Days After Being Featured In A PR Video, Hasiak Is "Sent Home And Is Not Likely To Return"
by bruinmike on Dec 21, 2009 5:07 PM PST
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PrintBumped. The fun continues with UCLA football during bowl prep. GO BRUINS. -N
A wonderful day in Bruins Nation just keeps getting better. Here's the latest blow to our offensive line: the news that Stan Hasiak has seemingly been dismissed from the program indefinitely.
UCLA offensive lineman Stanley Hasiak has been sent home to Hawaii for personal reasons and is not likely to return, according to a source in the Bruins’ football program.
For those who want it, here's linkage.
I'm convinced UCLA is cursed on the offensive line.
UPDATE (N): More from the LAT blog linked above (emphasis added):
Hasiak, who is 6 feet 5, 318-pounds, has had trouble adjusting since coming to UCLA. He has had a series of confrontations with teammates during practices. He also has had a handful of off-the-field incidents, according to sources familiar with the program, including screaming at doctors and nurses while waiting for an X-ray at a hospital.
If that is case then perhaps the sources can answer the question why was Hasiak allowed to goof around in this video projecting the image of nothing was wrong:
I'd be interested to know whether the screaming episodes referred to in that post was taken before or after that video. GO BRUINS.
UPDATE II (N): longbordr52 makes the right point that "Hasiak is having a really tough time and we should support him, regardless of football." Can't agree with that any more. We do wish the kid luck. However, the way the story about him was leaked by sources (I am assuming connected to UCLA) raises the question why did UCLA football went out of its way and featured in that video? He could have been easily edited out. Again, just poor decision on the part of folks in charge of running this program and managing the image around it. GO BRUINS.
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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I think you're going overboard here
especially since we don’t know the details of this.
Formerly ryebreadraz
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Dec 21, 2009 4:43 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
A frustrating Monday
If all these issues were festering in the background, it is disappointing the image this program has gone out of its way to project last few days.
+1
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Dec 21, 2009 5:10 PM PST up reply actions
Wazzu football has a lot on their plate
I doubt they would notice if we dumped this one on them.
(note. referring to their ineptitude on the field, and not any particular baggage on the part of their program)
formerly bruinhoo
Something more is going on
According to the blog, he has been having off-the-field problems too,
including screaming at doctors and nurses while waiting for an X-ray at a hospital
Sounds like more than just football problems. He legitimately could be having adjustment issues considering this is his first time living outside of Hawaii. I lived in Hawaii for a few years and many locals find mainland living too much of a culture shock to deal with.
It's really frustrating that he projects the image of being content and isn't.
But at the same time, who knows what’s really going on with Hasiak. I really hope the guy gets his life figured out when he’s home for the holidays. Hopefully he can come back to UCLA next year. If nothing else, he’d get an incredible education and be around people who support him.
This is different from Kai Maiva or Pressley. They failed in class. Maybe Stan did too, but that’s not what the indications are. He’s having a really tough time and we should support him, regardless of football.
Definitely
We should def. wish the kid luck. Hope he gets it all figured out. However, if he was having issues why go out of our way and get him featured in that video? He could have been easily edited out. Again, just poor decision on the part of folks in charge of running this program and managing the image around it.
Implosion but not necessarily a lack of discipline as implied
Maybe being on the verge of being a geezer or something close….I would be a little slower in assigning blame to the coaching staff for athletes that dont make it academically for a quarter NOR someone having an adjustment problem.
As a father of 2 kids that just went through college, I can assure you that you can do all the prodding and nudging you can imagine to both, regular discussions and offers of help, and the outcomes are very different. These are kids with lives. Coaches could have been frantic about these guys grades but they cant take the tests for them etc.
And, if one guy does not make the adjustment to college/Westwood/main land/LA life, I am not sure what that means.
And, just because you have troubles with a couple of guys does not mean that the rest of the team should not be working hard and playing hard.
Just not sure that any of this means that there is a fundamental problem in the program.
Time will tell that.
That said, it does make a lousy Monday.
by Bruin Dad and Grad on Dec 21, 2009 5:32 PM PST reply actions
Perhaps "implosion" is not the right word
However, I am not liking the theme that is developing around this bowl game. I don’t blame Neuheisel and his coaches for Hasiak. However, I do think they and the UCLA pr folks should have been more cautious about projecting the image of everything was peachy by having him in that video. Someone is not thinking through all the steps.
I wish him all the luck
and hope he gets his life together and continues his promising career either at UCLA or somewhere else.
About the video and our failure to edit him out, I have to think that there was something that occurred more recently, after the release of the video that prompted this action, thereby not giving us time to edit properly. While there hasn’t been any specific incident reported, I have to believe something happened to tip the scales in the direction of Stanley’s dismissal from the team.
In that case
Whoever leaked that story should have kept his or her mouth shut. Because that leak makes questioning inclusion of Hasiak in that video a fair question.
Interesting
I guess we’re assuming it was a leak as there was no official announcement from Morgan Center. Even assuming it was an “unofficial” announcement or disclosure, it would have eventually come out and if the decision to dismiss Stan was just made, and he was technically still part of the team when the video was produced and released, how can we assert that it was an error in judgment when he was released after the video. If he was released before the video was made or his status was in question, he shouldn’t have participated in the pool party in the first place…..
Yep
Since there is nothing more in that post that info. re. him screaming at doctors looks like leak from a source who might have an interesting in providing some context on this decision. So it’s a question when did the screaming episodes take place? Before or after the video? Were there other episodes? Did anyone raise a red flag about including him in that video? How was it approved before it was released?
Geezer Parent Response
With a kid getting ready to go far away from home to college , next year — a very solid kid — I hope and pray that she not have a hard time adjusting to her new environment.
With UCLA high on her list, and high on ours, I do worry that UCLA is a high pressure place that will be stressful, especially in the first year.
We have a VERY young team — and Hasiak is one of those young kids. Because of the paucity of talent left behind, the hopes and pressures put on him to “get it” right away — as opposed to a slow transition onto the field — have probably been significant.
Add to that that he is really far from home and grew up in a very different atmosphere than that within which he lives now, and it is completely understandable that he is having a hard time.
I am sure that there are many students in their first year at UCLA who are having an equally hard time and are reacting in less than constructive ways.
The key, to me, is to not over react, to not point fingers, to think of the kid first, to wish him well and to hope he comes back to school, whether or not he decides to play football here.
As a parent, I’m less concerned about our O line, right now, than I am for him.
sjh
by Class of 66 on Dec 21, 2009 5:46 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
I respect your perspective 66
But would you have stayed quiet about Dorrell’s responsibility and image being projected around his program, if it was him in charge today (as the second year coach at UCLA)?
Two separate issues
I have deeper concerns. I know these kids are adults, but I think a football program should be so close to the kids that it sees these things coming and helps to deal with them before a crisis occurs. No one spends more time with them than the coaches. And, it is the coaches who make demands on them and see their responses.
I’m not saying they didn’t. We don’t know.
But, no, I would not be putting up videos of an unstable kid having fun — if I knew that he was on the verge of going home.
All that said, to me the video, or whether we have an O line, is of so little importance when compared to helping out this very troubled kid.
BTW — I’m much more upset by Maiva and Carter’s grades. This issue is inexcusable. The AD is supposed to be helping these kids make it through school. (I was a tutor for the athletic department, in my day.) To no know that both were in trouble, bothers me more. Not because we need them to play. But, because we are a university first.
sjh
I would love to see players that are struggling
take time off from their sport to get their academics in order, because as you said that is what’s most important (to the university at least, and hopefully to them too).
However, I don’t think having key players miss practices and games when that is what they were recruited to do would fly. These players are often placed in very difficult places thanks to the commercial nature of today’s college game.
As a parent, I’m less concerned about our O line, right now, than I am for him.
Absolutely.
Sent both of mine over 2,500 miles away. No quick trips home. No car. Locked on campus, where the bus or friends would take you. One had troubles. The other had serious problems.
As much as I was proud of my son for getting into UCLA as non-resident, not sure if it would not have been easier on him to stay closer (though not too close) to home?!?!?
by Bruin Dad and Grad on Dec 21, 2009 5:55 PM PST up reply actions
On the bowl prep front, I am with CRN
I think Rick is right in trying to make the Bowl preparations fun. As John Gold mentioned in his Q&A session, most of the players practicing are not going to play in the Bowl. And there does need to be some “reward” to playing in a bowl.
More importantly, being loose at these “event games” is critical. Does anyone remember Bill Walsh wearing a bell boy uniform as his players were getting on the bus to his first Super Bowl with the 49ers? Just one example of trying to keep it light on the players.
Maybe this is not the biggest event in the bowl season, but I think treating it like the bowls of the intended future seems to make sense to me.
by Bruin Dad and Grad on Dec 21, 2009 5:50 PM PST reply actions
"Maybe this is not the biggest event in the bowl season"
I sure hope our players are not thinking the same while Temple is prepping as it were their Super Bowl.
Agreed
It is the biggest event in their season.
I only wanted to acknowledge the reality that it is not quite the Super Bowl or the National Title Game yet.
In fact, I think that is why CRN is doing the diving and the Magic Mountain stuff. It does not appear that the EagleBank Bowl has all the trappings of the Rose Bowl for example. No trip to Disneyland nor a dinner at Morton’s (though I cant say for sure).
But you are right, our guys should be focused on getting the win. It is critical for our program.
by Bruin Dad and Grad on Dec 21, 2009 5:59 PM PST up reply actions
hey so I just got on twitter
Is there not a Bruinsnation twitter? I’m still trying to feel the whole thing out, but couldnt find BN while searching for people
William Doolittle at your service, a.k.a. will do.
Let me guess
you typed in BruinsNation? I had the same problem, until I discovered that the BN twitter account is actually BruinNation (no s in bruins). I’m guessing that BruinsNation was already taken, but Nestor would have to confirm that.
Ok, this one can't be faulted on the coaches or program.
Based on the latimes blog, this kid has serious issues dealing with stability. Probably far more going on than reported, wish him the best. He’s probably never going to be back, but who knows.
If he stayed, this could have become a much bigger incident. Another loss, very sad to see.
Willies
I have the willies about this entire story. We really don’t exactly know why he’s leaving; whether its a sudden thing or a long festering issue. None of this is sourced as they say in the journalism world other than he is leaving. I mean what is the basis of the allegation of screaming at unidentIfied persons on an unspecified occasion? Could very well have happened but without an identifiable source, I am uneasy about much of the alleged conduct on the kid’s part.
Earlier this year, when Holliday began the Last Waltz before leaving us, somebody on this site (could have been Nestor or Ryan) said in reference to the speculation as to why Holliday would split, words to the effect of, “I don’t know what this young man’s grades are.” The point being kids leave college any number of reasons and when they do, we often don’t know why. Like I said, much about this gives me the willies.
by peggysue69 on Dec 21, 2009 8:07 PM PST via mobile reply actions
Some Hawaii kids
find it difficult to move to the mainland. However, Hasiak has teammates (ie. Hilliard) as well as a coach (ie. Chow) from Hawaii, whom I’m sure, would support and help him adjust. I suspect the problem goes beyond an adjustment problem.
Hard to say
Hasiak is from Kapolei, which is different and more “country” than Hilliard who went to Punahou. Going from Kapolei to LA is a huge culture shock and could have impacted him more than people think. I lived in Honolulu, but would go out to Kapolei regularly for work and the beach, and folks out there are even more laid back than folks from town. Compared to LA, Kapolei is almost 10 times slower and almost 100 times less crowded. Not saying that adjustment is the only issue in this story, but I’m assuming it’s a large one.
by Kerckhoff405 on Dec 22, 2009 11:12 AM PST up reply actions
According to KNX radio, 3 at SC on academic probation as well
Not that South Central should be our standard….will be interesting to watch the major programs
by Bruin Dad and Grad on Dec 21, 2009 8:38 PM PST reply actions
Some of the biggies are already in
tOSU has lost 2 (possibly 3) players for the Rose Bowl due to academic ineligibility. Not sure how many other BCS participants have released grades yet.
formerly bruinhoo
This has been a season long issue
not sure why people are coming down so hard on staff. Hasiak seems to been having issues for a significant part of the season, and he was even given a time out earlier this year and Neuheisel addressed it. If the kid has continued to act out in an innappropriate manner then what else can the staff do? If they kept Hasiak and his anger issues led to an assault charge then people would be asking why the staff didn’t do anything.
tough loss from a football standpoint. he was a highly ranked prospect and looked to be a great get for an area of need on the offensive line.
hopefully the kid goes back to Hawaii and figures it all out. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him transfer to U of H.
Was there
any report of this behavior while in high school. Hopefully he returns by the beginning of next season. Playing football would really help him out.
honestly, who gives a rat's ass about the promo video?
this sucks for hasiak and our team – and the timing is terrible. this has been a miserable year (for men’s bball and football anyway) – 2010 cannot possibly be much crappier. in the meantime, i’m more worried about what the loss of hasiak and maiava mean in the context of this bowl game and next season. with all of these sideshows, i’m afraid to watch. there are a lot more substantial issues to take up with CRN et al than pr. for example, now what the F are we going to do when they blitz the bejeezus out of us (and you know they will)? who’s going to open up some daylight for franklin or coleman or those vaunted rbs coming in next season? how the hell does temple have an o-line that averages 6-5 315 and has stuck together nearly all season, yet we can’t start the same set for more than 3 games in a row (and please don’t pull the “academics” card on this one)? i am very worried…
+1 on the O line issues....
Don’t get it either, our O-line issues are out of hand. Smaller schools are doing better than us on the O-line front.
Yes OL is a big issue
and I mentioned that in the previous post. It all adds up together. Before you tee off on one post you should consider the over all body of work that goes up here. We don’t need a reminder on our OL problems. We are well aware of it and have been discussing it. You can read the previous post on Kai and Morrell to see what I wrote about OL problems. If you have more to add to it, write it up and expand on it. Thanks.
The previous coaching staff didnt do us any favors
they left a bare cupboard on the offensive side of the ball, particularly on the offensive line. A lot of people pointed to the "vaunted" 2006 OL Class that KD brought in. Not a single guy in that group has come close to expectations or panned out.
Hard to build a great line when your best O linemen are sophomores and freshmen. Would have been nice to have some juniors and seniors who could play.
The previous coaching staff didn't do us any favors
they left a bare cupboard on the offensive side of the ball, particularly on the offensive line. A lot of people pointed to the “vaunted” 2006 OL Class that KD brought in. Not a single guy in that group has come close to expectations or panned out.
Hard to build a great line when your best O linemen are sophomores and freshmen. Would have been nice to have some juniors and seniors who could play.
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