The Last Dorrellian Friday [We Hope]

by Nestor on Nov 30, 2007 5:40 AM PST in Football Comment 20 comments

Ahhh. Here is a thought to start off our day. Hopefully this will be the last Friday before Gameday with Karl Dorrell as our head football coach. Let's get to our football roundup.

Dorrell has named a starter at QB. And he is going with the kid who injured hamstring, then badly sprained his knee, and then suffered a collapsed lung few weeks later. Dorrell's reason? Well here is his favorite beat writer (we assume) Brian Dohn:

Though it wasn't a news flash since Cowan took reps with the first team all week, Bruins coach Karl Dorrell made Cowan's start official Thursday. Ben Olson will be the backup.

Cowan won the weekly quarterback competition for a simple reason.

"Mobility," Dorrell said. "Ben, I think has progressed this week, but he 's still not 100 percent."

Olson, who had been out since Oct. 6 with a knee injury, returned to the field and started the second half against last weekend Oregon after Osaar Rasshan struggled. Olson was 4 of 10 for 64yards with a interception, but helped UCLA to a 16-0 victory.

Cowan has missed the past two games after suffering a concussion and collapsed lung against Arizona on Nov. 3. Cowan has missed seven games due to injuries this season.

Asked if he expected Cowan to start and finish the game or if Olson would be involved in the gameplan, Dorrell said: "We'll see how the game unfolds. We' ll see. I'm not going to rule that that's not a factor. It could happen that way. We'll see how the game unfolds."

And how does Ben Olson's status figure into CTS's latest decision? From Chris Foster in the LAT:

"Ben I think is going to be up and ready to play," Dorrell said. "He's not 100%, but he is much further along than last week. We'll see how the game unfolds."

Olson, who had sat out four games because of a knee injury, played the second half against Oregon last Saturday. Olson said after the Oregon game that he expected to start against USC, but that "the decision is not mine to make."

Given what we have seen in last few years, it is not going to matter who starts at QB for UCLA. It will still look Dorrellian. And again they way this head coach have been rushing in his players from injuries, compared to the head coach in charge of our major revenue program has been nothing short of stunning.

Anyway, the signs keep coming from all directions that tomorrow could be the end. Mike Waldner from the Daily Breeze joins the party and he has written a good one. Waldner channels BN and all other sane members of the UCLA community and lays out the reason why tomorrow should be the last day as the UCLA football coach for Karl Dorrell:

Dorrell's run is coming to an end for a number of reasons.

His body of work is below standards set by Guerrero when he was hired.

His teams are consistently inconsistent. In a season made extremely difficult by injuries, it is not possible to ignore losses to weak Utah and Notre Dame teams.

His recruiting, generally ranked good, has produced 13 wins against 11 losses over the past two seasons.

His constant harping on the time needed for players to understand his complex offense indicates lack of understanding how to tailor his playbook to his players.

His trail of fired coordinators is a matter of concern.

Waldner didn't stop there. He goes out to lay out his argument why UCLA should fire Dorrell even if he beats Southern Cal:

Start with his firing is inevitable. So it might as well be now.

The more time you have to watch Dorrell, the more he looks like Bill Barnes, a nice guy who did not get it done for UCLA.

Barnes was interested in hiring Jim Powers, the creative Santa Monica College coach, to run his offense. What Barnes was not interested in was turning Powers loose. Powers shrugged and remained at SMC.

Dorrell, forced because of injuries to Ben Olson and Pat Cowan to go with Osaar Rasshan at quarterback, did not tweak the offense to take advantage of Rasshan's athletic ability. Inflexible should be his middle name.

He worries about little things, such as which days which players should talk to reporters, and misses the big picture.

Like Pete Carroll, the USC coach who was fired in New York and New England in the NFL, he needs to move on to get another chance to get it right.

Granted, this has been a haunted college football season around the country. But if Guerrero is as tough as J.D. Morgan, the legendary UCLA athletic director when Guerrero was an undergraduate, he'll turn Dorrell into a Bruins ghost.

Well that is our hope of course. Yet Dohn is still chipping away making excuses for the worst coach in college football. His latest effort, an article laying out the academic excuse. The article is yet another pro-Dorrell hit job which doesn't include any comments from Dan Guerrero. It does include comments from Karl Dorrell himself and `several former assistant coaches at Pac-10 schools,' in the former of D. J. McCarthy (former KD scapegoat) and `UCLA insider who requested anonymity.' In other words this whole BS piece about UCLA has a hard time on the recruiting field based on quotes and arguments laid out by Dorrell himself or his supporters.

