A Chow/Walker 'Arranged Marriage' = A Huge Snub To Bruin Nation
Before getting to this post, let me say I am with Meriones in hoping that the rumors we have been hearing in last 24-38 hours are resulting from DG "playing things REALLY close to vest" in a total super-secret and leak-proof search process. Believe me, I would like nothing more than for that to be true. However, given our history during last three decades, I am also feeling the same anxiety experienced by Bruin Blue and others in BN. I also believe in the axiom that we have to speak up and let our views known before it is too late. I have it from pretty good authority that the UCLA athletic department pays pretty close attention to what we have to say. And I feel like when we hear or sense any possibilities or scenarios (even though if its a rumor) we have to speak up whether that would be acceptable to us. It's the classic case of powers that be floating trial balloons and the interested parties (constituents) responding in kind. Well, if this Chow/Walker scenario is 'a trial balloon (?)' on the part of powers that be, it is up to us voice our objections now.
So, with that in mind, I cannot emphasize enough what a joke it would be and what a huge FU it would be on the part of DG to entire BN if the following scenario (which is being rumored out of multiples sources) re Chow/Walker turns out to be true:
Posted by Bruinbalssy on December 10, 2007 at 23:23:07
One of the authors of a pay site says that Walker would like the situation where Chow is the head coach for a few years, and Walker would be groomed to be the next HC. THis would almost get everyone what they wanted. Our offense would be upgraded, our recruiting pielines would remain in tact, and the Trojans would really be pissed off.
It would be tantamount to Walker forcing a new head coach to enter into an arranged marriage scenario by essentially forcing his hand to retain him as the defensive coordinator on the next staff. Well, Louisville Cardinals (as I mentioned in my post last night) tried out this arranged marriage scenario with a new head coach - Steve Kraghthorpe - this season by forcing him to retain "popular" assistants from the Petrino staff. As my SBN colleague Mike from Card Chronicle (great blog covering all things Louisville Cardinals) sent me in an email early this am, that arrange marriage scenario led to a culture clash essentially destroying Lousiville's promising season this year (emphasis mine):
Kragthorpe achieved mild success at Tulsa, and if he had come in and gotten rid of all the assistants who had overseen the most successful period in the history of Louisville football, it wouldn't have played real well with the fan base. Plus there's also the little issue of a Brohm being on the staff, and in Louisville the Brohms are about as untouchable as you can get. [...]
What ended up happening here (according to various people who would know) is that the Petrino holdovers viewed Kragthorpe as "amateurish," and when things started to quickly go bad they let the players know how they felt. Kragthorpe went to AD Tom Jurich and told him that the holdover assistants were the reason that no one on the team respected him, to which Jurich basically said "tough shit."
I think if Kragthorpe had his way he'd get rid of all the Petrino guys and bring in all his people, but the fan outrage at getting rid of the proven winners and keeping only the people who guided the program to its worst season in ten years makes that impossible. In the end Kragthorpe did the only thing he could do: got rid of one of his guys (OC Charlie Stubbs), got rid of one of the Petrino guys (DC Mike Cassity), and promoted Jeff Brohm to offensive coordinator.
Obviously our two situations are very different given the manor in which our respective coaches left, but if I were you all I would be advocating wholesale coaching changes, both because of the ineptitude of your current staff, and because of the culture clashes that can occur between new and holdover assistants. Obviously, a lot is predicated on who you all end up bringing in, but that's just my two cents.
Of course, no self-respecting individual would get himself in this situation in which he has no familiarity with the current staff. Just take a look at why Grobe apparently turned down the job at Nebraska:
So you think we are going to believe any BS coming from Morgan Center (if a Chow/Walker scenario comes into fruition) that Chow will not feel insecure and not look over his back? You think we are going to believe the feel good BS coming from the Morgan Center explaining away how DeWayne Walker is not the defacto head coach who is calling the shots?
This kind of arranged marriage wouldn't even pass the smell test and will forever eviscerate Dan Guerrero's credibility. Right now, all we can hope for is that these rumors are not true and DG cannot possibly be dumb enough to take this kind of stupid plunge and expect us to buy the subsequent BS. I don't have high hopes for rest of the pencil pushers in Morgan Center, but I am holding on to hope that DG doesn't have this kind of contempt for his peers - UCLA alums and students - who have hung on to hope that he would be the agent of change in the rotten mediocrity promoting culture of Morgan Center that has so jaded the Bruin Nation.
GO BRUINS.
0 recs |
29 comments
Comments
Let's hope DG is just playing things close to the
If he goes with Chow/Walker arranged marriage, I have a very bad feeling. The scenarios being presented are absolutely ludicrous and really test all credulity. The idea of Chow as a figurehead with Walker giving halftime speeches virtually assures a power struggle/cout d' etat situation that will only make a bad situation worse.
If the Morgan & Murphy Axis are trying to come up with a way to destroy UCLA football, this is one that will do it.
We already waited too long to fire Dorrell, if they go with another failed, ill-advised experiment, it will take years, if not decades to rebuild from the ruins.
And there will be no quarter, there will be no trial period. It will be time for a new Athletic Director.
by Odysseus on Dec 11, 2007 6:18 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
If
With the mention of Grobe, I wonder if we still don't have a chance. He came close to taking the Arkansas job but even after his extension at Wake, he is reportedly only making about $1.5M per year. If DG can get to the boosters and tell him Grobe is a possibility we can maybe raise enough money to offer him a little over $2M per year and we'd have a shot. I don't think we'd ever spend that much, but I want to make sure that everyone is aware that UCLA still has top notch coaches like Grobe as a possibility if they're willing to spend.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Dec 11, 2007 6:18 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Urgent message to DG
by Fox 71 on Dec 11, 2007 6:19 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Well said
by BruinCore on Dec 11, 2007 6:42 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Washington St. got their alum... I want mine!
by class1984 on Dec 11, 2007 7:10 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
By the way
by BruinRod on Dec 11, 2007 7:33 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Here's an article on Rick Neuheisel
http://northcarolinastate.scout.com/a.z?s=178&p=2&c=710350
I know some of you may have arleady known this, but I think it was worth throwing out there for othere that may not be as informed.
by OutOThsWrld on Dec 11, 2007 7:33 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
funny you mention Arkansas
You can't force assistants onto coaches. Or any other position for that matter. You have to let them do their job. Part of that job is picking a staff they feel comfortable with.
by njbruin on Dec 11, 2007 7:58 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
thanks!
by drummersix on Dec 11, 2007 7:59 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Joe McDonnell
by UCLA4Life on Dec 11, 2007 8:00 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Coaching jobs
by BruinAl on Dec 11, 2007 8:04 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Good coaches still available!
by Lasurferdude on Dec 11, 2007 8:32 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Jimbo
by gorams77 on Dec 11, 2007 8:58 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Yup
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Dec 11, 2007 9:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Chow + Walker
by tliggett on Dec 11, 2007 8:41 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Chow + Walker
by Vegas on Dec 11, 2007 9:46 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Like Hill Too
And talk about homegrown talent. I'm spitting distance from LAVC where he cut his teeth parlaying local talent.
I just don't think ol' handlebars would get along much with the pansies we got up in Bel Aire.
by theREAL_LOGAN5 on Dec 11, 2007 10:34 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I want Neuheisel and Dorrelll>Chow+Walker
I read the NC State link a few posts up (big props to my fave prospect, Neuheisel). Duke offered the job to Spurrier? DG should call Spurrier and see if he has an inkling of interest in coming to Westwood.
I mentioned Hill around Thanksgiving and someone replied with a negative review of Hill. I personally like HIll's ties to Belichick, but that is all I know about Hill.
I know I am going to get flamed, but I would rather have Dorrell over Chow+Walker.
And I do own a Dump Dorrell tshirt - bought it when I thought dumping Dorrell would lead to a better HC option. I do have to state that I posted on this at one point during the season...something along the lines of be careful what you wish for and hope DG has a solid plan. I think the prospect of Chow+Walker is much worse than if we had kept Dorrell. I will be heartbroken if DG goes with Chow+Walker. I have zero loyalties to either of these men. At least Dorrell is a Bruin.
Seriously, if Mooch and Leach are out. DG needs to convince the administration to consider Neuheisel and Spurrier. Neuheisel will take the job for whatever pay we throw at him. And there is a good off chance Spurrier might listen to a UCLA offer.
Neuheisel >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Chow+Walker
by bruinliv on Dec 11, 2007 10:50 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Neuheisel is certainly better than
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Dec 11, 2007 10:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Morgan Center = pussies
Rick might lack a tad bit of common sense and he might be a bit sloppy, but the idea that he is some sort of ethical black hole where NCAA rules go to die is crazy. The amount of money he has lost because some lazy loser sportswriters (probably east coast based) smeared him with bullshit is double what that settlement was.
The fact that Morgan Center thinks these "lapses" are serious enough to disqualify him is shocking.
by njbruin on Dec 12, 2007 7:20 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
by bluestreet on Dec 12, 2007 7:27 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
No Chow
by blualien on Dec 11, 2007 11:32 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I could care less
Regarding DW, I like him as a DC. I think he has a lot of positive qualities and is a good member of the UCLA coaching staff. If I were taking over the head coaching job I'd be inclined to hold on to him, but ultimately it comes down to whether or not the new coach wants him.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Dec 11, 2007 11:41 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Uh...
Chow and Walker would make a great combination and they have worked together at USC together with great success.
If non UCLA fans see this as a dangerous rainbow coalition, who cares? Our chances for a national title just went up 100 fold. And the media will focus on the "white QB" or whoever anyways. Big frickin deal.
by 2pacalypse on Dec 12, 2007 12:47 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
You're right
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Dec 12, 2007 12:52 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
So what if they were on the same coaching staff.
Anyway, even if they were best buddies, it can't be said they worked together with great success. Walker was only there in 2001. USC went 6-6 that year. That's not success.
by jaffa on Dec 12, 2007 1:15 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Nice progress in a week
What has happened to us? CHO*w/Wal*KER is the best we can come up with in a week?
How do we get the message to DG that this two-headed monster will put him squarely in the cross-hairs?
by Fox 71 on Dec 12, 2007 4:51 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
I screwed up Choker
by Fox 71 on Dec 12, 2007 4:53 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
I think we can all agree
by JoshuCLa on Dec 12, 2007 5:13 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

by 



















