An ABSOLUTE NO to DeWayne Walker As Permanent Head Coach

by Nestor on Dec 4, 2007 5:05 PM PST in Football Comment 30 comments

While we all `enjoy' the suspense, discussions, and anticipating around the ongoing coaching search, I want to make one thing clear: DeWayne Walker will not be an acceptable option as the next head coach of UCLA football. Last Friday I wrote up a post laying out 4 tests for our next head coach: 1) no retreads, 2) no retirees, 3) no repeat offenders and 4) no retainers. Failing any of those 4 tests will not make a coaching candidate acceptable in Westwood. Admittedly I am now in the "undecided" category wrt to Mike Leach and can see the number of arguments many of you have posted on his behalf.

However, wrt to Walker I am not willing to compromise. We cannot simply afford to take another flier on an unproven assistant (in this case with only 2 years of experience) who has 0 years of experience as a head coach.We will not welcome him as the next head coach of UCLA football. More from DumpDorrell.com:

There is a concerted organized effort to get public opinion behind DeWayne Walker to replace Dorrell as our head coach. That would be a disaster. While Walker may someday be a successful head coach, we at UCLA have already gambled ... for too long ... and lost with that kind of bet. Let Walker prove he is a successful head coach on someone else's dime (our on-the-job-training shop is closed!), and if he does THEN we could take a look at him if we have an opening.

Walker's qualifications are worse than Dorrell's were when he was wrongly hired: 2 years as defensive coordinator, a 13-12 record, blowout and embarrassing losses to awful teams (Utah, Arizona, Wazzu x2, Notre Dame, Florida St.), a now notorious inability to stop the increasingly popular spread offense (Oregon, Arizona, Wazzu), and shockingly ... after having his senior laden defense come back for a 2nd year Walker made the defense WORSE, in nearly EVERY statistic, than last year!! DO NOT WANT!!

So after going through the drip-drip-drip agony under Donahue, Toledo, and Dorrell, coaches who came in without any head coaching experience, we are not ready to accept a similar scenario again. And we are not going to accept explanations of how Walker turned out to be the best option after a search process.

Make no mistake about it. If Walker somehow weasels himself into the head coaching position of UCLA, we will not only be back to square one, our posture towards his coaching tenure will be hundred times tense than what it was under Karl Dorrell. There will be no let up and he will not get the same benefit of the doubt we gave coaches like Ben Howland and John Savage, who arrived at UCLA with resumes of proven program building experience as head coaches. We are going to come at him day after day. We will not let up. We are lot stronger now than the three of us were when we started talking at this little place more than three years ago. We now number in thousands.

So if you are from Morgan Center or Murphy Hall consider this a simple message.

We want someone who has a proven program building experience as a head coach. Which means once again an absolute no to DeWayne Walker as the next head coach of UCLA football.

GO BRUINS.

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Could not Agree More

My only question is who are these people pushing for DW?

Are they the KD apologists who, having lost that war, are trying to salvage some sense of self-worth by imposing their will and trying to force DW's candidacy?

There are NO empirical arguments that support his hire.

He was a mediocre DC at best. Ask anyone who went to the Nut Bowl.

And, Nestor is right about this year's senior laden defense.

We were told we had the best defensive backfield in the nation. Because we could not rush passers, and cover receivers, we got killed by passing games.

He does not meet the standards DG set in his press conference.

And, frankly, you cannot tell me that he is the only coach in America who can successfully recruit for UCLA.

I don't believe it and neither should anyone else.

I am a Leach supporter. There was a time when we recruited well in Texas -- a state known for high school football fanaticism. I would think he could re-open that pipeline.

We lost contact with the inner-city LA schools under Toledo. Those channels are now open and I do not believe that any new coach won't work to keep them open. DW is not the only coach who can recruit in those schools.

The Matt Moore fiasco cost us recruiting credibility to one of the area's most talented programs. We gained some cred back, there.

Great coaches recruit wherever they are called to recruit. They put together staffs that allow them to appeal to a diverse group of student athletes.

Being a good recruiter is not justification for becomming a HC.

This is not a training ground. And, DW needs training.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Dec 4, 2007 5:18 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

From what I've seen...

They're mostly former Dorrell supporters who only accepted that he should be fired in the last month or so.

by SuperBruinMan on Dec 4, 2007 5:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

And from what I have seen

There are still lot of these morons infesting the message boards.

by Nestor on Dec 4, 2007 6:33 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeap

And guess what was one of the main selling point when people pimped Dorrell five years ago: "he will be a dynamic recruiter!"

by Nestor on Dec 4, 2007 6:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Two things

I agree with Nestor and sjh re Coach Walker. He is, at best, an adequate coach generating numbers which put him about 35th among DC's. 35th out of 119 is not good enough for me, and it shouldn't be enough for anyone else, either.

