Spaulding Roundup: In An Evolving Coaching Market, Where Is Chianti Dan?
by Patroclus on Dec 2, 2011 5:02 AM PST
in Football
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PrintTonight, many of us will be watching the Bruins participate in the inaugural Pac-12 Championship Game, going up against Oregon in Eugene (5pm PST, Fox). AHMB wrote up previews of the matchup with the Ducks earlier in the week, while there is admitedly not much confidence in Rick Neuheisel's last game as UCLA head coach ending with success. Unfortuantely, the same can also be said about Chianti Dan Guerrero's search for The Next UCLA Football Coach.
The last 24 hours has shown signs that Chianti Dan's pursuit of Boise State's Chris Petersen may end the same way that other AD's have found their pitches to Petersen to end - with Chris staying in Boise, playing the college football role of Mark Few. While the folks (because calling these people 'reporters' is really a stretch) making the claims are not the most credible of sources, the news is out there. ESPN's Joe Schad tweeted that after UCLA inquiries, Petersen will not be a candidate.Who told this to Schad and what their own motivations are, we don't know.
Whatever the current status of Petersen's thinking regarding UCLA, Boise State is taking decisive action to settle the foundation of its athletic department, which had been without a leader since Gene Bleymeyer's firing earlier in the year. The university announced the hiring of Mark Coyle, Kentucky's Deputy AD as its new Athletic Director. In addition to the wisdom of hiring an up and comer from a major athletic department, Coyle supposedly has personal links with Petersen, and his hiring may be one step to keep Chris happy in Boise. If nothing else, he realizes the draw that UCLA, or other schools with openings might have on Petersen, and has tasked himself with doing whatever is needed to keep him in town.
Newly hired Boise State athletic director Mark Coyle made it known in his introductory news conference Thursday that keeping Petersen was one of his top priorities.
"My No. 1 goal is to keep Chris Petersen at Boise State University," Coyle said. "He's raised the bar. How do we help him move the needle and take it to the next level?"
Boise State's president also told the Idaho Statesman of the various inquiries from other schools toward Petersen, and the importance of retaining him. While declining to name schools, UCLA's status as a possible destination slipped during the interview.
"I understand this is the time of the year when people are going to come after him," Boise State President Bob Kustra said. "We’re going to do everything we can to work with coach Petersen to make sure he has what he needs here to continue moving this program forward and to make him personally successful in every way.
"We’re going to stay on this one. I don’t at this time just assume that UCLA is necessarily his next step. I think it’s our job to work with him and convince him that there’s a future for him here in this program and that’s because of the support that we give him."
The situation with Petersen is far from settled; while there is a good chance that he stays in Boise, even if he is considering a move away, we won't hear anything immediately or in the near future. The big thing to keep in mind is that schools that have gone after Petersen in past years have had backup plans. Does Chianti Dan have one? And would anyone really be surprised if Chianti Dan has gotten outplayed and outsmarted by Boise State?
...
While WSU and Mike Leach officially reached agreement on his 5-year deal to move to Pullman, and ASU may or may not have offered their open position to Houston coach Kevin Sumlin (who we are not that impressed with), another major program has created an opening. Texas A&M fired Mike Sherman after 4-years of .500 football in College Station. Like UCLA, aTm seemed to dither a bit before deciding to cut Sherman loose, in a decision that may have been made over the head of AD Bill Byrne. But with the school's impending move to the SEC, the university administration and trustees likely decided that Sherman and his mediocre record in leading the Aggies was not the best way to enter the conference. Early rumors point to the Aggies pursuing Kevin Sumlin, with Vandy coach James Franklin, Larry Fedora and Kirby Smart as backups.
Rick Neuheisel spent part of his penultimate day in charge of UCLA Football at the Pac-12 Championship Game press conference. Unsurprisingly, most of the questions aimed toward Neu had to do with his firing rather than the game itself. Helene Elliott looked at the team's reaction to Neuheisel's last game for the LA Times, while Jon Gold talked with some members of the team after settling in Eugene, and was reminded that for the players at least, tonight's action is still a big deal. Especially with the recent shakeup in the program.
"Towards the end of the year, with school and everything - and especially this year, with the highs and lows and coach Neuheisel getting let go - I'm really thankful I have a game on Friday just to get rid of all the other BS," junior middle linebacker Patrick Larimore said. "There's a ton of it."
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Arizona hires Rich Rod
WSU hires Leach, and UCLA does nothing. How is it UCLA is the only ones not making a decisive move? If this doesn’t prove Chianti Dan is incompetent then I’m afraid nothing will. At a school that demands excellence from it student body they sure don’t require the same from their athletic department. The implosion has almost complete.
Not just Chianti Dan
Gene Block is also directly responsible for this who has enabled this implosion. If UCLA doesn’t get a top tier coach neither Chianti Dan nor Stanford Block (who apparently does not give a VT*p about UCLA) should ever get a favorable reception from Bruin alums. I certainly wish I could let these guys know in person how they are responsible for the current state of our programs and will never get a dime from our family to anything relatec UCLA.
by Nestor on Dec 2, 2011 5:26 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
I agree %100
I have emailed the Chancellor office again today. This time I let them know both Guerrero and Block need to go. I informed them I will not donate the UCLA as long as they are in control. Furthermore I let them know my money will now go to my graduate school, Cal. I cc the email to UC President Yudof.
The amount of waste, mismanagement & incompetence at U.C.L.A.
is truly disturbing… and I am not just talking about athletics… it is university wide.
While I know that #DitchDan is a complete buffoon, his department is probably at median for management.
They could hire God as headcoach and I still wouldn’t give them a nickel.
We give to our grad schools and, will establish a scholarship, at one of them.
by beanandcheeseburrito on Dec 2, 2011 7:37 AM PST up reply actions
Couldn't we still go after Leach?
I read he agreed to a deal in principle, but that deal will NOT be signed until Tuesday December 6th. Should we?
Obviously, DG doesn’t have the balls to do so. But, we technically could.
by BruinFaithful on Dec 2, 2011 1:05 PM PST up reply actions
Agree
This is Block’s screw up. After AZ he should have fired the AD, hired a new AD and let him fire Neuheisel and hire a new coach. The whole situation is now surreal; we have dead man coaching, were playing for a Rose Bowl and we can’t find a coach. Tonight anything can happen, just surreal.
Anyone who thinks the med school is the public face of UCLA...
…has no business being chancellor.
by Seth Chandler on Dec 2, 2011 7:48 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
+1
I don’t think most people know or care about the med school outside of California or people applying to med school. People I run into on the East Coast generally know that we suck at football and that our basketball team has been a disappointment recently, but don’t know much (if anything) about UCLA’s grad schools.
Plenty of people care about out med school, just not in the way that Block thinks (or might like)
They recognize the UCLA Medical Center in that it is where their favorite celebrities go when they get sick/drunkenly crash their cars. They don’t think of its relative quality other than to think ‘if Britney Spears got treated there, it must be good…’.
formerly bruinhoo
Yes, I don't remember the exact quote.
Just that either way, it was an appalling thing to say.
by Seth Chandler on Dec 2, 2011 8:58 PM PST up reply actions
Gene Block's conversation at UCLA Alumni Day
I sat next to Gene Block an his wife at UCLA Alumni Day 3 1/2 years ago, and I asked him then when UCLA football would turn around. He said in a couple of years. I told him I was bummed then about having to wait. This has been too much BS since especially after the Texas game, when the cow crapped on our field after the F ing game!