It doesn't list the fact that how notwithstanding these so called academic difficulties even with a loser like Dorrell, UCLA managed to compiled one of the three most talented squads in the Pac-10 last 4 years, and that is not taking into account the top-5 recruiting class for this year, which had been assembled prior to implosion of this season.

Moreover, the article once again fails to explain or provided answers on how despite all these alleged academic excuses how another UC employee Tedford has had an easier road to building a credible program than Dorrell? And of course the article conveniently leaves out the name of Coach Howland or Coach Savage, who also have to deal with the same academic standards as Dorrell deals with in football. These are questions we have raised before still not getting any credible answers. So yeah that article has as much credibility as any crap coming out of `Fair & Balanced'.

Then again there is nothing credible about Dorrell's pathetic program or the desperate shills/apologists who are still out there supporting him, making excuses based on warped, one sided arguments devoid of balanced facts.

Let's hope as Waldner said above no matter what happens tomorrow, DG will make the right decision, turning all these pathetic characters supporting a loser coach into ghost figures. Let's hope this is the last Friday of past miserable five years.

GO BRUINS.

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The Big Picture

Waldner puts it so well. Doofus misses the big picture. He is a failure at being the main leader because of this. He may be suitable in another role, but his personality is obviously not suited to being a head football coach. I'm assuming DG knows this very well, considering his experience and the role he himself plays in his own job.

I wish Doofus the best elsewhere, despite his abuse of our alma mater. Doofus scapegoats his players. Doofus scapegoats his assistants. Doofus uses any tactic at hand, including reverse racism. All of this to save his high paying undeserved job. It's time for us to move on.

Speaking of racism, blame Streeter all you want but he did us a favor by exposing Doofus's true colors. Doofus took the bait and showed us who he truly is.

And speaking of pay, did anyone else catch the article that shows Joe Paterno only makes around $500k a year? Now I'm even more disgusted at what Doofus gets payed.

by Undertow on Nov 30, 2007 8:26 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

The article on Paterno?

I didn't see it. Are you sure it wasn't his sone - Jay Paterson - PSU' OC?

by Nestor on Nov 30, 2007 8:28 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

It's true--a little over $500k

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/bigten/2007-11-29-paterno-salary_N.htm

by Barnes2JJ on Nov 30, 2007 8:32 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

That is insane

I understand the difference in COL b/w Happy Valley and LA metropolitan area, but that is still ridiculous. I am surprised by that.

I don't believe KD's true market value merits him $200,000.

by Nestor on Nov 30, 2007 8:35 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

$200,000 my a$$

a UCLA janitor provides more service the past 5 years than KD.

by bluegold on Nov 30, 2007 8:42 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

Given the facts hard to disagree with that.

by Nestor on Nov 30, 2007 8:47 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Opportunity Cost

Given the enormous amount of lost revenues by having a Doofus as our head football coach, I'd say KD should be PAYING to be our head coach.

by bornagainbruin on Nov 30, 2007 9:05 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Not completely reflective of JoPa's salary

The article does state that $500k is not Paterno's full compensation, but only his university-funded base salary, which is like saying that Dorrell makes $350k as UCLA coach.

Many coaches receive substantial bonuses or outside income, but the retirement system data did not show other forms of compensation.
Paterno, who has been head coach for 42 years, a college football record, acknowledged Wednesday he makes more money than is reflected in the retirement system's figures. But he didn't specify how much.

by bruinhoo on Nov 30, 2007 9:12 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The CEO, the quiet THINKER, etc......

All these terms used to describe the Doofus, are nothing but attempts to mask the glaring fact that he has no coaching abilities.

He knows nothing about coaching football, so he delegates everything to his assistants. Thus, he is the CEO.

He dares not open his mouth to talk about coaching. Thus, he is the quiet Thinker.

And there are fools out there actually buying this load of crap.

I repeat, I will not rest until DG opens a news conference with "Ladies and gentlemen, I have an announcement to make regarding the future of UCLA football..."

by bluegold on Nov 30, 2007 8:40 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

How? How how how how???!!

How can anyone still make excuses for this Koach?

How can anyone who has watched even half of the games not see how bad he is?

How can anyone think that Karl Dorrell will bring success and glory to UCLA?

How can this incompetent poser say that "mobility" will be key against U$C's defense, then start a hobbled Patrick Cowan over Ossar Rashaan??!!! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE??!!

This is so damn predictable from KD it's not even funny. Hey, it worked with Cowan last time, maybe he can save my ass again! Carroll won't see it coming! Even though he said "we are preparing for Cowan as the starter" before KD made his decision. For crying out loud, you idiot!

My brain hurts from banging it against a wall. My fingers hurt from typing my frustrations on a keyboard. And my heart hurts at seeing our football program suffer. On Sunday, the healing begins.

by tasser10 on Nov 30, 2007 9:58 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

or

here is the obvious one: why announce more than 24 hours before the game who will be the starter if you are trying to give the appearance the situation is in flux? Moron till the last day.

by Nestor on Nov 30, 2007 10:08 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Pat's starting?!

Is KD trying to finish him off tomorrow?? OMG does he NOT remember that huge hit that Pat took last year?

by freesia39 on Nov 30, 2007 10:26 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Cowan's heart is too big for his body . . . I fear for his safety this time.

by charnaw on Nov 30, 2007 11:01 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Pat Cowan

How many times does this mom have to scream ENOUGH?! Where are Pat's parents? Sure, he's an adult but not mature enough to know when to call it quits. Again, I were his mom, he would not be playing.

Nestor, thank you for your insight. Thank you for this blog. It's been very enlightening. I'm sorry that I just recently discovered it. It would've been nice to have read it from the very beginning.

Alumnus/Parent '08/ Chancellor's Associate

by BruinMum on Nov 30, 2007 1:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Olson

Pardon my ignorance, but will Olson get another shot at QB next year with the new coach?

Of all the disappointing things about the past 5 years I think Olson's flop has to be #1. I am doubtful he will ever live up to his potential but he deserves another shot with a competent coach guiding him.

by njbruin on Nov 30, 2007 12:58 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I think

there will be a wide open competition in spring camp. Everyone is going to be in even playing field. It will be BO v PC v OR v. CF. Should be interesting.

by Nestor on Nov 30, 2007 1:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

BO has flaws

but he has strengths as well too. With all the injuries, his experience has been very limitied on the field. I feel bad for the guys on the team that are being held back by KD and his pathetic WCO. Everytime I see BB, I picture McElroy. I would love to see that speed being used instead of 5 yard outs. I see some Kevin Jordan in Austin too. I think Chane is being wasted and so forth. Is it just me?

I would LOVE to see a HC who can use the talent we have on the roster. Those Apologists whine about lack of talent. Way to support the players by telling them that they have no talent at all and we can't wait for their schoolie to open up so we can give it to the next hotshot recruit. Instead of addressing the true root of the problem, they just continue to pile excuse upon excuse.

All these kids get a pass until they are evaluated by a "Real" coach.

by BlueReign on Nov 30, 2007 1:37 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I've lost all respect for Dohn

The day before Dorrell's last game, he lays out the "academic requirements" excuse. Let's see, despite these high academic requirements, UCLA's classes basically rate with Cal and Oregon as the 2nd-4th in the Pac-10. With that talent, Oregon was headed for the national championship game until Dixon got hurt and Cal was ranked #2 before Longshore got hurt and the season went into a tailspin (like the 2001 Bruins). Meanwhile, we get no traction, just ceaseless 6-6 seasons.

Given the sheer size of UCLA's recruiting base in SoCal and the university's other positive attributes, these incrementally higher standards should not (and seem not to) make it more difficult to recruit at UCLA. If anything, it just takes away some of these natural advantages. (Interesting that despite these requirements and despite Dorrell's on-the-field troubles, our recruiting class is still in the top-5 nationally.) I would argue that with the right coach, we could still use these natural advantages to have top-5 recruiting classes every year, despite not being able to recruit guys with less than a 2.0 GPA Indeed, the academic standards make it more important to hire a great coach who can convince smarter athletes that UCLA is the place to go if they want to get an education, win, and prepare for the NFL.

by BruinsRule on Nov 30, 2007 1:32 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Grades

What a load of BS not being able to recruit because the schools academic standards are to tough? , I find that a load of BS I see Coach Howland having no problem bringing in top talent despite the schools academic standards or maybe it's just the players Coach Howland recruits don't throw teammates under the bus or are load mouth show boats.

by Bruin10 on Nov 30, 2007 11:52 PM PST reply actions 0 recs