And point number two - I got a look at the original "Fire [CTS]" post. It's sort of like a peek at the original Constitution. Or a Mickey Mantle rookie card.

by Fox 71 on Dec 4, 2007 5:53 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

You also have DumpDorrell.com

We have said we are done ... but hiring Walker might keep us in this fight. From Day 1!! We did not start DD to get Dorrell fired. We started DD to bring back excellence to our football program. Dorrell is irrelevent now ... but we are still live because we have not completed the task. Walker does not complete the task.

We are with you. We have power now!!

editor, DumpDorrell.com ... formerly posted as DumpDorrell

by BruinCore on Dec 4, 2007 6:19 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Core -- You're right

We've only taken the first step.

We still do not have a coach who can lead us to greatness.

DG's quick action and then thoughtful comments during the press conference have put us on the right path.

But, until we have a coach who can take us to the next level, we must remain active.

And, DW is not that person.

I am just stunned that there are those, including writers, who support him. Stunned.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Dec 4, 2007 6:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

BC

We are going to pound this narrative home in the coming days. If you guys can help out the effort, it would be huge.

This is very very important to us. We simply cannot have UCLA go down this road of hiring an unproven assistant again. And until I see something definitive that it is not going to happen I am not going to relent.

To me this is more important than deciding among Mariucci or Petersen or Leach or even Mike Riley.

Walker as UCLA head coach means we are back where we started on December 3rd and it would also mean our total loss of confidence in the leadership of Dan Guerrero.

by Nestor on Dec 4, 2007 6:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I ABSOLUTELY agree!

by UCngLA on Dec 4, 2007 6:24 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Fascination with DW

Those who visit the kiddie playground, as I do, will see that

"Are they the KD apologists who, having lost that war, are trying to salvage some sense of self-worth by imposing their will and trying to force DW's candidacy?"

is in full force there. Emotional distraught and worried about losing all the incoming recruits and then taking years if not decades to recover. This is all NOISE, so just ignore it and plow on, IMO.
Bill

BillSouthBay

by Mensgym on Dec 4, 2007 6:41 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I am not going to ignore it

until I see tangible evidence that this unacceptable scenario will not come into fruition.

by Nestor on Dec 4, 2007 6:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with Bill

I think Guerrero was very clear about wanting a coach with head coaching experience. I think the odds of selecting another unproven coach is slim and none and slim left town...Let's focus on the positive...What are the positives for selecting the named and perhaps unamed coaches. You read right, let's focus on the positives...Dorrell occupied 5 years of our lives with negatives.

by Gary72 on Dec 4, 2007 6:48 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Viable candidates seem to be dropping

like flies.

Petersen - gave us ("that place") the middle finger.

Mariucci/Leach - pricing themselves out of the picture.

Neuheisel - apparently to shady a background.

Each candidate dropping out, props up DW's chances.

Doomsday scenario, Part II: DW hired due to DG's ineptitude once again. DW wins 7-9 games annually, periodic trip to Holiday Bowl. Complacent fans happy as clams. DW remains for two decades.

by bluegold on Dec 4, 2007 7:21 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Eh

I hear what you are saying but that is what is called negotiations. Mariucci or Leach can ask for $10 million, doesn't mean they will get it.

I think that this stage Petersen supporters should genuinely move on. I think he would be a fine choice but I think he has made it pretty clear he doesn't want the job. Now, that might change, nothing is definite until ink meets paper, but we need to be rational here.

Nestor, how much of this support is actual behind the scenes posturing by Walker and "his people", and how much of it is loser Dorrell and Trojan fans flamebaiting online? It might be easy to overemphasize the latter.

by njbruin on Dec 4, 2007 7:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I definitely

believe there is lot of behind the scenes posturing going on by Walker and his cadre of supporters within Morgan Center and I can also sense a coordinated internet campaign on his behalf.

If Walker becomes HC it will be a prolong civil war in UCLA football and we will fight with everything we got.

by Nestor on Dec 5, 2007 4:44 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with Gary

It's time to let DG do his job. We need to lower the volume. He know's that, at this time in our program, there is no way we can accept a coordinator with no head coaching experience. This is Big Boy Football. We need a proven winner with OFFENSIVE innovations. That eliminates ANY defensive Coordinator getting this job. That being said, I still think that DW could be an asset going forward. He is regularly pilloried in these posts for his lack of success at stopping the spread. Well, so are a lot of other dc's. You see anybody else dominating the spread? If you have a better idea for DC let's hear it.

by BruinAl on Dec 4, 2007 7:28 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I'm Concerned

Petersen seems to be off the list. Mooch and Leach asking for a lot of money. Sure, it's a negotiating tactic, but when push comes to shove, if money is the issue, UCLA will not step up. That's my biggest concern.

