Bruin Bites: Chianti Dan is the Worst Athletic Director in the Nation Edition
by Bellerophon on Dec 4, 2011 8:45 AM PST
in News
Email
Print
It's been a crazy week around UCLA, with the coaching search feeling more like a roller coaster than an intelligently planned, well-executed hiring process. Oh, yeah, that's right: Chianti Dan is in charge, so I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that our coaching search feels sloppy and half-ass. Never mind that our basketball program continues to be a total fail (and at this pace, we'll be looking for a new basketball coach real soon) embarrassing the four letters (the irony being that even Rick's teams looked more prepared and played with more heart than Howland's feckless, weak-willed, out-of-shape ramble).
Despite this parade of horribles, the worse news is that Chianti Dan, the buffoon who is easily the worst athletic director in the nation, flew down to Houston to beg over-rated Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin to stay in the game for UCLA amid reports that Sumlin is about to accept the Texas A&M job. Okay, let's set aside the fact that Kevin Sumlin is woefully under-qualified. I mean, I guess I'd look like an offensive genius too if my entire head coaching career was supported by an all-world, sixth year senior QB and I inherited a program built by someone else. Oh, and don't mind that Sumlin was exposed last year for being a mediocre coach when Keenum got injured (this happening after Rick Neuheisel already had Sumlin's Houston Cougars on the ropes in the Rose Bowl) and embarrassed on national television by a much better coaching candidate, Southern Mississippi's Larry Fedora. Even if Sumlin was worth pursuing (he's not, and Dan if you hire him, we will turn up the heat on you ten-fold), once again Chianti Dan has been caught with his pants down, playing catch-up, and demonstrating how half-ass his "coaching search" is being conducted. Rather than cultivating a relationship behind the scenes, sending out feelers, and planning a hiring process, Chianti Dan, having been forced to fire Neuheisel, is now scrambling to make a football hire since it's painfully obvious that, being a moron with no vision for this athletic department, he has done nothing to plan for the contingency that he'd need to fire Neuheisel (which should have been obvious after the Debacle in the Desert). But knowing Chianti Dan's bumbling stupidity, we'll end up with some retread failure like Herm Edwards, a guy who the closest he's been to a football field the last few years has been Coors Light commercials.
One last thought: if Chianti Dan hires Kevin Sumlin, especially with other more viable candidates in play (Petersen, who has yet to deny he's interested, Fedora, Butch Jones, Dantonio, Manny Diaz, etc.), we will call for nothing short of a scorched earth full-on war against Chianti Dan and will not stop until he is fired.
So, before we get to the Bruin Bites for this Sunday morning, don't forget to sign up at the Fire Dan Guerrero Facebook group. With that, let's take a look at the bits and pieces of news from around the UCLA-iverse after the jump.
- Let's get this started with a total LOL moment. I stumbled across this gem of an "article" while writing this and I decided it was just too amusing not to start with it. In one of the most clueless, poorly written things I have seen written on the internet, some moron (or lulz-genius) wrote an "article" titled "Rick Neuheisel 'The Irreplaceable'" on the "WattGlobe Network" (WTF) that UCLA is trying to replace Rick Neuheisel. Here's the money quote: "Rick Neuheisel is a great head coach of UCLA and it is really hard to replace him." LOL, I nearly peed myself.
- Sticking with Rick, there's speculation that he could land on his feet with his good friend Jon Embree at Colorado, working on Embree's staff in some capacity on the offensive side of the ball, if Embree loses an assistant. Oh, wouldn't that be ironic? But if it happens, that'd be a big net gain for the Buffaloes, who will get a tireless recruiter and a good position coach.
- Guess what? We're not the only ones who think Kevin Sumlin is overrated. Larry Brown at Larry Brown Sports agrees that he's overrated, noting that Sumlin is riding the wave of success on the back of Case Keenum, a QB he didn't even recruit. So, LOL at all the morons who think getting Sumlin will be some kind of coaching coup.
- With UCLA in transition, the biggest fear is losing key recruits and key players to transferring. On that front, Lindsey Schnell at The Oregonian spoke with physical specimen sophomore defensive end (who we hope a new coaching staff will develop and utilize) Owamagbe Odighizuwa. Owa was a highly rated recruit who turned down the Oregon schools and Nebraska to come to UCLA, told The Oregonian that decided he is going to stick with UCLA, even though the coach that recruited him got the axe. There's a handful of good quotes from Owa in there and it sounds like he's a smart, level-headed kid. Let's hope the new coaching staff can utilize him and turn him into the impact player we all suspect he can be.
- Sticking with player-related news, Brett Hundley, the highly-touted QB expected to take the reins in Westwood, will also be sticking with the Bruins despite Neuheisel being shown the door. Like Owa, Brett has shown he has the poise, maturity, and level-headed mentality to weather this storm (and hopefully weather blitzes and read what the defense is doing). Keeping Hundley in the fold is huge for UCLA, especially given UCLA's inability to bring in more QB depth behind him.
- Turning to the recruits, a glance at Scout does not bode well for UCLA, with Hiva Lutui (a major offensive line prospect that the Bruins really need), Raymond Ford, Morgan Breslin, and Lacy Westbrook (another major offensive line prospect that UCLA desperately needs) all downgraded from solid commits to soft verbal commits. In looking at the limited public portions at Scout.com, Ford has totally re-opened his recruitment (which hurts since UCLA really needs to tap into the Serra talent pipeline).
- Finally, on the recruiting trail, UCLA-commit and four-star LB recruit Aaron Porter from La Habra told ESPN's Greg Biggins (portion not behind subscription firewall) that he remains a solid commit for UCLA and that he wouldn't mind if UCLA brings Chris Petersen in, since he came very close to committing to Petersen's Broncos.
- Speaking of transfers, if you want to feel like banging your head against the wall, read all about Mike Moser's resurgence at UNLV at Yahoo! Sports. Once you finish hitting your head against the wall at the sight of Moser tearing up UNC and drawing NBA interest, turn your attention to Ben Howland. Because 100% of the blame falls on Ben, letting Moser squander his talent on the bench while he played favorites, letting the Belgrade Bricklayer get minutes and suffer no consequences, no matter how he f**ked up. Ridiculous and a major strike against Howland, who is putting himself on the hot seat.
With that, those are your Bruin Bites for the end of the week as we gear up for another crazy week here in the wider Bruin Nation. With Chianti Dan's football coach search in full gear, it'll be a full week, so stay tuned.
And this bears repeating: if Chianti Dan hires Kevin Sumlin, especially with other more viable candidates in play (Petersen, who has yet to deny he's interested, Fedora, Butch Jones, Dantonio, Manny Diaz, etc.), we will call for nothing short of a scorched earth full-on war against Chianti Dan and will not stop until he is fired.
For now, fire away with your thoughts, comments, and additions in the comment thread.
GO BRUINS
126 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
does anyone know if unc is making a push for
Ccp? I read somewhere last night (can’t remember for the life of me) that they were also in the mix for him. If that’s the case, is nc a similar lifestyle choice as Boise?
I hate DG conceding and pushing for sumlin. Further down we spiral as the laughing stock of the nation and the conference.
by bruin578 on Dec 4, 2011 8:58 AM PST via iPhone app reply actions
Yes they are
And right now they have a better shot of landing CP than UCLA because of how badly Chianti Dan has devalued UCLA and destroyed the brand of this program in last 10 years.
thanks for verifying that for me
I am speechless. How does does chianti Dan do it? How can the guy with two of the four worst football records on his clock be allowed to hire a third?
And he wants sumlin! Thanks for nothing DG. I hope the major donors involved in the process are pissed to cut some of that money for you. That should be the final nail in your coffin.
by bruin578 on Dec 4, 2011 9:14 AM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
CP will not go to UNC, he's a west coast guy and always will be.
Sorry Nestor, but UCLA still has a better shot to land CP than UNC even if Chianti Dan is destroying our program ( which he is and the BBall is following closely). If I was DG I would woo the shit outta CP until he gave me a definite answer!
by Trojanswearskirts on Dec 4, 2011 9:12 AM PST reply actions
I hope you are right
I just don’t have that confidence. I have confidence in our school and that we will recover some day – but just not in Chianti Dan. He is burning down the program right infront of our eyes.
The Sin of Dan Guerrero
He wants UCLA athletics to emulate UC Irvine’s. The hell with him !
No confidence in DG that's for sure!
But I’m very confident that CP will surely not go to UNC
by Trojanswearskirts on Dec 4, 2011 9:23 AM PST up reply actions
Not sure if this has been mentioned, but
It appears aTm is backing off Sumlin:
http://www.chron.com/sports/aggies/article/Texas-A-M-slows-its-rush-to-hire-2342810.php
I’m now fearing we’ll hear Sumlin is our next by the end of the day. Somebody please give me reason to believe otherwise.
Apparently, someone at Texas A&M...
…watched the ass-kicking that Larry Fedora’s team gave Sumlin’s team yesterday.
I can't help but think...
DG was hoping for one last win (probably why he applied for the bowl waver) and justify keeping CRN for another year. We get blown out by $C, and the donors step in forcing his hand. Now, he’s caught “off guard” and finds himself scrambling to put together a coaching search, hence, we seem to be on a roller coaster as he runs around begging people to consider UCLA.
Wow, barring a miracle hire, we are truly fucked…all because of this moron
You are basically right
But request to you and all of you. This is a “family blog” please. :-) But your observation is well grounded based on facts.
Yup, another coach search was probably the last thing he wanted to have to endure...
I can picture him sitting in his office late Saturday night after the USC blowout, half empty bottle of chianti resting on the desk, message light on his phone blinking away crazily, dreading the inevitability of having to muddle through a third coach search…
This scenario is probably right
and scarily so. After all, why plan for alternatives when you can stick with what is easiest, i.e., doing nothing? Feelers should have been sent out at the beginning of the season, or at the very least, after the Arizona loss (not to mention that he should have fired RN at that point). The explanation that he was hoping against hope to retain RN for another year is the only thing that makes sense for his lack of planning and foresight.
Agree that we are royally screwed!
Did Chianti Fly to Houston on Wasserman's Plane
If so, does that mean that Wasserman is supporting the hire? Which seems to contradict rumors that Wasserman and the alum’s didn’t favor Sumlin.
Note also that Byrne, the aTm AD who hired Sherman is aobut to be fired and that an alum/regent is deeply involved in the search. I’ve often thourht that for the last several years aTm’s situarion closely paralleled ours and these recent developments support that.
What a complete clusterfuck.
And, DG — you didn’t call Leach because? You dumb fuck.
sjh
I thought it was funny! LOL
Plus, it shows that you care!
by Trojanswearskirts on Dec 4, 2011 9:25 AM PST up reply actions
No, you don't have to.
These days, everyone is cussing Guerrero senseless anyway >
I don't think the donors are on board with sumlin
I wouldn’t put it past chianti to say he was going to talk to fedora and then mutter under his breath that he was going to talk to sumlin too.
by bruin578 on Dec 4, 2011 9:33 AM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
Good post
if there is one football program that has been mismanaged as much as UCLA’s it’s A&m’s……
"A legend is an old man with a cane known for what he used to do. I'm still doing it." Miles Davis
by milesdavis93 on Dec 4, 2011 12:28 PM PST up reply actions
Sumlin is a SUCKERS pick
The guy was not even on anyones Radar last year. Are we going to bite on the fact the guy had a 6th year QB in a pathetically weak conference. He is baiting us and Chianti is dumb enough to bite. Get off this train now.
Mullen
Tressel
Golden
Top coordinator at BIG TIME program – Diaz…
But not a coach riding the wave of his star QB. Sumlin knows it is now or never. Don’t be a sucker
We should at least talk to Tressel
Guy has won everywhere…has baggage but so did Neuhisal
No
Neuheisel’s secondary violations were no where close to egregious as Tressel’s overt interfering with NCAA investigations. Don’t ever equate them again.
Totally Agree
BN posters did an extensive search on RN when he was being considered including looking at the primary materials.
RN’s reputation was far worse than the reality of his behavior.
He was smeared by UW — and then they backed off and gave him a lot of money under fear of being exposed.
RN may not have been a great coach — but he ran a very clean program.
And, actually, what we all feared is proving to be true — the rotten culture of DG probably made it very difficult for RN to succeed.
Please, let’s stop perpetuating the negative myths about our brother Bruin’s character. There’s no place for that here.
sjh
No, we shouldn't talk to Tressel.
Tressel is a average coach who succeeded because of stellar athletes and because he cheated. He didn’t cheat like Cheatie Petie did, but he cheated. As I understand it, sanctions can follow the coach, so hiring Tressel brings the potential for sanctions. Tressel is not carrying “baggage” from the past like Neuheisel – he is carrying a toxic waste dump in both of his front pockets.
Tressel would be the worst of all of the choices being thrown around. If we’re going to recruit Tressel, we might as well go for the top of that tree, and go after Cheatie Petie himself.
Sumlin or Leach?
That was an obvious choice. Guy won 10 years in a BIG conference with a bunch of no bodies and we go after a flash in the pan coach is an awful conference. Who has only won with a big time qb. Please make it stop. Sumlin has got to drop down on this list. Plus he got his a$$ kicked last night. How is he still a hot commodity
I may be wrong(we will know by tomorrow) but I believe
Sumllin is using us to up the offer from A&M. We have a tradition at getting coaches raises at their school…
guerrero may be clueless, but hopefully Sumlin or his advisors are not...
Let us all have some hope…
Anybody think DG may wait til NFL regular season ends and pick up a fired head coach off the scrapheap?
Knowing Chianti, he’s already secretly booked flights for Coughlin, Spagunolo and Sporano for Pasadena. “I can catch lightning in a bottle!”
Can you imagine the Norv Face on our sidelines???
As a Chargers fan, I can assure you this would be the worst hire possible
so let's see where we stand
uofa – rich rod
wsu – leach
asu – possibly june jones
Ucla – hot on sumlin!
DOH!
by bruin578 on Dec 4, 2011 9:41 AM PST via iPhone app reply actions
Sumlin is a small timer
“the Cougars lost the C-USA Championship game which marked Houston’s second Championship collapse under Sumlin in 3 seasons.”
WWCS (What would COACH say)
So last night I thought to myself, after watching the mens basketball team look thoroughly lost, and in thinking about the past football season, and now in Chianti Dan’s latest search for ANOTHER coach……….What would coach say or think? This is what came to mind.
Well, for one, with him going to Houston to recruit Sumlin, COACH would probably say, “Dan, Never mistake activity for achievement”.
On his inability to lead and make good decisions for UCLA he might say, “Dan, if you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over”? (Apparently with Block, he will have numerous times)
and finally, when discussing the current state of our athletic program coach might tell him, “Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be”.
ENOUGH SAID.
Coach would also say
“Don’t hire Sumlin.”
Dan's an idiot.
He really has driven us down into the ground, namely with football. How do you not look at candidates like Fedora, Golden, etc? “LET’S GO AFTER THE GUY EVERYONE ELSE IS AFTER.” Nice logic, jerk.
I disagree with Howland, though. I know it’s been a rough few years, but we’ve only missed the big dance once since 04 and we’ve won at least one game each time we’ve been there. Plus, three straight Final Fours? That’s still not replicable, at least not easily. I know he’s made bad decisions, but I’ll give him a pass. Talent level hasn’t exactly been there either. (On him, sure, but let’s stick with the guy who’s proven to coach at a high level. This is not Dan’s doing, BTW)
*Lost in the first round in 05 to Texas Tech
And there is no pass for three straight years of basketball irrelevancy. There is absolutely no tolerance for two losing seasons, which he is on the verge of right now.
Forgot that loss. Thanks.
Irrelevancy is a little harsh, though. We hadn’t been to a Final four since like, the mid-90s before Ben. He’s gotten us to tourneys consistently, and that’s more than you can say for other coaches since Coach. (Not making a comparison to Coach, but rather since his departure, we haven’t had a good one.)
I hope he rights the ship, though. This season has been really disappointing.
I have the Sons of Westwood on my iPod in my "favorites" playlist ...
http://sonsofwestwood.wordpress.com
It's not harsh, it's accurate
You know what a Steve 16 is? We haven’t even gotten that in three years. This program is not a “make the tournament” kind of program. It is about national relevancy and consistently competing on the highest level with our blue blood peers. Not getting out of the first weekend is basketball irrelevancy. If we didn’t stand for it under Lavin, why the hell would we stand for it from anyone else?
So you suggest
That we call for Howland’s head already? That’s shoddy. And it’s impatient. Are you going to tell me that Howland has lost his coaching abilities in the matter of two years?
Agree to disagree. We’re on the same team here.
I have the Sons of Westwood on my iPod in my "favorites" playlist ...
http://sonsofwestwood.wordpress.com
certainly appears to have lost control of the program
with no particular sign we are likely to start moving in the right direction any time soon.
I am a big CBH supporter, but if he cannot consistently put together a team that is competing at the top of the Pac-12 and making deep runs in the tournament, he is not long for this job.
Impatient would have been calling for him to be fired at the end of his 1st season; or calling for him to be fired after failing to make a 4th consecutive final 4 with a team featuring 2 NBA PGs. After the last few years, his seat was heating up; performances so far this season are ratcheting that up to scalding.
DVR'ed the game from yesterday, and . . .
all I have to say is that Josh Smith actually got WORSE over the offseason. Combined with Reeves Nelson not giving a crap, I don’t think any amount of coaching could save us.
BH has to be a great coach – three final fours in a row? But man, I feel like something has changed. We have Moser, Gordon, and Stanback all playing great for other teams, while we have a ridiculously overweight JS.
I don’t know what’s happening with UCLA, but jeez, let’s get it together.
crowd booed when he missed a layup underneath the basket that he could have dunked
if he wasn’t in such terrible shape.
Really.
It’s absolutely ridiculous. I mean, he’s our best “recruit” on the team, but if you are a coach, you can’t even play him. He can’t play Howland’s defense – hedging is impossible. It’s either a foul or a basket instantly.
As my brother told me the other day
“I never thought I would wish we had Lorenzo Mata than Josh Smith”
Great coach does not mean great program manager
It looks like a lot of that other business was handled well by the likes of Keating, and the rest of the staff he brought over.
Howland has been on a downward trajectory
since losing Kerry Keating. You could argue that Howland was maybe blessed with excellent assistants and wasn’t as great as we all thought he was.
or you could also argue that chianti dan has not provided Howland with the resources to properly replace his assistants.
I don’t know the answers. I just see the trend. And I don’t like it. His personnel choices have been extremely iffy and I don’t have the confidence in him that I had several years ago.
Korey McCray was supposed to boost recruiting
and possibly act as a younger assistant coach that players can mesh with (Howland is not a player’s coach).
Unfortunately, I fear he may have been hired too late to make an impact, Howland seriously needs to get this team into shape to avoid getting canned, so we can see some of the benefits of having McCray on staff.
What's shoddy
Is lowering the expectations for this program into the gutter. I’ve gone over this many times. It doesn’t matter how good of a coach you are if you cannot manage a program. I will not agree to disagree, because you clearly have no perspective on what this program should be. If the current state of the program and the direction it appears to be going is not highly concerning to you, then you have no business calling other people impatient when you’re willing to bend over and take whatever the status quo dishes out.
Any chance of another stop on DG's trip?
i.e. stop at Baylor and try to get Art Briles? He is a good coach who had turned around 2 programs and has also proved he can recruit with the big boys in the Big 12. I know he has a good contract at Baylor but with Big 12 showing Baylor little love maybe he will be open to looking elsewhere.
Go Bruins
by nkbruin on Dec 4, 2011 10:05 AM PST via iPhone app reply actions
I think
RG3 has more to do with Baylor’s resurgence than the coach. I don’t like Art Briles too much, though I will take more glances at him.
I have the Sons of Westwood on my iPod in my "favorites" playlist ...
http://sonsofwestwood.wordpress.com
Agreed about RGIII, however...
Baylor plays with a lot of energy and heart. That comes from the coach. He can recruit, and his recruits are the reason for Sumlin’s success. Plus he has an offense that would be good for our future QB
Go Bruins
by nkbruin on Dec 4, 2011 10:18 AM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
That's true
Although Sumlin did improve upon records. (Still doesn’t deserve consideration for UCLA job, but whatever.)
He’s interesting to look at. It is one of those “I’ll wait and see” things if we happen to hire him.
I have the Sons of Westwood on my iPod in my "favorites" playlist ...
http://sonsofwestwood.wordpress.com
Briles Has Done Well With All His Teams
But, he reminds me a bit of Larry Brown — moving around a lot and leaving unfinished busines..
sjh
Sorry for being inquisitive
But could somebody tell me why you refer to your athletic director as Chianti Dan? Is that something unique to BruinNation?
Dan do u want to lose your job?
I mean does he seriously think hiring sumlin will save him? He’s toast either way mine aswell hire Mullen at least he can coach
Chianti
dan was setting up a trip to italy instead of taking care of UCLA athletics like a real AD should basically
I know this is wishful thinking and probably naive as can be, buuuut...
re: Petersen, we’ve still yet to hear anything straight from the horse’s mouth, have we? I said something similar on another board. As you guys have noted, we have some reporters saying we’re looking hard at Sumlin now, other’s saying it’s Golden that’s getting the full court press.
What are the chances that it’s all just a smokescreen and we have Petersen in the bag and they just can’t announce it until later, either today after bowls are announced (??) or even after they play their bowl game (can they really wait that long?).
Well, maybe it’s not so much “think” as “hope” that’s the case. I hate to think DG, despite past performance, could have royally screwed up the search for a coach so badly again, to have been pursuing Petersen while letting Leach go to WSU, not even having a swinging chance at RichRod after not firing Neuheisel after the AZ debacle, and then not even coming close to getting Petersen. Especially with the involvement of so many influential donors.
I’d be perfectly wiling to eat crow if this was the case, and give Dan his proper due.
I know it’s probably a pipe dream, but what can I say, I’m an eternal optimist. Fingers crossed, I don’t even know that Petersen was the best choice, per se, but at this point I’d be grateful to get him…
I have the same hopes
Maybe said “sources” are throwing smokescreens and sending reporters in different directions when all along DG’s search is truly closed and he’s got a secret weapon lined up.
I give that a 1% chance. At best.
If Chianti had Petersen, he wouldn't be in Houston
greg in denver, U.C.L.A. guy for life - BruinsNation.com
Re Petersen
As a purple blooded husky fan who was part of a large contingent that wanted CP hired after Ty, a few observations.
CP is a devout christian and a devout family man. Boise is a GREAT!! place to raise a family and by all accounts, CP and his family are very happy there. Factor in cost of living, and making 1.5 mill plus incentives in Boise is like making 3 mill in Westwood. Money is not going to get him to move.
The Pac-12 school that has the best shot is Oregon. CP was an assistant there for six seasons under Belloti. Many of you may know the story but briefly: when they were in Eugene CP’s son fell of a bleacher and hurt his head, The blessing was that scans showed a brain tumor that had spread to the spine. All is well today, but if it were not for the fall his son’s cancer may not have been caught in time. CP and his wife believe “an angel” pushed their son off the bleachers. Eugene is a very special place for them. CP may be waiting to see what happens with Chip Kelly…..
I mention this because your AD should have known that getting CP was a longshot at best, and money wasn’t going to do it.
Final observations: Leach raved about AD Bill Moos @ WSU, said it was a big factor going there. UW’s best hire ever was a no name coach from Kent St, he turned out okay. Don’t be afraid to go the Tressel route …
PS Nestor: you guys diss Sark all the time. I can do another post about that. He’s doing a great job considering what he inherited.
I have also wanted to comment
having been to Boise (which natives pronounce “Boi-see”, not “Boize”) a few times on business, that Boise has a smaller town feel, and you can drive from one end to the other in “traffic” in 15 minutes. Contrast that to LA, with media frenzy, impossible traffic, high cost of housing, etc., it is not necessarily a desirable place to live if you haven’t grown up here or are used to a different lifestyle. In that case, money isn’t everything, or even an issue, if he is happy where he is. Just saying.
Hey Somerichs, you said what we all wish were the case with Petersen.
Maybe, just maybe he didn’t really want his departure to impact the outcome of the upcoming Bowl game Petersen truly wanted as his farewell gesture for BCS.
I hope Dan Guerrero indeed can pull off not even a pleasant surprise now, but a megaton shocker that reverberates & trembles the entire Pac 12 Conference.
But if he ultimately stays or goes to Oregon later, when Chip Kelly eventually moves on, Seattleboy said it well with his reasoning too. But we diss Sarkisian for good reasons, one of which was his affiliation with the USC slime & sleaze bunch, if I can put it anymore strongly.
On another thought, and this is out of my frustrations or for that matter, collectively now. If Guerrero has been hustling around in Wasserman’s jet to “beg” substandard coaching personnels to come to UCLA as reported, I wish he could just pull a DB Cooper stunt too. Just bail out and leave. He will survive and live happily ever after I know, but at least not at Morgan center anymore.
How is it that the mystique of the four initials can ever sink so low under this guy !?!
Sark
Just consider that Ty was the third coach in 4 seasons and inherited a 1-10 team (0-8 conference). The team he left Sark had some skill players in Locker and Polk and Kearse, and one decent D lineman in Teo’neshiem (who was good but not great) and 2 LB’s in Bulter and Foster, but both lines were and still are pretty bad. Look at our depth chart and you’ll see we are very young.
Harbaugh was 17-20 his first 3 seasons, Sark 19-18. Now I’m not going to say we’re going 11- 1 this year, more likely 8-4, just an interesting comparison.
I used to hate SC, but I live in So Cal in the 90’s during their bad years. I grew to hate you guys because you beat us all the time. Just shows you how far you have fallen. I don’t hate you at all now…maybe that has something to do with CRN leaving.
the Harbaugh comparison is way off
Walt Harris left Harbaugh a genuine 1-11 team, at STANFORD. Sarkisian inherited a team that was better than 1-10 but had been without its star QB.
Harbaugh took his team on a steady upwards trajectory. Sarkisian got the Locker-return bump and has been basically flat (4-5, 5-4, 5-4).
by VeniceBruin on Dec 4, 2011 11:28 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
You know, SC then hired
one jerk after the next, until they hit the mothermode of slime & sleaze, Cheatey Petey.
haha just saw this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjsLuLG2gXo&feature=player_embedded
even hitler gets it
Sources reporting Texas just canned Mack Brown.
Thoughts? Chianti venture recruiting him?
SbB tweet
seems like everybody else is denying it though
by Kenneth Powers on Dec 4, 2011 11:27 AM PST up reply actions
Even the next tier of candidates are getting taken.
Malzan to Kansas.
Freeze to Ole Miss
I fully believe that DeWayne Walker will somehow end up coaching this team next year. No on should be able to be so incompetent.
"I have one word for you...Be careful."
-Jose Guillen
Disgusting
We are not even interviewing or looking at the options every other school is past the overrated Sumlin.
Freeze and Malzahn should have been phone calls we made.
Hudspeth turned down Ole Miss maybe someone can get in DG’s ear and tell him he might want to take a trip to Louisiana.
Strong, Fedora, Hudspeth the list is shrinking as we chase options that are long shots at best.
Hey, Walker's powerhouse NMSU team lost yesterday ...
… to finish the season 4-9. Plus, news reports say there were about 3,000 fans in the seats for the Aggies’ final home game. I’d say Walker is definitely ready to come back to Westwood and lead the Bruins to … ignominy. Congratulations in advance, Dan. What a terrific HC hire he will be!
Nope,
he’ll hire the latest coach out there without a job, can you say, CRN!
by TheUniversityOfTheMasses~Reconize! on Dec 4, 2011 12:12 PM PST up reply actions
At the risk of being scorned in BN
I voted “yes” in the poll.
Because no matter who we have as a head coach, UCLA football is a Saturday afternoon family event. We will go no matter how bad we are or who our coach is.
Of course there are too many alums like myself…which is why Dan has gotten away with his mediocrity the past decade. But I cannot imagine taking Saturday afternoons away from my family.
Now what WILL change is our investment. Unless we get CP or another coach deserving of our support, we will likely be relocating away from donor Sec. 5 to “family section” or even GA. I don’t see any problems getting tickets on game day to UCLA football games anytime in the near future.
I also said 'yes'
I’m sorry. I can’t do it. Call me gutless, but I can’t help but get down to section 6 and cheer the hell out of my Bruins no matter what.
I’ll still voraciously oppose decisions.
I have the Sons of Westwood on my iPod in my "favorites" playlist ...
http://sonsofwestwood.wordpress.com
Until you cut off financial support...
…then you are part of the group of people enabling Chianti Dan. You can type all you want. That’s just talk.
Talk is cheap. It’s time to step up, as hard as it might be.
And there's the scorn I was talking about
Sorry. My son (BTW, the Bruins are an undefeated 5-0 the past two years with him in attendance) and wife both love the entire Sat. afternoon experience. Neither of them understand or care about this mess. They enjoy the atmosphere, the band…heck even that inane Bruin shuffle game. I’m not taking that away from them.
However, when they call to beg me for my donation and season ticket renewal, I don’t have to tell UCLA that. Going from a donor, with 40 yard line season tickets and preferred parking to GA seats (or heck, even buying them on Stubhub with no extra funds going to UCLA) is still speaking with my money…and to a larger extent than most of you here at BN.
So please don’t lecture me about “stepping up”.
Priorities
Just out of curiosity, how much money will you be withholding next season (BTW, looks like we don’t have to worry about the Sumlin scenario anyway)?
You have donor level football tickets? If I go from that investment to GA seats (or stub hub seats), that’s likely more than your current investment.
If I withhold several thousand $s of my money, how is that being “part of the problem”? Non-renewal equals message sent. And if I love my family more than I love my alma mater and that is “part of the problem”, then perhaps you might be the one with the screwed up priorities.
I'm withholding a billion dollars
In other words, my e-peen is bigger than yours, and yes, you are a part of the problem as is anyone else like you who unconditionally supports Chianti Dan.
So I did a little looking into Fedora
I think we should focus on him at this point. He’s shown some improvement in his 4 years at Southern Miss, he was a pretty highly sought coordinator, he has been an EXCELLENT recruiter for a mid-major in SEC country.
He has experience running option based and spread attacks. Plus, his team just throttled the all time QB in yards and tds coached by what rumors say is our main target now that CP has refused to even give us an audience.
Plus, Fedora is a pretty sweet name.
Thoughts on Fedora?
We've been warming up to him the last few days
Especially after seeing how well-coached his team (proper tackling, QB making good reads and smart decisions, etc.) against Chianti Dan’s new flavor of the week.
Rem: Danny was a baseball player.
Notice that UCLA Baseball is top tier every year. Something to consider.
And from what Ryan and others have said
(though I’ve never been) the baseball facilities are awful.
Roses are red, violets are blue...f*** $C.
Why not Dantonio?!
He showed last night he is the anti-conservative donahuesque coach that UCLA fans have always wanted. Plus he’s had good years at MSU with three 9+ win season the last four years. The big knock though is he is 1-4 in bowl games. Any other thoughts on him and why we aren’t pursuing him (I’d like to think UCLA is in a better football climate than MSU)?
I like him
don’t know we can take him away from MSU when he is still building a successful program
Job Security
He has a “contract for life” there and we have a soon to be fired AD.
We should pursue him still thought you said why would he stay not why we aren't pursuing him
But I would be shocked if he left. Maybe if we had a competent AD…
there is some opportunity cost here
pursuing multiple long shots may not be the best strategy unless you can get quick answers.
No chance.
In spite our devastating loss last night here in indy he is not leaving east lansing with the program he has in place. I agree its not worth pursuing any and all coaches. It makes it look ridiculous. Got to focus efforts on a select few. Plus dantonio is a hard nosed defensive close to the vest coach. In 2 yrs bruin alums would prolly be calling for his head.
by mdwstbruin on Dec 4, 2011 12:25 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Come on students, coordinate something outside the Morgan Center.
I will take off work to join you.
by TheUniversityOfTheMasses~Reconize! on Dec 4, 2011 12:07 PM PST reply actions
Hot of the press....
With the list of coaches shrinking by the minute, there’s a coach out there that shouldn’t be overlooked Dan….He’s name is CRN.
by TheUniversityOfTheMasses~Reconize! on Dec 4, 2011 12:10 PM PST reply actions
I've given up on hoping for a home run hire
because no one hits a home run by accident. Gone, too, are my hopes for a slashed triple or a ringing double. At this point, a solid single looks like the best that DG can do.
Dan Guerrero is setting new standards for defining “inept.”
Let's replace Dan with Rick,
no joke.. ..at least he loves our U.
by TheUniversityOfTheMasses~Reconize! on Dec 4, 2011 12:33 PM PST reply actions
As a Public University in Calfornia
Do you think that DG has more of a responsibility placed on him, to look at minority candidates, as possible head coaches, as opportunities avail themselves? Like the NFL’s “Rooney” Rule, if that’s the case, it makes sense, that he is interviewing Sumlin.
If that is the reason
Than it’s even a bigger strike against Chianti Dan because he should be pursuing guys like Charlie Strong and James Franklin who actually have built a track record as recruiters and program builders.
Why can't we hire one of Chip Kelly's or Chris Petersen's assistants?
Or one of the assistants at Alabama or LSU?
Some of these guys are going to be good enough to know everything their bosses know. And the would all know what a winning organization looks like, coaches like and practices like.
there's got to be someone worse than Chianti Dan...
like the AD for IUPUI or Colorado School of Mimes? Okay, just 2 worse than him then
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Bruins Nation
Related FanShots on Bruins Nation
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
