelle is beautiful to look at, but difficult to fish.
Competitors in this week’s Under Armour College Bass National Championship, the nation’s most prestigious collegiate bass fishing tournament, found that out as they practiced for the tournament, which runs Wednesday through Friday."
I’m definitely going to steer clear of Lake Maumelle based on this information.
by britishbruin on Dec 15, 2009 5:49 PM PST up reply actions
*Sigh*
This is exactly the reason why UCLA FB has been mired in mediocrity. In what facet of society does 50% equate to a reason to celebrate? We back into a bowl and people start acting like we’ve arrived? This has got to be one of the stupidest “traditions” out there. I really wish they’d get rid of this. Too pissed to write anymore.
but do they even lose any practice time??
If the limiting factor on practicing is the number of hours per week etc they are allowed to practice per NCAA rules, can’t they just make up the hours missed today by practicing more later on? I’m by no means a rules expert, but that was my understanding based on other people’s comments.
apparently same point was made above in this thread
but also has not been discussed further… seems to make a big difference to whether the players are hurting the team’s EagleBank Bowl chances, etc etc etc etc etc
by britishbruin on Dec 15, 2009 5:43 PM PST up reply actions
too serious
I’ve been checking out this board for a while now and this is my first response. I cannot believe the outrage at this. Who cares? They’re a bunch of kids playing amateur football. You guys act like they’re professionals. It is one practice for a meaningless bowl game. Even if it was for the Rosebowl, it’s a way to blow off steam and actually come together as a team. Do you think they were going to solve life’s football mysteries today? Today was the day where it was just going to “click” for Brehaut and he was going to turn into Troy Aikman? I think a little perspective is necessary.
You are right
UCLA football is not “serious” deal. It’s a pathetic football program and actions speak louder than words.
These are student/athletes
learning lessons in character, responsibility and team work. They have made commitments they should keep. Or, don’t take the scholarship, the space in school, the meals, lodging, books, tutoring and all that go with it.
Want it to be just fun and games? That’s fine with me. It’s called intramurals.
As to “coming together as a team” I would feel better if in fact they did that. Go somewhere as a group — even a strip club, I don’t care. If this were an unofficial exercise in building cohesion I’d see it differently.
But, read the full thread — some of them were just sitting around Westwood playing with their phones.
sjh
But
As coach has stated, we have the goal of winning the Pac-10. Until that happens, zero slack, no more BS. Our program right isn’t in the state to F**K around.
To paraphrase CU coach Dan Hawkins
YOU WANT A DAY OFF? Go play intramurals, brother.
by Westwood Wizard on Dec 15, 2009 6:05 PM PST up reply actions
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