I guess I will need to step it up......
Already made it clear in my letter to Block (with the gear) that UCLA would not get another dime from my family and friends until there is a complete regime change at Morgan Center and a solid plan is put in place (as with academics) to build elite athletics programs.
This will fall on deaf ears. So my next steps will be:
1. Contact the UC Regents and let them know the poor job Block and DG are doing in multiple areas and inform them of the pulled support.
2. Boycott the businesses of the boosters that support DG and Block and who have been silent in this process. If the students are getting hurt – so should they until they begin to care more than just about their suites at the Rose Bowl.
It will be a lot of emails and letters – but i will make the time. Our school is a national joke. It is worth the time/effort.
Dg and – it appears Block – need to go. Maybe the rats will begin to eat one another given enough pressure.
+1
Excellent ideas.
We are clearly frustrated with DG, but our frustration doesn’t lead to change without somebody above him caring.
During the Leach hiring and the Peterson courtship, there have been quotes of strong support from the presidents of WSU and BSU. I haven’t seen anything resembling this level of involvement or concern from Block.
Thanks again for the excellent ideas.
We will def. need to put all out pressure on "UCLA Fund" ...
… and any potential online contribution chokepoints to Murphy Hall. If Chianti Dan cannot close on a top shelf coach, it will not just be about athletics, it will be a matter of launching full scale pressure against Gene “Stanford-Oregon” Block’s administration.
taz, you're my hero
While I have no doubt that you will handle your future protests with the same courtesy, dignity and conviction with which you handled your voided-check-and-memorabilia mail-back, I thought I’d mention something about the message that protesters, in general, send.
We need, I think, to be clear on what the message is, and isn’t. In particular, the message we send is not, repeat not, simply about winning. To be sure, we want to see competitive teams, disciplined teams, smart teams, never-give-up teams. But, we also want to see our athletes given the finest facilities. We want our students to see that all of UCLA, from Chancellor on down, are solidly behind its athletic teams. We want to see the same level of excellence demanded of, for example, our medical center demanded of our sports teams. And so on.
Your mail-back protest is a paragon of what future protests should be, both in what it says and what it doesn’t say. You confess the personal pain and struggle that accompanies your protest. You refuse to accept the notion that athletics are separable in the student experience. You acknowledge the difficulty that officials have in funding a university in these times. But, you don’t whine about not winning enough.
Thank you for putting yourself out there and offering us an example of how to commit ourselves for the betterment of our beloved university.
and my hero too...
I showed my mum and dad, who joined me for a few minutes to watch the UCLA vs $c game the comment you wrote and the copy of the voided check and my parents were cracking up. My dad who doesn’t understand football told me, that our players looked out of sync, desire, and just bad. And he told me that what happens on the field is a reflection of what happens in the administration and our players look lost, our coach looked lost, it only makes sense our AD is lost too. It is a domino effect.
"Winners Then, Winners Now... Bruin in Madrid"
by uclaprofe on Dec 2, 2011 10:45 AM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
I don't buy the ESPN article on Petersen.
As I read the wording of the tweet and the article, there hasn’t yet been an offer. I don’t think you can say Petersen wasn’t a candidate for the job when it’s pretty clear that he’s been talking with UCLA for a week now. If he was never a candidate, where was the quick dismissal that he gave during the last coaching search? Why hasn’t there been any movement on UCLA’s side in hiring a consultant? More importantly, this is the most serious speculation yet about Petersen leaving, and he hasn’t made any statements that he is staying. You’d think that with a game tomorrow he would want the team and the fan base focused, especially because he had the perfect chance to dispel the rumors at the press conference yesterday.
Maybe ESPN just worded the article and the tweet awkwardly, and UCLA really couldn’t convince Petersen to come to Westwood. Then again, it’s not crazy to think that they’re just wrong. I’ll believe that he’s accepted or rejected the position when I hear it from Petersen or UCLA. Until then, I’m going to assume that he’s still undecided but listening to offers.
Of course, I totally agree about Guerrero, and I think he should be fired regardless of whether he recruits Petersen for the job. Compared to every other school in the coaching search right now, we look like a bunch of incompetent morons.
The point about Petersen not being a "candidate" is plain BS
However, from what we have heard negotiations have taken place, Bruins put all their eggs in the Petersen basket without much of a backup plan and that right now it’s an uphill climb.
Right.
A foolish approach to the search, but one that could still be successful. Here’s to hoping for miracles tonight and in the coaching search.
I am not holding my breath for miracles
I know better as a Bruin alum who has been following this tragedy day to day for 20+ years.
The lack of news coming from Boise is eerie
I’ve looked around on the Idaho Statesman, SB Nation, and a couple other sites, and there hasn’t been much. You’d expect some sort of article saying, “It’s okay, Petersen ain’t going nowhere,” or “Here we go again,” or “Maybe this time is different.” But there’s nothing. (The SB site has some bitter commentary but nothing of substance.)
That tells me they’re worried. Pete to UCLA could very well be a long shot, but I’m positive they’re worried in Boise. I also believe the program has sanctions coming up.
From "Fat Chance" to "Sweating"
on their meter, at the very least. I can’t even imagine what the BSU blogs will look like if Petersen leaves for the hell that is West LA.
Sanctions? Expound. That is a game changer.
His value would go down, so he has to shit or get off the pot now. Like Cheatie did.
Here's what I read
“Indeed, things are less rosy in Boise based on some recent developments. In September, the NCAA placed the Broncos on three-years probation, and stripped the program of nine scholarships over three years”
Here’s where I read it:
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/259719/20111201/head-coach-chris-petersen-ucla-boise-state.htm
I have no idea how credible or accurate this is. Nine scholarships over 3 years doesn’t sound like much, but the presence of sanctions themselves changes the perspective from a year ago.
I think the sanctions will be light
and not involve Petersen personally. If I am reading correctly, it sounds like BSU is looking at 9 scholaships lost over the next 3 years. The violations were very minor, at least on the football side, something like propective recruits having housing setup for them improperly, which most people are saying they basically crashed on people’s couches. They fired their AD, realigned their compliance office and sent a note to the NCAA basically saying that growing to a major D-1 school overwhelmed their small compliance office.
If there is a screwup again
Gene Block is now responsible for any further goofups in UCLA athletics. After all he has been aware of incompetent Chianti Dan for sometime now and has chosen to keep him. So if this coaching search is a bust, Block has got to go. This should be the last straw.
by cyberdbk on Dec 2, 2011 6:11 AM PST via mobile reply actions
The timing
I think we’re going to look back on the days after Arizona and REALLY say that was a missed opportunity. (We’re saying it already, of course, but I think it’s going to be REALLY REALLY super obviously glaring in the future.)
Had we fired Rick then, we could be 2-3 weeks ahead of everyone else in this whole process. We would’ve had more leverage in our negotiations, because there would still be a whole pool of available coaches.
Sure, there would be some that we would’ve targeted who wouldn’t take the job till after their final game this past weekend. But at least we could’ve done our search and made our offer so that on Sunday we could’ve closed this whole thing down and be done with it.
Now we’re pursuing one guy in an environment where we’re losing bargaining leverage (Leach and RichRod gone.) The few viable guys left out there now have many more potential suitors, so they can afford to be choosy. I fear we’re going to way overpay for a tier C coach because that’s all that’s left.
If only DG had made the move when we should have. Hindsight, sure. But if you make $700 K a year, you gotta have some of that.
Folks should look at all the idiots and morons
Who criticized us at the time for pressuring UCLA to make a move wrt to coaching search. Neubs.
And where are they now?
Had some pretty big mouths back then. Not a peep from them now. Too bad….if they really cared – they could be doing something.
They'll be back.
Until we get a good coach and have significant success on the field, I think there will always be people who are willing to settle for a bad team as long as the coach is a nice guy.
That's because they're not fans of the school or the program
They’re fans of the establishment and the old way of thinking. It seems like a small distinction, but at UCLA, the distinction is huge.
I'll chime in
What have we really missed out on?
1) Urban Meyer wouldn’t choose UCLA over Ohio State in a million years.
2) Mike Leach was never a candidate at UCLA and we all know it.
3) Rich Rod was absolutely run out of Michigan and I thought we didn’t want retreads anyway. Especially not from the Big Least.
4) Who cares about Sumlin? I hope somebody hires him fast so he’s not a consideration.
I’m not taking DG off the hook. This is a results business, and the results have been awful. Yet, as a results business, I’ll wait to judge this next hire until it actually happens. If we end up with Petersen or another solid coach, I won’t care how we got there.
Sounds like
You don’t have any experience as an executive or how to conduct a hiring process.
1) You have no clue what you are talking about UM. If you did you’d know that he did have serious interest in UCLA but Chianti Dan was busy “blogging” and not even making an effort to do a viable pitch.
2) That’s on Chianti Dan
3) Rich Rod built a program in West Viriginia and made them a top contender ever season.
4) No one here gives a sh!t about Sumlin
The point here is about officially launching this process weeks ago and locking up candidates by know.
What is even more egregious is that Chianti Dan didn’t want to start this process till next week — so could go through this BS a week later.
So - yes -- it is good to go back and LOL at all the MORONS who defended not making a decisive move after the Arizona game. We’d consider banning these people for being ignorant fools.
by Nestor on Dec 2, 2011 8:08 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
What have we missed out on?
As I said above, we would’ve had more bargaining leverage with more guys still available. Even if we’re not going to take Leach or RichRod, you benefit from them being available.
Think of it like shopping for a car. If I know I want a Toyota (say, Petersen), it helps me in negotiating with Toyota to be able to say, “Well, I like the Nissan (RichRod) and Ford (Sumlin) and Chevy (Leach) too.” But if those brands aren’t available, the Toyota salesman is going to know I don’t have a choice, and he won’t be willing to bargain. In the end, it’ll cost me more.
Exactly
If we started this process weeks ago – we lock up Leach with a certain parameter of salary and then use to leverage against Petersen. We have negotiated away all our leverage. People who can’t see that have never conducted a hiring process at a high level before. Clearly DG is not one of them.
Reading what happened at WSU
it sounds like there was no real negotiation at all because Leach already liked the AD, and by extension, the school. The AD stated that he offered a package to Leach and Leach said “Sure”, end of deal. It really sounds like if we had sent feelers at all after the Az game Leach may have jumped at the first solid offer he had. That is what ticks me off the most, we probably didn’t need any leverage at all to get a great coach at a great price.
I believe
The coaches are the ones with the leverage. Not the schools. There are far more schools who want Petersen than coaches we’d want at UCLA.
But I do think your point is valid.
The Problem is?
Idiot Dan stood there and did NOTHING, when smarter AD’s like AZ Byrne understood the importance of getting a leg up on the competition. DG should have known that not only UCLA would have more Pac-12 money and not only UCLA would be looking for a coach. More Money + More Demand + Less Supply = Disaster. You don’t need an econ major to spell it out for you. I can’t believe, that even if DG didn’t can CRN after the AZ game, that he would not have planned by putting feeler out there, a la Moos at Wazzu. Stupid, just stupid. Not only have we cost ourselves opportunities, but money in the process. The price has just gone up for EVERY available quality Coach out there.
by BruinFaithful on Dec 2, 2011 1:12 PM PST up reply actions
If you will forgive a Trojan's input
I can’t help be see some parallels with USC’s search after Carroll left. USC was turned down by Mike Riley, Jack Del Rio, Sarkesian, and a host of other candidates. Granted the job had its own set of problems with the NCAA and all, but they were offering top money. Kiffin was in many ways our Neuheisel, a guy who came back for sentimental reasons, with baggage all his own. Sure, Garrett wasn’t the best AD, but there seems to be a real reluctance among candidates to come to the LA market. Maybe they fear the spotlight? or the high expectations of Angelenos? I don’t know, but I wish you guys the best of luck, I’d rather see UCLA challenge for Championships than Oregon.
Well
Kiffin is nowhere near Neuheisel’s jock when it comes to “sentimental reasons”. Neuheisel is a Bruin hero who absolutely loves this school and never misses a chance to make it look good. Kiffin is just attached to the football greatness he tasted while on Carroll’s staff. He couldn’t care less about U$C, the university.
U$C couldn’t get candidates because none of those guys wanted to work for Garrett, and it wasn’t the first time either. Even Carroll was your program’s 4th or 5th choice.
I have been impressed with what Kiffin has done this year as far as coaching, but his affiliation to his school is nothing like Neuheisel’s.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
You make good points
I think the 2002 comparison probably makes a little more sense because PC IIRC was the 4th choice. However, your football program was situated at more advantageous position given your history. You AD’s communication staff is at a different league compared to ours.
As for Kiffin, I have been impressed by this current season. But I think it will be interesting to see if he can sustain it with Barkley and that OL.
If I'm envious of one thing
it’s the U$C PR machine. Our school’s looks like the local community college in comparison.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
We've got nothing on the SEC schools
see our inept handling of the NCAA situation vs Auburn’s masterful deflection.
Well, they have a lot of experience down there amongst those schools
sanctions in the SEC are a way of life. But I am surprised how incompetent the ADs at $C and UCLA are (well, were in $C’s case).
In addition, few were happy with Carroll when he was picked
everyone (myself included) initially thought he would just be another NFL retread, I’m glad he wasn’t, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t surprised. Garrett had his own missteps — Hackett was a terrible coach. He fired John Robinson over the telephone, something that did not sit well with people.
Kiffin has done really well this year, and exceeded expectations. While he was not a player at USC, I think his history with the school was the primary reason for accepting the job. Also it was the primary reason Garrett gave it to him. USC’s Athletic Department culture is every bit as insular as UCLA’s, its VERY uncommon for someone without prior ties to be hired as HC. To the best of my knowledge Carroll is the only one in the modern (post McKay) era.
Their AD and their university leadership
I don’t know enough about the new President, but it seemed that Sample understood the role that Football plays in the public face of a university. Something that Carnesale and Block don’t.
formerly bruinhoo
USC is a private football school. Period!!
There are a few decent grad departments but basically it’s for rich kids who couldn’t get in anywhere else and has a well-connected alumni network for those who want to ride the coat-tails of previous generations. A friend’s kid was just offered a full scholarship to help fluff up their student body profile (he dad is a writer to he couldn’t afford to send her to UCLA with the rapidly rising tuition).
Their whole deal is their football team. We are a public school with the aspirations and limitations that come with that. Sadly, football is way down the list of priorities and we’re paying the price for that. However, it is a joke to compare the situation at UCLA and that at USC. They can pay whatever it takes to attract both players and coaches.
Relative merits of our Alma Maters aside (maybe I'm in the minority because I think they are both fine schools)
USC before the Carroll era had about 15 years of football irrelevance. Larry Smith, John Robinson II, and Paul Hackett were lackluster at best. USC lost 8 straight to UCLA, and something like 10 straight to Notre Dame. Our facilities were (and will be until the new McKay center opens) horrible. There wasn’t even a dedicated athletic training table, just the basement.
I believe that UCLA can become a power again, you just need the right people. If the case of Pete Carroll tells us anything, its that its hard to tell who that person is. I thought the right guy for UCLA was Mike Leach, but that ship has sailed.
Exactly!
I find it surprising that so few people seem to realize the trogans rely on the football program to fund their whole dump. A Bruin alum who was a professer there posted here once that he’d heard it right from Sample’s mouth – "Do whatever it takes to get the players in, to make sure they pass their “classes” (do they have those over there?), etc. Football funds everything so they do whatever it takes to make it successful – including breaking the rules as we all know.
I'm quite sure that some of the funding
comes from rather expensive tuition.
Yeah,
and it all goes right back into the football program.
USC does not publish figures, because its private
but I know that I received a sizable scholarship as an undergraduate, that was not sports related. I have worked in higher ed for a few years (on the public side) and have attended graduate institutions both public and private. I can say this with confidence. The academic side of things at USC has plenty of money. If some of that comes from football, who knows? I do know that I am proud of the education I received at USC, and I am proud of the football team.
I think UCLA is a great institution. I have had dear friends and mentors who attended UCLA for undergraduate and graduate work. Westwood has alot to be proud of. I know USC and UCLA are rivals, but oddly its graduates live and work together on a daily basis. Neither fan base needs to make excuses for its alma mater.
maybe chianti is waiting for the end of the season...
we need to sell the house and make an offer to chip kelly. ucla needs a game changer and no more retreads or guys with potential… just saying…
Selling the house to offer Kelly
would leave us homeless on the street being laughed at by Phil Knight.
Yeah, Knight would never let it happen
I believe Knight was pretty influential in getting Kelly in there and Belloti out.
I know this is apples and oranges,
but UCLA under Dan Guerrero is run like the SF 49ers USED to be. The 49ers decline began when Terry Donahue took over the personal department.(That is for another post) Then Jed York was given the team by his parents. He was inexperienced and naive.He was surrounded by yes men. His first big hire was Mike Singletary. All 49er fans remember how that turned out. Then something amazing happened. Jed’s uncle, Eddie D, started guiding him. The first thing Jed did was hire sound football people. He allowed them to recruit Jim Harbaugh. He allowed them to make all the football decisions. He learned from his past failures. Now look where the 49ers are. I had hope Chianti Dan would have learned his lesson after two failed coaches. This doesn’t seem to be the case. UCLA needs to dump this guy and find a AD with experience in big time college sports. Someone who will not allow losing to be tolerated.Someone who understands the greatness of UCLA. It’s a sad day when BSU is more attractive than UCLA. I guess I can only hope.
Good post and great analogy.
The optimist in me has been thinking of our Bruin football team as the SF Giants rather than the 49ers. It’s a team that, with a few dark years excluded, has 90% of what it needs to succeed, but an erratic clueless idiot at the highest level. We’re just missing a few key components. We need more aggressive play calling and a coach that utilizes the talent we have. We need a coach that will get the team’s best effort on the field. If we had that this year, this team probably would’ve won 8 games, and 9 or 10 would’ve been within reach. After all, we won 6 games with the entire universe knowing that our corners would give a 10 yard cushion on every play.
I don’t have any confidence in Brian Sabean, but if even he can stumble on a World Series by accident while continuing to make all the wrong moves, then there’s always a chance that Dan Guerrero can accidentally find success too.
I’d prefer that he learn from his past mistakes, conduct a sensible search, and hire the right candidate for the right reasons. But failing that, all hope isn’t lost. It’s still possible to strike gold by botching the search and stumbling onto the right hire for the wrong reasons. I’m still holding out hope. Who’s to say James Franklin won’t be the only coach left by the time Guerrero gets around to hiring one?
Guerrero should not be held to a lower standard than Neuheisel.
Neuheisel was not an effective coach in terms of wins and losses, but he is a great guy, a Bruin hero, a person who loves and is admired by his players and a person who loves this university. Guerrero is an ineffective athletic director with none of Neuheisel’s redeeming qualities.
Actually, there is no proof Einstein said that
But he did say this: “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”
I think this applies to our situation.
I can also find a website
that would say Mickey Mouse was our 17th president. I can find old websites that say the world will end in the middle of 2011. I wouldn’t necessarily treat that source as authoritative.
Roses are red, violets are blue...f*** $C.
This sounds a lot like the Dump Dorrell aftermath
The tone and UCLA AD approach is exactly like the last time we fired a coach, and the time before with the same AD. The news outlets were full with excellent candidates, UCLA started with “all talk” and then silence, disappointment that one or another candidates either turned UCLA down, or was never in the mix at the outset. When I say pathetic, i mean really pathetic. The AD makes himself look, when the chips are down, like a circus clown who can’t find his own axx with both hands. JD Morgan is rolling over in his grave.
The culture change that must occur is clearly on display now. When a candidate looks closer to the UCLA job, and these are not stupid people, they quickly have to see the issues, hear the promises, and then look elsewhere. My hands are now officially thrown up in the air and holding…
Mensgym
No way
I plan on using the phrase in an email to Block in the near future if we miss out on Petersen.
List of words/phrases that I hope to never read/hear associated with UCLA ever again:
“Moving the needle”
“Turning the corner”
“Closing the gap”
“Monopoly is over”
“Passion bucket”
“The Pistol”
“Dorrellian”
There are many others…
Agreed
except for Passion bucket…I like that. And I hope the right guy fills it up again.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
+1
I also wouldn’t mind hearing the monopoly phrase again at some point in the future, provided it comes from an objective observer of LA college football, and not the morgan center.
May I add "punting is winning" too
"Winners Then, Winners Now... Bruin in Madrid"
by uclaprofe on Dec 2, 2011 10:48 AM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
Just fired off another email to Block this morning. Stay active Bruins.
Dear Chancellor Block,
Respectfully, please be advised that my family will be withholding all monetary support for UCLA until Dan Guerrero is fired from his position as athletic director.
Whereas I realize that UCLA is so much more than simply its athletic department, it has become painfully obvious that the now long standing acceptance of athletic mediocrity is shining a negative light on all of the other amazing things UCLA does. The responsibility to take action is yours and it is now the time to correct that glaring problem.
Regards,
XXXXXXXX
Class of 1995
by DoubleTroubleBruin on Dec 2, 2011 8:04 AM PST reply actions
Hmmm...
Another 95 grad. Funny that so many of us are here and seem to be most pissed about what’s going on…
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
You guys never saw us lose to$C. I never saw us beat $C. You saw a National Championship in basketball, I got Lavin. You’ve seen what is possible for UCLA Athletics as a student and what it does for the University community while my friends and I just got disappointment and underachieving in both football and basketball.
Basically, I’m jealous.
High School
plus we got to watch Aikman dominating college football while we were deciding where to to to college… it certainly didn’t hurt my decision.
so for those of you that don’t think athletics play a major role in drawing to UCLA kids that truly have a choice about where they want to attend college… think again.
by DoubleTroubleBruin on Dec 2, 2011 9:15 AM PST up reply actions
It really wasn't all that great in the 90s either
We did beat southern cal 8 in a row, but their program was really in disarray for most of the decade. We did go to the Rose Bowl in ’93 and ’98, but watched Wisconsin come in and turn the stadium red and beat us both times. We had a nice 20 game streak in ’97 and ’98, but for the rest of the decade, our football program underachieved. We had our golden moment in basketball in ’95, but that was sandwiched in between shocking 1st round defeats to Tulsa in ’94 and Princeton in ’96. Lots of underachievement in basketball for most of the decade as well.
Granted, compared to what we have seen the last decade, the 90s seem glorious. But I think it is more indicative of just how bad things have been in our revenue sports the last 10-12 years.
Partially agree
90s football was a tease – especially the Toledo years – re what UCLA football can be all about.
wrt to hoops, I will say this, despite his imperfections Harrick built our program into a national power. He left the program in such strong shape that even a clueless poser like Lavin was able to take that team and win the conference and go the Elite Eight. Can you imagine those results from Howland’s team in his 7th or 8th year?
Makes sense
I’d imagine becoming a fan prior to the ‘95 title run and Cade’s years certainly provides a different perspective!
Its strange looking back and thinking the "glory years".
Well not really, but you get the idea.
I just followed suit .....
To you DoubleTroubleBruin, tazmiami & SF Bruin, I just emailed and also sent in my voided check also.
I said sorry, I changed my mind after much agony. That money now goes to University of Wisconsin – Madison whose Badgers’ football program deserves it better. I hope they prevail over Michigan State this weekend so that UCLA can see Wisconsin in Pasadena this New Year’s Day.
Perhaps they can consult with Wisconsin’s AD Barry Alvarez to learn more about running a first rate, competitive athletic program, especially football.
Mentioned also was the fact that another friend of mine from my undergrad years at Westwood, currently teaching at Penn State, of all the places, also said he rerouted his contributions from UCLA to Wisconsin too.
How dare you question Dan!!
Didnt you read his email, err Blog, I mean email? that said he wanted us to trust him and this would be a closed process?
Just think back to how well the Pauley Project has gone. That was Dan’s last closed project where he got in his bunker and made a decision without consulting the Bruin Community.
I am sure we will get something just as great as the Pauley Renovation, so LEAVE MY DAN ALONE!!
I'm sure Guerrero has a backup plan if we don't get Petersen.
Unfortunately for us, the backup coach is probably Dewayne Walker. That way Guerrero can get us a big name coach (13 letters, just like Chris Petersen!) and get him cheap. That’s how Guerrero runs his athletic department.
If he hires Walker
season ticket sales will plummet to zero, donations will plummet to zero, and many of us will refuse to even watch football. Guerrero’s life will be utter hell.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
I'm just waiting
for the new hire to decide whether to stop buying season tix after 15 years. I’m currently expecting not to.
Million dollar question...
If we don’t get a Tier 1 coach, what are we going to do, seriously? Because, if we continue to go to the Rose Bowl to watch games, buy shirts or sweaters with UCLA football on there, basically were telling these guys, “we agree with the way you are running UCLA athletics department.”
"Winners Then, Winners Now... Bruin in Madrid"
by uclaprofe on Dec 2, 2011 10:57 AM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
Our plan...
…is that if we do not get a tier 1 coach is to give up our season tickets for football after 18 years. There is a good possibility that we be giving them up just because guerrero is still the AD. Without a tier 1 coach and a REAL, PROVEN, TANGIBLE commitment to football I will cease to purchase ANYTHING with UCLA on it.
I want a well-repected NFL Head Coach at UCLA.
I want the country’s best football players to seriously consider UCLA based on the coach.
I want the coach to have strong NFL ties, so strong, high schoolers just can’t ignore it.
I want to run a Pro Set offense (getting kids NFL ready).
I want a coach who dwarfs in stature, Morgan Center and Murphy Hall.
His college experience is not as important has his fervor for the game.
I want Pete Carrol II at UCLA.
I wonder who Troy thinks would be perfect for UCLA.
I’ll lean 95% Troy’s way. He knows what he’s talkin about.
Looks like Andy Reid is coming available. Who else from the NFL might be good for us?
U-C-L-A Fight, Fight, Fight! Go Bruins!
NBA: Where Greed Happens. RIP 10/10/11.
uh...
i know what you were trying to say, but you lost me at:
“I want Pete Carroll II at UCLA”
by DoubleTroubleBruin on Dec 2, 2011 9:11 AM PST up reply actions
cool. that's what I meant.
U-C-L-A Fight, Fight, Fight! Go Bruins!
NBA: Where Greed Happens. RIP 10/10/11.
despite all of cheat carroll's "wins"
i wouldn’t want that classless, unsportsmanlike, rule breaking, elitist, arrogant, pom pom anywhere near our campus, let alone wearing our colors.
harbaugh, on the other hand… yes, please.
by DoubleTroubleBruin on Dec 2, 2011 9:34 AM PST up reply actions
I didn't mean Pete Carrol... I meant somebody from the NFL who wants
to build a huge college program, so they can get back to the NFL.
See Josh McDaniels.
U-C-L-A Fight, Fight, Fight! Go Bruins!
NBA: Where Greed Happens. RIP 10/10/11.
yeah, i figured you just meant a larger than life kind of guy
i just dont even like seeing carroll’s name in a sentence next to UCLA…
by DoubleTroubleBruin on Dec 2, 2011 9:39 AM PST up reply actions
Josh McDaniels needs UCLA
UCLA needs Josh McDaniels.
This guy wants another chance to become an NFL Head Coach.
He comes to UCLA, and he knows he must make us a National Power for him to get where he wants. Plus, dude is under the tree of Nick Saban.
Jose McDaniels loves college phenom’s.
Josh McDaniels, next UCLA Head Coach.
Dan, go get him.
U-C-L-A Fight, Fight, Fight! Go Bruins!
NBA: Where Greed Happens. RIP 10/10/11.
Hmmm
I’d be interested to hear GBruin’s opinion on Little Josh
Suggesting a ridiculous, awful pathetic pos coach like McDaniel
for UCLA … is beyond sheer stupidity. And yes, I know gb’s opinion on this. This kind of take just reeks of someone who doesn’t know anything about the game.
Yes but
I’m still hoping GB chimes in. Few things are more entertaining than hearing a Denver fan talk about Josh McDaniel.
But he will bring us Tim Tebow to start at QB
And we need Tim Tebow. Tim Tebow is an excellent quarterback.
Look at McDaniel's entry on wikipedia - he would be a major gamble, and we've had enough of those --
The Rams are 2-9, and their offensive rank is 29th!
Dude started Denver 8-0, and was the wunderkid. I think (I'd have to check)
Pete Carrol was run out the NFL for poor performance too. Then re-made himself.
Big N, who now, do you think should be the coach? We are all ears. Who’s your pick?
U-C-L-A Fight, Fight, Fight! Go Bruins!
NBA: Where Greed Happens. RIP 10/10/11.
we were getting along so well upthread 78
but really, seriously, you need to stop saying you want Carroll, or a Carroll-like, or a Carrollesque guy as the next head football coach at UCLA. Just take a deep breath and find a different analogy. Please.
I don’t have as strong of an opinion on Josh McDaniels as N, but I am certainly expecting a MUCH bigger splash than that.
by DoubleTroubleBruin on Dec 2, 2011 10:02 AM PST up reply actions
The difference between you and us
is that you are clamoring for a name while we are clamoring for qualifications. It’s not our job to go and find all the candidates that fit our criteria, but when someone doesn’t fit, we’ll let you know. Josh McDaniel is an absolute no-go because he has zero history of success. And your reasoning for wanting him is even worse…he would be a good coach because he wants to go back to the NFL? Sorry…that doesn’t make one iota of sense.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
McDoofus did NOT start Denver to 8-0!
McDaniels got Denver to 6-0 on a tipped ball to end the game against the Bengals! He then failed to lead Denver to the playoffs that season! How the f*** do you start 6-0 in the NFL and not make the post season? The guy is an incompetent moron!
If McDaniels is in, I’m out!
by ManOfLeisure on Dec 2, 2011 11:44 AM PST up reply actions
McDaniels has wrecked the Broncos and the Rams
Not just average results either he made them a fire sale how does he deserve a sniff at a good job?
I could care less if they have NFL ties as that does not equate to wins at the college level.
PoliSci03
You come from where I come from born a Bruin fan but havent had the luxury that some of you vets have when it comes to UCLA greatness. The best season i’ve seen is 05 and even then we didn’t have a D we just scored alot, how i wish i was born a century earlier ..sigh
I feel your pain... class of 2005
I was a JC transfer at 19 and on the weekend of my 21st birthday I graduated. I waited so long to get to greatness, and then greatness by some strange reason (cough cough Dan Guerrero) failed me and I had to endure pain both basketball and football. I recalled my 6th grade teacher was an UCLA alumni and when in 95’ we won it all, he hung up a huge blue and yellow UCLA banner. And, he would talk about UCLA like if going there meant making it to heaven. I doubt I could feel that proud given the embarrassment we’ve been athletically. I know our scholarly reputation is more important than sports, but last time I checked at the UCLA store they don’t sell shirts with UCLA medicine team or what not they sell UCLA football and basketball. Let’s hope order is restored in Westwood.
"Winners Then, Winners Now... Bruin in Madrid"
by uclaprofe on Dec 2, 2011 11:13 AM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
The Petersen thing is very confusing -
especially in this era of the inter webs… so much mis-information in the wind. But my sense of it is that UCLA thought they had him – and leaked that word early to stave off the critics – only to find out they didn’t. Another example of their inexperience. Now they’re scrambling and, frankly, don’t have many great options left.
So to that end – and if it’s been previously posted, I appreciate knowing – I’m curious where we shift our collective focus next. Assuming Petersen does not come – is there anybody out there that would satisfy us? I don’t really see him. I see a lot of maybes – no firm yes’s.
Re; antegex24x -Just to give you some more info about UCLA's storied traditions
My freshman year at UCLA coincided with Bill Walton’s senior year.
Trust me. Unless you saw him play in person then, you will not want to believe how a tall human specimen can ever jump so swiftly high, move so fluidly fast, pass so uncannily well & most of all, impact the tempo of a game in such dramatic way.
This is just one of the many legendary players UCLA is so blessed to have.
No Answer
Well we haven’t heard a no yet on Petersen which is a good thing. Obviously he’s got to be thinking about it, because he hasn’t turned UCLA down yet which is a plus. I think too many of you are freaking when we should have a little patience. This doesn’t mean I’m giving a Donut Dan a pass though!
by Trojanswearskirts on Dec 2, 2011 9:28 AM PST via mobile reply actions
I predict we'll win
if we score more points than Oregon.
I coach high school football in So Cal
And before every game as i’m game planning, my dad (an ex coach) says, it’s easy, just score more. I always laugh. (He means that not as just trying to outscore them, but just make sure you have one more point)
"He means that not as just trying to outscore them, but just make sure you have one more point"
Aren’t they the same thing?
by Kenneth Powers on Dec 2, 2011 11:23 AM PST up reply actions
He joking when he tells me that
Outscore them is game like 49-45, while 1 more point can be 7-6.
I don't know.
Surely it can’t be that simple.
It's actually slightly more complicated than that.
Nestor explained the nuance.
We have to score points, and score MORE than them.
by Kenneth Powers on Dec 2, 2011 9:36 AM PST up reply actions
heh, I agree
if they allow us to score at all, it would mean that $C plays superior defense. I would be upset too if a conference rival out did me like that.
Ohhhh.
No wonder I didn’t get it. I was North campus.
It is not new information
It links to sources already that has been discussed on BN.
Guys – I keep saying this over and over – click on the links – read around this site to see issues discussed before offering something as “new.” Thanks.
Gruden
If we have 15-20 million to spend on a head coach, he might come. He’s just standing in a booth commentating on the sport anyway. Coaching in the Rose Bowl is a big deal and maybe he might want a challenge, guiding young athletes. It didn’t make sense to me for a guy who’s won a Superbowl to come coach college, but if Mora is interested as a former pro coach, maybe Gruden would be.
yep
Gruden turned down Miami in 2010. More imoportantly, it was just last month on 10/17/11 that he signed a 5 year (reportedly multi million dollar) extension to continue his broadcasting duties for ESPN. Gruden would be awesome, in my opinion, but he’s not an option
by DoubleTroubleBruin on Dec 2, 2011 10:06 AM PST up reply actions
that's got to be a selling point
to bring a BCS to a passionate, hungry, L.A. fanbase. It could eventually translate back to a pro job for an L.A. pro team.
Assuming PetersEn will not make the move (hope he realizes how beautiful Southern California is most of the year, especially in the areas he and his coaching staff will live))
Is ANYONE analyzing SEC current coaching staffs to find a potential candidate? I had earlier suggested the Vandy coach appeared promising, and I was told no way would he leave. Then I read of interest by Texas A&M.
I'm intrigued by Kirby Smart
But I haven’t heard any mention of him re: UCLA.
Kirby Smart looks like a great defensive coach (won the Frank Broyles award)
Not sure he would come to California because all his ties are in Georgia. But maybe worth a look. His wife played basketball at Georgia, maybe she would want to coach UCLA women’s bball :)
Malzahn would be good
But he just interviewed for North Carolina and will probably end up there.
Concerns me...
How little we seem to be looking to the south… Guys with ties to the regions such as Diaz, Franklin, Freeze, Hudspeth, Smart, Strong and Mullen are getting looks elsewhere but we do not appear capable of searching anything East of the Great Plains.
Been reading about these travails for past few days
but this is my first comment. Disclosure, I’m Ohio State fan, just relaxing after they concluded their HC hire.
With this process(?) of coach search sort of not playing out; what impact do you folks see on UCLA’s upcoming recruiting class(es)?
Good luck with everything, you’re too good of a university & fanbase to have to go through this.
"I'm not a psychopath, Anderson, I'm a high-functioning sociopath. Do your research." - Sherlock Holmes
Thanks Ken
Recruiting – we are not so worried about at this time. We will get our share of guys. But we need to nail this hire. We can’t make bad hire for the third consecutive time in last 15 years. Good luck to you guys with Meyer. Well done.
Must be nice to be an OSU fan
If UCLA had just hired Urban Meyer, I’d be anything but relaxed! Congrats on a great hire.
Well,relaxed in a confident, smarmy “can’t wait for boys to get on field & kick UM’s arse again” way. Other than that, Meyer-Mania is pretty high.
This season was a bit of a challenge, it created a lot of momentsfor face-palming, head-scratching and assorted other tics. But we’ll move on.
Again, good luck with your search and in tonight’s game.
"I'm not a psychopath, Anderson, I'm a high-functioning sociopath. Do your research." - Sherlock Holmes
We should inquire about Manny Diaz
Done a great job this year with the Longhorn defense, coached in the SEC, from everything I’ve heard and read about the guy, he’s a damn good coach.
So Joe Schad tweets no...
but the new AD’s comments seem to completely contradict that no? That last block quote where UCLA is mentioned directly gives me the impression that the uphill climb will be for BSU to retain him and keep him from going to UCLA.
Across The Face
Yep. Might not be an uphill climb for them...
but we certainly look to be in the discussion.
formerly bruinhoo
Exactly
Petersen hasn’t denied the position yet so UCLA is still in the running…I just hope DG gives him full control over the football program!
by Trojanswearskirts on Dec 2, 2011 10:35 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
I don't think anyone knows for sure.
UCLA and BSU both have games in the next two days, and I don’t think either side wants information coming out right now.
One exception
I should add an exception to my above comment. I do think that BSU would announce that Petersen’s staying for sure, but nothing else.
BSPN reporting that
“UCLA has been notified that Chris Petersen will not be a candidate for the bruins football vacancy.” I don’t know who notified who, but that’s what they’re reporting.
Plan B?
Link?
Is this the same story as above, or an updated one?
Thanks.
Looks like the same story, then. No updates online that I can find.
was it bsu that informed UCLA
because it makes no reference to CCP declining
The whole article doesn't make sense
Even if CCP has declined, it’s just wrong in other ways. See my post near the top of the thread.
I hope your wishes are
More minutes for Powell and ice cream cake. Could be rough otherwise!
BSU cud be throwing that out there to before their last game, to calm nerves…not enough evidence in that article
by Trojanswearskirts on Dec 2, 2011 10:42 AM PST via mobile reply actions
Ramona Shelbourne actually gets it right on the Chianti Man Embarassment
“When Guerrero laid it out there like that on Monday, I couldn’t help but think he had to be sure he could land a big fish. Why else would an AD who has now fired three football coaches and hired two more get out so far in front of his skis and promise so much if he wasn’t sure he could deliver? "
Answer: he’s the bumbler!
Fires his butt. Who the Hell wants to work for him?
I don't know the details of the remaining coaches,
But I think whoever it is, there are two primary considerations: defense and discipline. We have to eliminate forever our “soft” play and mindset. If the choice is not an exemplary defensive coach and a demanding discliplinarian, it is a presumptive fail. I don’t care if he’s a hot name, top tier, head coach, defensive coordinator, whatever. We have to change the culture of this team to hard nose, tough football. Say goodbye to the gutty, little Bruins. Say goodbye to the fat, slow Bruins.
As for records, I’m not so concerned about the NFL HC record, all other things being equal. I am more concerned with records if they’re a college HC. A .500 NFL coach can still be damn good with the right players. A .500 college coach is a .500 college coach. No.
So, guys and gals, who would fit these fundamental criteria? Who is the next Jim Harbaugh for UCLA?
I agree with your emphasis on discipline here
though I would note that Harbaugh was an offensive, not defensive, coach, so I wouldn’t make ‘exemplary defensive coach’ a litmus test.
true but harbaugh knows how to hire a defensive staff
vic fangio for dc at stanford and niners. he has jim leavitt as lbs coach with niners now. he had chester mcglockton, who passed away this week btw, as dline coach.
Across The Face
Odds are, I will be upset with whomever UCLA hires, but.....
What if DG pulls off a miracle and gets Petersen? Would that absolve his actions of the last two hires?
No
Because that’s step 1. If he thinks he’s just gonna throw money at a coach and then sit on his ass again like he’s been doing providing no vision and no support to his hire, then there’s no reason for us to believe that a new coach will have much better success than Rick did. Dan has a decade of lazy, halfassed stewardship to make up for, and just because he’s part of a conference that is now flush with cash doesn’t even come close to indicating that he knows what the hell he’s doing.
Make the big hire
Improve our facilities in a big way
Put on the full court press publicly to make UCLA Football a brand and not a joke
Based on what we’ve seen, he’s going to need quite a few miracles if we’re going to absolve anything.
+1
even in the short-term, if we sign Petersen and don’t give him the resources to get the assistants he wants around him, it is a fail.
and I don't know who is to blame for Howland's top assistants being replaced by lesser men
whether CBH has made poor choices or the athletic department hasn’t supported him in getting the best, but basketball post-Keating has also been a mess.
No
As has been discussed in detail over the last few days, throwing lots of money at a well-recognized top coach in a desperate attempt to save his own job will not save Dan. He has shown his incompetence with every step he takes: Pauley renovation, Caldwell leaving, Dorrell and Neuheisel, Pauley seating fiasco, failing to pay for top assistants or even average facilities, and the list goes on. Even if he somehow pulls off the miracle PetersEn hire, he has completely bungled the process and made it so we have lost all leverage and have no Plan B in case PetersEn stays at BSU. Regardless of what happens over the next few days, Chiani Dan needs to go.
by bruinbulldog on Dec 2, 2011 11:55 AM PST up reply actions
Glad to read that I am not alone.
As a life long fan of the University, I am tired of feeling sick to my stomach every football season. Keep up the pressure, guys.
by ManOfLeisure on Dec 2, 2011 11:58 AM PST up reply actions
Guerrero's ineneptitude and indecision
This is exactly why you have to fire Rick Neuheisel after the Arizona game. It’s a proactive move that allows you to get way out ahead of other programs in a coaching search. That way, even if Petersen turns you down a month ago, you’re still ahead of the mob and have time to regroup while you move on to your other options.Maybe Mike Leach starts to look like a serious option in the harsh glare of a Petersen rejection. The point is you have time…
But Guerrero is so clueless that he actually wanted Neuheisel back for Year 5. He was telling people privately that he thought the fan base/donors were overreacting and not giving Neu a fair shake This despite the overwhelming evidence that the UCLA foootball program needed a coaching change. So he gave him an extra 6 weeks to save his job and get a "signature" win.
Was letting Rick take that 50-0 beatdown against USC worth it? I hope so, because now the situation is looking really desperate.
The last 48 hours has been a gold rush for college coaches. It’s a super heated seller’s market with a lot of motivated buyers out there with money to spend. ASU, UNC, and Texas A&M are all pursuing Kevin Sumlin with big offers. I doubt Sumlin is even a realistic option at this point.
Guerrero whiffed on Petersen, and of course has no back up plan. Typical UCLA, overconfident and didn’t even consider the possibility that Petersen would turn them down. Now the pressure is on and time is running out on Dan Guerrero to make the biggest hire of his career.
Now look at some of the names being floated today… Jim Mora Jr? Mike Martz? DeWayne Walker? Are you kidding me? That’s the joke list my buddies and I come up with for grins…
Mike Leach must be sitting up in Pullman laughing his ass off. The Wazzu program is energized, with a sense of optimism and excitement they haven’t seen in years.
UCLA? We’re waiting on Guerrero. Again.
"Even if God is dead, you still gotta kiss his ass" - Tony Soprano
as the man said, don't fall in love with any candidate
Seahawcla set out an interesting list of candidates in this post, including Leach, Petersen, some other head coaches and some hot coordinators.
I know a lot of people think that the likes of Leach and Petersen are head and shoulders above the rest, but potential shortcomings have been listed for them and for pretty much every candidate. I think Urban Meyer would have been head and shoulders above the rest, but I am not confident that (say) Mike Leach would be a better hire than (say) Manny Diaz (Texas DC, for those who don’t know him by name…)
There is also the sense that we have missed out by acting slowly, but this seems mostly a reaction to Mike Leach going to WSU. Unlike a lot of candidates for our job, we had contact with Leach before CRN was hired. Chianti Dan is well aware of Leach, and seemingly decided that wasn’t a direction to go in. Not going after Leach may be a mistake – if he really is the best coach available – but is not necessarily a sign of dithering. If Chianti read Seahawc’s post, maybe Leach was #15 out of that list of candidates – not going after him preemptively then isn’t being slow, it’s thinking we can do better.
I have no faith in Chianti to make a good hire, and no idea if he has a list of high-quality candidates – topped by Petersen – that he is exploring. As people have said, nothing to lose by going after a coach that might say no (such as Petersen) so long as you have Plans B,C,D and E set up and ready to go.
My point in saying this is not to say Guerrerror is doing a good job, or that he shouldn’t be fired, or even anything about him at all.
My point is just: there are a lot of potentially good candidates out there, and that failing to land one of Leach and Petersen is not in itself a reason for despair. And this is directed not at the frontpagers – who are keeping an even keel regards actual coaching candidates while rightly going after the man in charge of hiring the coach – but at anyone who is fixated on these two high-profile guys to the exclusion of a range of highly qualified candidates who may prove to be better hires.
As people upthread suggested – my ideal is Harbaugh 2.0, a guy with a winning mentality and ability to turn around the culture surrounding UCLA football. Maybe that candidate is a big name guy with BCS game or AQ conference head coaching experience; maybe it’s a top-flight assistant or a head coach from a lesser school. Personally, all else equal I might lean towards a defensive guy – with all Pac-12 teams moving in the direction of offensive guys, I think going the other direction could be advantageous, and I see the softness of our defensive play to be the most infuriating thing about our program. But really it’s about finding the right guy to toughen up our program and stick it the chumps across town. A lot of potential candidates are still finishing up their seasons; I hope we get our guy next week.
To counter Joe Schad at BSPN
Please stop flipping out over this so-called Petersen is out thng from Schad. Like the moderators and a few on this board said, let everything play out. It’s not like Schad has a great track record with us anyway as mentioned earlier. So for the sake of fodder and throwing around random rumors (take it waith a grain of salt, this is for humor only!) with nothing to back it up, here’s a counter to Shad’s claim:
Allioti has said that Petersen is coming to UCLA (via some dude named skatebeanz towards the bottom of the thread).
http://www.footballsfuture.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=12930336
So chill everyone. Regardless of how this plays out, let’s not forget we still have one job to finish and that’s getting rid of DG.
SPORTSbyBROOKS tweet
Said UCLA-Petersen is still in play
by Kenneth Powers on Dec 2, 2011 2:11 PM PST up reply actions
Right
That’s a little better. I will give some credence to him for sure. Still not going to hold out too much hope right now.
Yeah, my earlier optimism isn't there.
At least the week is almost over. Too much “refresh, refresh, refresh” going on.
by Kenneth Powers on Dec 2, 2011 2:18 PM PST up reply actions
well if allioti is best friends with him
then I’m convinced. Let’s hope Allioti helps us out a bit tonight.
Jim Zorn
Someone just mentioned to me a possible coaching candidate….pls discuss…:
another guy who flamed out in the NFL?
by Kenneth Powers on Dec 2, 2011 2:16 PM PST up reply actions
Juicebox Dan is a buffoon and incompetent...
Lets just assume that Juicebox was unsure about firing Neu after the Arizona game… only an idiot didn’t know that he had to be fired at that time… but lets assume that Juicebox needed more data.
There are several issues that were immediately apparent to everyone with knowledge of U.C.L.A. athletics.
1) the weight room and training facility is a problem. At 23k sg feet (including lockerrooms, treatment and offices), it is tiny compared to our peer schools. Kal’s new facility is 100k sg feet. Let me drive this home further, two other schools that I am familiar w/ Tufts and Harvard have much larger facilities at 43k (mixed like ours) and 25k (pure weight room) respectively. This is a NESAC and Ivy…. Not D-1 football.
2) We are horrifically understaffed with strength, conditioning, speed and nutrition experts. Go get a proven powerlifting guru like a Mark Rippetoe and have him work with the linemen. Go get a proven speed guy. Go get a guy like Dr. Ivy to set up and monitor your nurtition and timing. To be honest, I think that many of our players, are manorexic. Guys that are too worried about maintaining a year around 6 pack instead of eating enough to grow muscle.
3) Academic support facilities and staff. I don’t want to get into this because it will make me really angry.
So if I was Juicebox Guerrerror, the first thing that I would do (after talking myself of out blowing my brains out) to make sure that we have a shot at a real coach would be this..
1) Call Stanmar and get a set of plans for a 100k sq foot facility. It doesn’t have to be the final plan. Just any fricking plan that you can show someone.
2) Call my big donors to arrange meetings and personally attend them. Get $ out of them for the facility.
3) Realize that $2M for staff is minimal in West LA. If you have 2 coordinators making $500k, which is less than we were paying DWalk and Chow, it only leaves $1M for the other 7 assistants. At $150k average per coach, $12.5k per month per tax puts you in at a $4k per month mortgage (max) or roughly $600k loan. You definitely aren’t living on the west side for that. Up it to about $3.2M and budget $1.6M for coordinators and $1.6 for the 7 assistants. At least then they can live mid-city, culver city or westwood; not have to commute from Arcadia (like DWalk) or Simi Valley (a traditional neighborhood for our assts).
4) Realize that since I procrastinated in getting a coach, I am going to pay a premium for a top coach. However, coaches want to win so their decision will hinge on more than just money unless the money gets stupid silly.
by beanandcheeseburrito on Dec 2, 2011 2:41 PM PST reply actions
One more thing...
If Juicebox wants to think out of the box (capri sun anyone?), he should just give ALL coaches a $6k per month housing allowance and no a 0% interest $300k loan for the down payment.
Then the $1M for 7 assistants would be sufficient.
Good leaders know that it is the people that work for them that are responsible for their own success. You can toss $4M at petersen but if his coaches go from living comfortably in Boise to working poor in West LA, he won’t make the move.
Juicebox is out of his league… I’d hire any havard b-school new grad over him.
by beanandcheeseburrito on Dec 2, 2011 4:09 PM PST up reply actions
ps. Coffee is for closers so it is Juiceboxes for Guerrerror
by beanandcheeseburrito on Dec 2, 2011 2:41 PM PST reply actions
my kid gets a juicebox
Chiang Dan so far only gets the bottle I peed in during my road trip.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
by tasser10 on Dec 2, 2011 2:46 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
chiant dan
I hate typing on these phones.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
by tasser10 on Dec 2, 2011 2:48 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
i know... try posting a long one from a phone... it blows. lol
frankly, there are so many names that are appropriate… my favorite is Flounder
by beanandcheeseburrito on Dec 2, 2011 2:50 PM PST up reply actions
If Petersen wants to come to UCLA, he'll wait until Guererro is fired.
Look at it this way, with Guerrero doing the hiring, the head coaching job is going to be open again in another two or three years. At that time, UCLA will also be replacing its athletic director.
Why on earth would Chris Petersen or any other top-tier coach want to work for Dan Guerrero? Or coach at a university that places such a low priority on football, for that matter?
The only coach Dan Guerrero is going to be able to get is someone with previous ties to UCLA, which we already know is a recipe for failure. Which means that we’re going to be looking for another coach in another couple of years. Petersen can afford to wait.
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