SB Nation Los Angeles Editor's Pick
#VetoSeto: To Guerrero & Block - Which UCLA Fan Base Do You Want?
by gbruin on Feb 3, 2011 3:35 PM PST
Email
PrintYesterday was a tale of two fan bases. It was the worst of times, then it was the best of times.
Mr Guerrero and Mr Block, you need to look at yesterday and recognize it as a true microcosm of your fan base's experiences. You can see and read and feel the emotions and sentiment by looking at the fan base's posts and comments and emails and phone calls yesterday, and then make a decision on how you want to proceed.
The worst of times: We woke up yesterday morning to multiple reports that our football program was set to hire a young, inexperienced, Carroll disciple from our hated rivals. We were again faced with the embarrassment that our University was not only unwilling to commit the resources necessary to have the best football program it can, but would actually hire an unproven commodity who was in the center of the dirtiest and most unethical football program in recent years. We then missed on the first couple of big recruits we had our eye on, and watched young kids decide to spend the most important and happy times of their lives at somewhere, anywhere, other than Westwood. Then we lost a key recruit, who had initially verbally committed to us, to that same hated dirty and unethical rival. The school we strive in all ways not to be was preferable to this young man than ours. The fan base was disconsolate, disillusioned, furious, and ready to suspend all our support of you.
The best of times: The night ended with the glow of winning the trust and commitment of two highly coveted young men to play football for us, choosing our school over some excellent options. Then we had the joy and pride learning that the young man who opted for our rival actually had us in his heart all along, and that a beautiful family moment brought him back to us. This was fitting. We were further buoyed by the prospect that hiring that centerpiece of our hated rival might be on hold, and that maybe, finally, the administration was listening to its impassioned fan base. And the evening finished with a glorious return of our Ben Ball Warriors who played with heart and effort, who were mirrored by an equally intense crowd in Pauley, and who said that there was no way that a rival was coming into our house and showing us up. The fan base was delirious, hopeful, and overjoyed, and ready to support any program that showed that kind of effort.
Mr Guerrero and Mr Block, which fan base do you want?
The toxic and sickened group at noontime that was ready to turn its back on you, by withholding our attendance and our wallets, for your taking the easy and cheap way? Or the rabidly enthusiastic group last night that couldn't wait to attend the next game and maintained hopes for a return to relevance of our major sports with the right people guiding them, and was eager to support what it will take to get us there?
It's your call, Mr Guerrero and Mr Block. Which fan base do you want to rely on now and in the future? Your decisions on coaches, and renovations, and commitments to programs matter a great deal to us, and affect which fan base you get. We are not fickle. We are consistent. And you have the opportunity to choose.
Personally, I'd go with the best of times.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.
40 comments
|
20 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I wrote a more formal letter
mostly discussing how Seto could in no way sell to alums, donors, recruits, etc. It was some of this, with fewer adjectives.
Maybe I’ll send this, too. Those poor interns.
greg in denver, UCLA guy for life - BruinsNation.com
Please do
It summed up my feelings last night. Seeing the team and the Den pumped last night brought a much-needed smile to my face.
by bruinbabe2000 on Feb 3, 2011 12:53 PM PST up reply actions
Perhaps I was wrong.
My position was that the admin and CRN would not be paying attention to opinions of bloggers when making a decision like this one. I still believe it is a sign of weakness for a coach or AD to be particularly concerned about the fans reaction to a coaching selection. It indicates that they haven’t made a strong choice. Well, it appears that I may have been incorrect, as many blogs and news stories are mentioning fan reaction as a potential cause of Seto’s job offer being rescinded. If the decision was originally made to hire Seto, and they backed off because of public opinion, then we have bigger problems than I realized in the search for a new DC, and CRN really does have his work cut out for him to last past 2011.
You post is spot on.
I was not a happy camper at lunch yesterday when we were 0 for 2 and Seto was all but signed, dealed and delivered. Ask the guys I went to lunch with, some of whom were FSU grads understandably stoked about their class. I was not a good lunchmate to say the least. I was ranting and basically frothing at the mouth.
One of my law partners with whom I was at lunch yesterday remarked how much happier I was this morning.
The Morgan Center needs to do a better job or acknowledging the wishes of the fans or, at some point in time, there will be none.
BRAVO, gbruin.
Although I’d check on the recruit we lost; if you meant White, he did wobble but ultimately signed with us.
All in all, a very well-crafted post.
M
"In this program your passion bucket must be full to play SC." -- CRN, to Dan Patrick, 1/2008
he could have been referring to Pomee
A bruin is good forever, a Trojan is only good... ahh eff it, just use tin foil
gbruin
send me the addresses of the people you sent this too. I want to make sure i’ve sent mine to every soul possible :)
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
Outstanding, gbruin.
Beautifully constructed, perfectly delivered.
Your portrayal of two fan bases describes to a T the wild pendulum swings that probably all of us have gone through yesterday and today.
Your letter reveals the binary choice in vivid detail, and lets them know that we care which is selected. I hope that your letter is read by both AD Guerrero and Chancellor Block.
Drawing a clear distinction
in a thoughtful and professional way.
I’m linking this on FB and emailing my contct list with this.
I have a question in regards to this movement against the hiring of Seto
Let’s say UCLA does backtrack on Seto and hires someone else, but it isn’t Shannon or any particular “big name”. What’s the consensus reaction?
I'd submit the first reaction would be relief, but then we assess according to the candidate.
"In this program your passion bucket must be full to play SC." -- CRN, to Dan Patrick, 1/2008
What's your reaction
to a non-specific question?
First of all, this isn’t a “movement.” I think that everyone of us here has remained in a single place—namely, wanting UCLA to be athletically competitive with the best universities, year-in and year-out. We haven’t moved anywhere.
Second, I don’t know of any person, here or elsewhere, who can answer collectively for the “consensus.” If you can, then you already know the answer.
Fair question
Assuming there’s a list of identical non-entity, lackluster candidates, all fo whom look to produce the same product, and all of whom have identical chances at developing into a great coach, then you go with character. That automatically excludes anyone from the just$c* coaching staff, or any Cheatie Petie worshippers.
Like that trogan guy who was being (maybe still is being) discussed.
At one point yesterday
I stated I would be satisfied with NOT Seto. I still think I’m somewhat there, unless the hire was a complete clusterf*ck.
I was trying to explain to my roommate what was "wrong with me" yesterday.
and she distilled it down to something small and meaningless like “Oh, it’s just sports.”
I told her it’s much more than that. “imagine if you had family member you really cared about, and you come to learn that they are now dating someone who has a really shady past. Then you also learn that same relative is hiring someone to run an important aspect of the family business, and they are grossly underqualified for it. Now, imagine they are the same person.”
“Oh.” Not much else she could have said.
The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. John Wooden
by MexiBruin on Feb 3, 2011 4:21 PM PST reply actions 2 recs
Great post
I was going to post something along the lines that CRN could come out of this whole mess smelling like roses should we announce a hiring of Shannon tomorrow. Think about it…how happy would we all be after this whole roller coaster over the last few days if we came away with a guy like Shannon as our DC? Without knowing the behind the scenes details, CRN comes out looking good on this, whether this was his doing or not. I know I for one would have a renewed optimism for this program, and I think the overall tone of this community would be similiar.
It would be a stark contrast if we hired Seto tomorrow. CRN gets the full on Dorrell treatment should that happen, IMHO.
I hadn't thought of that
I can’t believe that anyone would be that devious. Have Shannon signed, and ready to go, then float a rumor that you were going to hire a total douchebag, so that your announcement of a real coach has twice the impact. That would be good.
I’m sure that trogan didn’t ask to be in the middle of this brouhaha. In some ways, I’m sure he’s a nice enough guy. Too bad for him that he elected to do what he did, and to aligh himself with who he did.
Getting Shannon
after 47 days would be better than the other option at the moment. I’d be happy with it. It certainly wouldn’t wipe away the clusterfuck (commonly used in context of the DC search, and I think appropriately) that this process became. Waiting seven weeks to hire a DC, waiting past signing day, does not equate to roses for me, even if he’s a good one. Much better than a heaping pile of dung, but not roses.
Roses are red, violets are blue...f*** $C.
I doubt that anyone here remembers UCLA v. USC in 1939, or the 1942 Rose Bowl, or the 1947 Rose Bowl or suffering until Red Sanders came along or marching in the Rose Parade in 53 and 54 (where I carried the colors) or . . . Coach for 15 years of may be yes, may be no before 1964 . . . But I do. Season ticket holder since 1970 . . . lots of UCLA degrees in the family (2 are mine) . . . O.K., here’s what I think. UCLA is now a second class athletic program. Of course I’m proud of 100+ championships (UCLA son was a stroke on a national boat) . . . but . . .
I don’t blame the coaches, I just think we’re also rans when it comes to money and cultural desire.
CLASS of 55
by 1955 on Feb 3, 2011 8:48 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
+1
I think that UCLA has always put academics ahead of athletics – as it should. But when the school was OK with cash and college sports weren’t such big bucks UCLA could draw enough great players to build dynasties (e.g. BBall & Men’s Gymnastics). It is notable of the 100+ NC’s only one is in Football and that was shared. Men’s BBall wasn’t as big of money maker 30 or 40 years ago so it was easier for us to grab up so much of the talent. Actually, even Football didn’t generate the ridiculous amounts of cash 30 or 40 years ago that it does today.
So why does UCLA look so bad at sports today? We don’t look bad at all sports just the big ticket ones where there’s more money and competition for it.
Our financial woes contribute to this mess – and mean we’re not likely to get out of it for a few years – but they didn’t cause it. Our athletic (FB & BB) downturn started in the Donahue years – some of us have posted stats on our FB program showing this. Meanwhile, Cal has built a decent football program over the past decade or so.
Taking all the observables together, I think that UCLA’s admin has yet to realize that college sports (well, FB & BB) has become big business and if you want to participate – and be taken seriously – you have to commit to it. Like any other competitive field. I think that many have identified Chancellor Block as anti-athletic … I am not sure that is right. I think that he doesn’t appreciate that the landscape of college FB & BB has changed. (and this change has been happening over the past 3 or 4 decades so there is no excuse for it). BTW: They did hire Norm Chow who came with an awesome reputation (sure hindsight is 20/20,but at the time, it did show some commitment to FB)
In sum – it ain’t that UCLA has gotten worse, it’s just that our main competition has gotten so much better. The problem is how do we catch up during a statewide financial crisis?
by KnudsenRockne on Feb 4, 2011 8:14 AM PST up reply actions
I doubt that anyone here remembers UCLA v. USC in 1939, or the 1942 Rose Bowl, or the 1947 Rose Bowl or suffering until Red Sanders came along or marching in the Rose Parade in 53 and 54 (where I carried the colors) or . . . Coach for 15 years of may be yes, may be no before 1964 . . . But I do. Season ticket holder since 1970 . . . lots of UCLA degrees in the family (2 are mine) . . . O.K., here’s what I think. UCLA is now a second class athletic program. Of course I’m proud of 100+ championships (UCLA son was a stroke on a national boat) . . . but . . .
I don’t blame the coaches, I just think we’re also rans when it comes to money and cultural desire.
CLASS of 55
What year was your son the stroke?
I was stroke my first year…but we didn’t win a national championship…we got dropped by the Morgan Center…
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
The good days...
was he coached by Newman or Sims?
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
Indeed
It must have been a great experience for your son. I hope we can get the program reinstated and back to that level.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
Amen! IRowing is the quintessential university sport. Such a shame for our great university to have cut it, especially when we were finally becoming a national power.
Finished 3rd at Nationals in 1990
Got dropped in 1991. Thank you Morgan Center.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
You know what, Tasser
I think it was your fault. You’re the second guy I know who rowed. The first guy, circa 1965 or so, got through just fine and the sport survived. Then came Tasser, and whammo! It’s gone.
I think you have some ‘splainin’ to do, young man.
Well put.
You captured the mood for all of us yesterday. I am hopeful that SETO is not in our future. I am hopeful that the many newly signed linemen and linebackers are the cornerstone of our team two years from now. Now we have to send Lavin packing.
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.