I've always felt like UCLA wants to do the easiest coaching search possible. Whatever requires the least amount of effort, that's what they will do. Hiring DW is so easy I'm actually a little surprised they haven't done it already.

I'm very concerned that DG will ultimately just settle for DW as the easy hire. I really, really hope I'm wrong about that, but I just have a bad feeling.

MIKE LEACH FOR HEAD COACH!

GO BRUINS!

by Quickhands on Dec 4, 2007 8:06 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

DW as HC is a tragic mistake

I honestly can't imagine any of the big money Pauley donors shelling out cash for an uninspired, vanilla head coach hire in DeWayne Walker. For that reason (along with many others), Guerrero needs to know that this coaching decision will probably define his tenure as the athletic director, even moreso than his hire of Ben Howland. Screwing the pooch on this hire could stall the Pauley renovations, which means the venue may not be ready in time for Coach Wooden's 100th birthday (the aforementioned deadline). Screwing that up is basically a slap in the face to one of the biggest legends in sports history.

Basically, piss or get off the pot, Guerrero -- either you want UCLA to be competitive for Pac 10 and national championships, or you want to make the easy and safe hire. They are mutually exclusive at this point. Decide.

by ytumamatambien on Dec 4, 2007 8:26 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

DG Has Done It Right, So Far

It's one thing to be vigilant and watch.

It's another to be critical when no criticism is due.

He fired KD, yesterday.

He made clear that he has set a high standard -- one that it appears DW cannot meet.

It's not DG's fault that Pedersen does not want to come.

I guess I missed the announcements that both Leach and Mariucci want more money that we are willing to pay.

That surprises me.

First, DG says that the money will be there for the right hire; I believe him.

Second, I posted Leach's numbers in another thread. They are within our reach.

I go down to watch Boston Legal and when I come back here there is all this negative stuff about how no one wants to come here.

The only person who has said he won't come is Pedersen. He has good reasons not to come and his last statements were respectful.

That leaves us Leach, Johnson, and others.

Chill.

We are only one day into the process. We will not end up with DW. DG will not hire him as a HC. Were he considering him, his comments yesterday would have been very different.

Enjoy the excitement and potential.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Dec 4, 2007 8:42 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

SO SAY WE ALL.

So say we all.

"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 Dec 4, 2007 9:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

heh

I, for one, don't enjoy the suspense. I want a good coach, and I want them now!

by melliott2 on Dec 4, 2007 8:54 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

caller on Joe Mcdonnell just now

actually said that UCLA should consider bringing back Terry Donahue. Excuse me while I laugh/throw up at the thought.

McDonnell did tear the caller's argument, and TD's record apart rather easily.

by bruinhoo on Dec 4, 2007 9:49 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Unfortunately

Big Joe has been pushing hard for Rick.

by Free the 16 on Dec 5, 2007 9:54 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Rick

may turn out to be a Howland-type hire, as far as his enthusiasm for UCLA (remember he was a walk-on!). Someone else put up a rather passionate post supporting him and it got me thinking. It would certainly be better than hiring DW, and at this point I would also take him above Mariucci.

by tasser10 on Dec 5, 2007 12:54 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Given that SC has a free pass from the NCAA

And the NCAA has been nailing Rick for years, coupled with the NCAA is probably still pissed about losing the lawsuit to him, I think Rick is a recipe for disaster.

by Free the 16 on Dec 5, 2007 2:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Thoughts

Much like the campaign to have Dorrell removed maybe we should consider writing the Chancellor and AD and letting them know we do not support the notion of Dewayne Walker being our Head Coach. UCLA should be seen as a training ground for coaches.

by Bruin10 on Dec 4, 2007 11:56 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Channel 7 KABC in LA

News just reported that DW will be interim coach in the Vegas Bowl and they showed a clip of their interview with him. He was asked whether he thought the Vegas Bowl was his audition for the gig as head coach and he had the audacity to answer yes, that he would be lying if he said it wasn't.

This could take on a life of its own guys. A win in Vegas could unexpectedly propel DW into the spot by default, if nothing else. DG should have made Kezerian the interim coach for the Bowl to prevent this from even being considered.

I hope DG has the good sense to not even consider something as ridiculous giving DW the head coach position.

by kdout on Dec 4, 2007 11:57 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

at least...

He wasn't lying about it. Anytime you get sent as interim HC for a bowl game, you're auditioning for the nation to see..

by blinkshot on Dec 5, 2007 1:38 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

if that's the case,

then Kezerian should have been hired back in 02.

by kdout on Dec 5, 2007 10:18 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

It really doesn't matter

Norvell is still running the offense as far as I know...and I doubt Walker can suddenly begin drafting plays to beat a pretty solid BYU team. We've beaten them once before so it really shouldn't be a big deal if we beat them again, it certainly does not show anything about DW.

by tasser10 on Dec 5, 2007 12:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs