On The Rebound

by Menelaus on Oct 30, 2007 8:28 AM PDT in Football

I was traveling on Sunday. So, to add to the disappointment of another woeful loss, I get to also spend three days away from my family. But, for what it's worth, I overheard a conversation at LAX that I, quite surprisingly, found relevant to us long suffering Bruin football fans.

I couldn't really hear everything that the two young ladies across the airport restaurant were saying. But, I got the gist. Something about a break up, full of drama. And something about a new guy, who was different and fun, but totally wrong.

The new guy, of course, was this woman's rebound guy.

That got me thinking about the psychology of the Bruin faithful. You see, we're headed for a break up. And though I know some of you aren't as optimistic as myself, I firmly believe that KD is history. Sure, I'm literally knocking on wood while I write this, but dude is gone. You don't need me to tell you why. But, dude is gone. This past weekend was it. Sure, Wyoming or Arizona or Utah or Notre Dame were each enough to warrant it. But, until this weekend, there was some doubt. And don't give me any crazy talk about winning a share of the Pac-10 title. If you believe that will happen, you need to stop dipping into momma's Quaaludes.

So, be it tomorrow, or December 3, we won't be talking about KD (or CTS, as Fox 71 likes to call him). We'll be talking about KDR -- Karl Dorrell's replacement.

Given this, the question that should be most pressing on our minds is: will KDR be Mr. Right, or will he be the Rebound Guy?

We already have some good candidates for Mr. Right. But I'm way more worried that we'll end up with the Rebound Guy. And the guy I'm most worried about is DeWayne Walker. Mr. Rebound himself.

As with the end of any long term relationship, there are some raw emotions. There's a lot of anger, and resentment. Under the circumstances, Mr. Rebound might look pretty good right now. You see, Mr. Rebound is:

Familiar. We know Mr. Rebound. That's way better than taking a chance on some scary stranger who might break our hearts.
Different. Mr. Rebound isn't stoic; he's charismatic. He doesn't speak in clichés, but sentences. Mr. Rebound is full of promise.
Comparatively Attractive. Mr. Rebound sure looks good compared to Mr. Wrong. He can sometimes stop a particular kind of offense. He has an actual personality. He can even occasionally talk about something resembling football.
Mysterious and Exciting. Though we know Mr. Rebound, we don't know everything. We have a friend who says he can recruit like a motherf'er. He also allegedly makes Cheaty Petee sorta scared. And we're told all those recruits will stay on for him. Better yet, he's has a Nixon-esque "secret OC" waiting in the wings to revive the Bruin offense.

Sound great. But, I'm afraid that we are headed towards a big mistake. Emotions are running high, and many of you, quite understandably, want KD gone. Not now, but yesterday. The geezers among us (said with much affection), have been particularly eloquent in advocating for KD's immediate dismissal. They have asked: why shouldn't KD be fired right this very moment?

My answer: because, if we do, we'll end up with the Rebound Guy.

Before I go on, let me ask the opposite question. What would be gained by firing KD right now (as opposed to the end of the season)? Mostly, imho, it would be emotionally satisfying. It would also would eliminate the increasingly narrow (I say virtually non-existent) chance that KD somehow saves his hide. And, sure, it is the principled, logical thing to do under the circumstances. But, more practically speaking, there isn't that much. What I see, more importantly, is terrible risk.

Here are my assumptions. Sure, they shouldn't be true, but they are:

DG won't hire the towel guy, or Dick Vermiel, or any one else, as an interim coach. If there is an interim coach installed, it will be Rebound Guy.
If the Rebound Guy is made interim coach, there will be tremendous inertia to hire Mr. Rebound is as head coach.
If the Rebound Guy ends the season on even a slightly promising note (a win against any of ASU, Oregon or Southern Cal), DG will not conduct a thorough coaching search, and after going through the Bob Fieldian motions, Rebound Guy will be our new head coach.
Once the Rebound Guy is hired, he will be our head coach for at least four years.

Dispute any of these if you wish, but I think those assumptions are rock solid. I wish they weren't, but they are.

My friends, we are at a critical juncture. Forgive the drama, but we are literally hanging on the precipice. The wheels are in motion. Our university has accepted a second cocktail from the Rebound Guy. And she's headed to his car to go for a drive.

We can't let it happen. We can do better. Way better. Mr. Right is out there, and can be hired. We just need to demand it.

GO BRUINS.

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One easy solution

Fire CTS now, and name Training Jay as interim head coach. Or Coach Scott (assuming the terms of his parole allow this.)

Before we can find Mr. Right, and before we have to worry about getting stuck with Mr. Wrong, Ms. Bruin Football needs to put an end to the current abusive relationship. Every day that CTS occupies the marriage bed is another day of inertia that keeps the abuse moving.

I really think that getting rid of CTS is the single most important thing to do. The CAD hasn't shown the willingness nor inclination to do that. We need to keep the pressure on him to end the torture. And we need to keep the pressure on him to have a set of criteria for a new head coach that starts with "proven track record as successful head football coach (which doesn't include anything with the word 'interim' in it)."

by Fox 71 on Oct 30, 2007 8:58 AM PDT reply actions

I hear that

You're quite correct that this is what should happen first, and we should do thereafter.

I'm just saying that it won't, and if KD goes now, Mr. Rebound will get sucked into the vacuum unless we're vigilant.

Then, to further extend my bad analogy, we'll stuck with kids in another bad relationship.

by Menelaus on Oct 30, 2007 9:16 AM PDT up reply actions

Let the captain go down with the ship

I think that we should let Captain Dorrell sink with the ship. If we fire him now, in the middle of the season, I think that there is a greater likelihood that we'll end up with Walker as our HC next year. All Walker would have to do is beat USC or Oregon to win over DG (which could happen, especially USC). Firing Dorrell now would only give us the short-term satisfaction of "revenge", but it could potentially saddle us with the long-term devastation of 5 years with Walker as our head coach. So let Dorrell finish out the season, let him sink with his entire staff, and let's start all over again next year. There is no need to salvage the Titanic.

And to continue the analogy, the difference between real-life breakups and our coming breakup with Dorrell... something tells me that we won't be drunk dialing Dorrell next season.

by 01 Bruin on Oct 30, 2007 9:42 AM PDT reply actions

Our "relationship" w KD has been so ugly

On certain Saturdays while watching our offense stall time and time again in RRPs, I have felt like drunk dialing Toledo from the bar, while drinking down my frustrations.

by bluestreet on Oct 30, 2007 9:45 AM PDT up reply actions

The only worry

with keeping him through the end of the season (without essentially declaring that he is gone) is the effect on recruiting. I believe that recently a few recruits have been wavering and/or de-committed already. I don't know if this is a legitimate worry, because I have no idea about who is still planning to come regardless of the head coaching situation. I guess the other side of the coin is that maybe athletes will waver if they don't know who the next coach will be.

GO BRUINS. HOOK 'EM HORNS (well, except on Dec. 2).

by uclawarren on Oct 30, 2007 11:38 AM PDT up reply actions

Recruiting

We could do a very long diary on this topic alone.

I am one who believes Dorrell should be fired now, even if it has a terrible effect on incoming recruits. My reasoning? We could have the world's greatest recruiting class and Dorrell will find a way to screw them up.

In all honesty, I would rather have a great coach and a mediocre recruiting class than a crappy coach and a great class.

If you have great players but they are unmotivated and lack focus, and they are stuck with an unworkable offense and coaches without a clue, I don't think you are going to get very far.

Does anyone know how Boise State's recruiting classes have ranked in the past couple of years? I'm not saying BSU has mediocre players, but I bet their class was below Oklahoma's and we know who won that game. And, they are having another nice season this year.

by Barnes2JJ on Oct 30, 2007 11:53 AM PDT up reply actions

You're right Barnes, but

how well will Boise State do next year with Coach Peterson at the reins (and at the reigns) of UCLA?

by Fox 71 on Oct 30, 2007 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions

Yes

My point, exactly.

by Barnes2JJ on Oct 30, 2007 12:03 PM PDT up reply actions

As coincidence would have it

I've addressed this topic in another post. Stay tuned.

by Menelaus on Oct 30, 2007 12:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Hmmmmm...

I think that we are in agreement that at some point (whether it is before or after the season ends), Dorrell will be fired. So maybe the issue of when we fire him is not important.

What DG SHOULD be doing is actively pursuing a new HC to replace Dorrell. He should be doing this now, regardless of whether he plans to fire Dorrell before or after the season is over.

Now as far as how this affects recruiting, this is where it gets tricky. Maybe if the Morgan Center makes anonymous leaks to the media, dropping names of possible coaching prospects, incoming recruits will get the message that we are serious about changing the culture of our football program, and they will sign. Sure, this won't get us top-rated talent, but it will give us a decent class to work with until the next coach gets his program up and running. Plus, it gives DG plausible deniability throughout the whole process.

by 01 Bruin on Oct 30, 2007 2:33 PM PDT up reply actions

Again I will float my idea here

Especially if KD goes 0-3 for the next three, fire him after the Oregon game.

That way, we get a temporary high in time for the SC game, but it is not enough time for an interim coach to build any kind of momentum to get the job.

And it also gives us a jump on some of the other schools that are looking for a new head coach. You have to remember, many other schools finish their schedule before we do, so timing to access get the biggest pool of coaches will be key.

by Free the 16 on Oct 30, 2007 12:33 PM PDT up reply actions

Forgot to mention

Another reason...some alums are so pumped to beat SC that they will ignore everything else.

I don't want to give KD another chance to save his job by beating SC.

by Free the 16 on Oct 30, 2007 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions

If it's not going to be now,

then just before justsc sounds ideal. I think you're on to something, Free.

by Fox 71 on Oct 30, 2007 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions

Rebound?

Did I hear someone say rebound?

Sorry, Ben Ball can't get here soon enough...

by psyberchologist on Oct 30, 2007 9:52 AM PDT reply actions

Unrelated

This is unrelated, but interesting. I just noticed that Bruce Davis changed his facebook profile picture to the infamous Karl Dorrell anguish photo:

Wonder what he's saying with that.

by ranelar on Oct 30, 2007 12:08 PM PDT reply actions

Is this a joke?

I'm too old to have ever explored Facebook, so forgive me if I'm showing my ignorance with this question. Is this for real or did you paste KD's pic in your post? If its real, do you think someone hacked into Davis' account and changed the pic?

by SinnerBoy 99 on Oct 30, 2007 3:13 PM PDT up reply actions

real

100% real, and I don't think anyone hacked his facebook.

by ranelar on Oct 30, 2007 3:33 PM PDT up reply actions

It's still there

If it was hacked, you'd think he'd have changed it by now.

by jaffa on Oct 31, 2007 5:09 PM PDT up reply actions

Mason & Ireland

I know that the following scenario was discussed in the past on why/how KD got hired. This is what Ireland (UCLA alum) said on his show yesterday on what happened. Ireland said that his source was somebody that knew the program. Whether inside or not, he didn't say.

When DG got hired, he was given "X" amount of dollars to fill the HC positions of both basketball and football. He used most of the money to get Howland as he felt he was the person to restore the program. DG then went to the administration and told them that he needed additional funds to hire a credible coach but was rejected. Thus, the hiring of KD. Ireland also said that KD would have a 2 million dollar buyout.

I think both Lavin & Toledo are now off the books? We've been upping the asst. salaries and if L&T are off the books, the 2 million buyout should not be an issue.

Just food for thought.

I don't want to get too excited about the DG comments because even when KD gets the boot, is UCLA going to go through an exhaustive search to get the right man for the job? Are we willing to increase his compensation if it is warranted? Getting rid of KD is only half the battle.

by BlueReign on Oct 30, 2007 12:27 PM PDT reply actions

Rebound Fears

Menelaus makes a very important point with ominous parallels that no one has mentioned here:

When Harrick was fired on the eve of the season in '96, Lavin was the natural interim coach (due to his incredibly good fortune of Gottfried and Romar having departed prematurely). He did well enough to support being kept on as the permanent coach, despite some very disturbing losses (48 point loss to Stanford sound familiar? Losing to Tulsa at Pauley in his debut anyone?).

I totally agree that Walker is not the answer and I fear that the administration would make the same mistake and hire Walker - because he's there already and (even worse yet) could be had for a much cheaper price tag.

We need a fresh start. Get rid of the whole staff. We don't need a coach with UCLA or LA ties. We need a coach with experience (but not a wash-up like Vermeil). Someone with head coordinator experience at a successful, major program like LSU or Florida.

The students and fans deserve a winner, year-in, year-out. It's no good to have a 10 win season if it's followed by three 6-7 win seasons. 9-10 wins EVERY year should be the realistic expectation (there goes that word again). KD and his crippling mediocrity must go. I am confident that DG will end the bleeding this year. There is no way that KD will win more than 2 of the next 4 games, and winning 2 from ASU, Oregon, U$C and Arizona would be a huge stretch in and of itself.

Yes, this has been an ugly, painful season (which I had already been predicting before it started), but if it was necessary to rid ourselves of KD, I'm afraid it was worth it.

by SactoBruin on Oct 30, 2007 1:18 PM PDT reply actions

Actually, several have mentioned LAvin...

... as an analogy, but it IS still apt.

Lavin and Walker's resumes are surprisingly similar, the only difference being DW coached at the pro level.

In any event, these guys have accumulated NO HEAD COACHING EXPERIENCE before being on the doorstep of a UCLA HC gig.

Do we REALLY want to go through this again?

The only time I want to hear about DW passing out candy to the kiddies will be on Halloween night, not in the throes of a future 5th year as HC with a .250 record looming.

"Because I'm tired of it. Year after year after year after year having to choose between the lesser of 'Who cares?'"

by Meriones on Oct 30, 2007 1:29 PM PDT up reply actions

I know of only one Rebound Guy who did good...

... and that was ME.

You see, the eventual Ms. M and her longtime boyfriend broke up 2 months before Ms. M and I started dating.

That was 4 years of dating, 9 years of marriage, and 2 kids ago.

And that has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO with who should be our next HC, but damn it, I just felt like gloating.

"Because I'm tired of it. Year after year after year after year having to choose between the lesser of 'Who cares?'"

by Meriones on Oct 30, 2007 1:24 PM PDT reply actions

You're a Bruin - you're entitled to gloat

(except for football of course.)

by Fox 71 on Oct 30, 2007 1:26 PM PDT up reply actions

Not only that, but...

... as others can safely brag, I married a former UCLA co-ed.

So, thank you, I will gloat some more.

"Because I'm tired of it. Year after year after year after year having to choose between the lesser of 'Who cares?'"

by Meriones on Oct 30, 2007 1:30 PM PDT up reply actions

That is awesome

Gloat away, my friend.

In the end, after all this football stuff gets put in perspective, we realize what matters most. Family and friends.

Nicely.

by Menelaus on Oct 30, 2007 5:13 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm the rebound guy, too

I met my wife the very night she broke up with the guy she had been seeing. We just recently passed the 1 year anniversary milestone. She's not a UCLA alumna (B.A. UMass-Amherst, PHD. UCONN), but she's on-board with firing Dorrell.

Bob O. (Signholder #3)

by TuneMan7 on Oct 31, 2007 5:32 AM PDT up reply actions

This is a PHENOMENAL analogy

and we need to not forget it.
the only way to avoid the rebound is to do a thorough emotional disconnect.

i think the biggest one word reason behind rebounds is INSECURITY. at Ucla we should have no reason to be insecure, we are a great place to work and should be able to get the best of the best in terms of coaching.

by glassbruin on Oct 30, 2007 4:12 PM PDT reply actions

To take your analogy further

UCLA is like the great popular kid, smart, has everything going for him, but he has a sh!tty car, so he's scared to ask the beautiful girl to the prom.

At UCLA our insecurity is our lack of money (the sh!tty car) to spend on a coach, or at least it was for Dalis and co.

Once Barnett turned us down way back then when he was at Northwestern, we got completely gun shy, too chicken to ask out the "hot coach" ever again.

Again, I think this is a new era, and it is up to DG to show the world it is no longer business as usual at UCLA, because we now can afford the hot car!

by Free the 16 on Oct 30, 2007 5:04 PM PDT up reply actions

Great post M

And I am looking forward to reading your take on recruiting.

This whole worrying about keeping recruits is bunch of huey. I think we all need to worry about getting a good coach first before worrying about holding on to our class. If we get a good coach, these recruits even the one who are decommitting will hang on to UCLA. And a good coach will not only eventually hold on to our good recruits, but bring in better classes in the future.

Right now our paramount concern should be coaching, not recruiting.

by Nestor on Oct 30, 2007 6:06 PM PDT reply actions

i agree with this

as someone who hasn't had time to delve into the diaries, has there been any analysis/posts on how AZ state has been able to make such a dramatic rebound with the ex-thug coach? i think that is a great practical example of where the coaching brings the best out of whatever talent is there and then builds to the next level

by glassbruin on Oct 31, 2007 8:31 AM PDT up reply actions

Time to Go

There is a time for everything. The time has now come for Coach Dorrell to bow out gracefully, and take his coaching staff with him. Notre Dame will be looking for a new coach at the end of the year . . .

The big problem with our Bruins is not that the players aren't performing -- although they are not -- but the unimaginative playcalling and the inability of the current coaching staff to regroup at half time.

Oh how I remember the Terry Donahue days. Down 28 points at the half, Donahue and his magicians would make a few adjustments and blow through the opposition.

Dorrell is simply as dull and unimaginative as his field presence indicates. His assistant coaches don't appear to have any imagination or the ability to adjust. What a miserable season. Let me rephrase that - what another miserable season. So full of promise.

Tommy Prothro's ghost is turning in his grave. Where is all the imagination? 100 NCAA championships, and a miserable football team. Again!

I bleed Bruin blue. Sadly, in football bleeding is all I do.

by MalibuBruin67 on Nov 4, 2007 1:42 PM PST reply actions