Spaulding Roundup: Football News & Notes

by Nestor on May 20, 2009 4:49 AM PDT in Football Comment 10 comments

Tuesday roundup begins with a little update on Aundre Dean. As we learned few weeks ago Dean will be exploring his options to transfer out this off season. The LAT has a report on schools Dean might be considering:

"He will go some place where he has the opportunity to play," Jennifer Dean said. "He has listed about 14 schools he is going to look at. We already have a couple of visits scheduled."

Among those will be Texas, Texas Christian and Texas A&M. Dean, who gained 5,488 yards in high school, originally committed to Texas A&M before switching to UCLA.

In case you guys missed "BigDean" posted this here on BN the day we found out Aundre was looking to transfer:

Hey Guys…. Making the decision to transfer from a "UCLA" is one of the hardest decisions that this young man has ever made… right there next to choosing UCLA. He is comfortable and confident that he has performed, on and off the field, as a true champion. He has done everything that was asked and expected and in many instances surpassed expectations. So, please keep in mind that this decision was not made without a lot of advice and true soul searching. He has ALWAYS been and continues to be absolutely positive about the school, program, coaching staff and teammates. Aundre competed. He was a true Bruin and believed in the system. But….. he HAS the skill set to become a dominating RB. If the opportunity does not exist at UCLA (for whatever reason) it would be silly not look else ware, especially since so many other top programs are looking for a Student Athlete, just like him, to fill the roll. I know he will truly miss his teammates, coaches, fans and friends at UCLA.

I really hoped it all worked out for him in Westwodd because he and his folks have been great to UCLA. The selfish part of me wants him to reach the conclusion that he comes back after he has done all the exploring. But I understand the reality of kid wanting to do what's best for him. Good luck to Aundre.

While Aundre is leaving JC transfer Branden Warner is still working to get through hurdles to get into UCLA:

I am told UCLA is still awaiting the transcripts of Compton College defensive tackle Branden Warner, who is supposed to enroll next month and compete for a starting spot in August training camp.
I was told he is supposed to take care of his tuition bill this week (maybe even today) and the transcripts should be released to UCLA shortly thereafter.
However, UCLA will still have to look them over and make sure he took and passed the necessary classes before he can be admitted to the school.

Anyone want to bet whether his bills would be an issue if he had committed to U$C*? (I keed).

GO BRUINS.

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I fear

Aundre is hearing the call of the sirens (Greek Mythology) and will leap before looking. I thought he had a great spring game and if he just continues to work and do what the coaches ask of him, he will find the starting spot on the rotation. I really don’t want him to go, “We could be great together!” (sounds like the pleas of a freshman losing his first love. Breaking up is never easy to do) I would remind him that Emmanuel Moody transferred from South Central for pretty much the same reasons and he has not exactly blown up for Florida.

Unfortunately, all the schools he is looking at are in Texas, and I suspect that is playing a large part in his decision making thoughts. We can’t compete with that. If this young man wants to go home, you can’t blame him.

But we will miss him! On the field and on campus.

A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment. John Wooden

by MexiBruin on May 20, 2009 8:47 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I guess our backfeild logjam is slowly getting solved

Just not the way we expected

by Sideout11 on May 20, 2009 11:18 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Dean is obviously

a very talented RB, but for various reasons he hasn’t seen the field much. I have a feeling, after listening to what CRN said recently, that he let Dean know that their were alot of others ahead of him, even though he is very talented. I don’t blame him for checking out other options, and I would bet that CRN told him it is in his best interest to look around. The kid represented the university and has never bad-mouthed his coaches, fellow teammates, or the football program at all. I wish him nothing but the best and will be rooting for him at his next destination. I want more than anyting for him to stay……but as a true Bruin fan who is excited about the future, I want him to do what he feels is best for him. The last thing we want are students/players who will be thinking of other things while taking the field. Good Luck A.D.

by muircoach on May 20, 2009 12:57 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

That's weird

I thought for sure that the reason Dean wasn’t doing well was because of the conservative style of coaching and that he was playing out of position instead of QB…oh wait, nevermind.

Aundre, you’ll be fine wherever you go, because even one year at UCLA with the right attitude goes much further than 4 years at most other places. Good luck to you

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

by tasser10 on May 20, 2009 2:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well actually...

I have heard quite a bit of chatter that the running back competition was never truly open, and that Christian Ramirez was preordained by the coaching staff to be the starter regardless of what happened in the spring.

Now, I haven’t heard that from Dean specifically, but that talk is certainly out there.

I also wish the best for Dean and hope he enjoys the comfort of being closer to home.

by insomniacslounge on May 20, 2009 2:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

why would the coaching staff do that?

That would be totally irrational.

"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"

by silverlakebruin on May 20, 2009 2:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm just the messenger

The thinking goes that the staff believes that if Ramirez stays healthy, he fits their system the best. In a bizarre way, Ramirez actually benefitted by being injured since there was no head to head competition. Instead, the other RBs were competing against the projection of what Ramirez could be. It’s the same way that Jrue is benefitting by having played the last season out of position. If talent evaluators don’t see you at a position, they’re free to let their imaginations run wild and assume only the best once they get you in the ideal situation.

by insomniacslounge on May 20, 2009 3:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You mean the staff

That is led offensively by Norm Chow, the best offensive coordinator in college basketball. Right?

The coaches had seen enough of Ramirez last season and he did get some significant time in early part of this spring practice that should have given the coaches enough data points to make some determinations.

Both CRN and Chow have said enough times they wants their backs to be able to block and provide as much extra protection they can provide to our QBs. The way the coaches set up their pecking order this spring had lot to do with how the RBs were blocking in the backfield. Last year, Coleman was the only freshman who had it down a bit and thus the PT.

I will go with the judgment of talent evaluators such as Chow over whatever messageboarders are chatting away,

by Nestor on May 20, 2009 6:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

My point is only that the chatter exists

-Tho to your point, it is unfortunate that our O-line is so bad that blocking has to be such a high priority at this time. Hopefully after a few years of recruiting up front, we can focus more on playmakers in the backfield.

Chow, who coordinates football, not basketball (I’m just messin w/ ya..easy slip to make) had no problem turning Reggie Bush into a college star without ever having to worry if Bush could block anyone.

by insomniacslounge on May 20, 2009 7:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs