Seniors = Key Part of CRN's Revitalization Plans

by Nestor on Apr 12, 2008 10:20 AM PDT in Football Comment 8 comments

If you think CRN in his effort to revitalize Dorrell era's listless program, is going to engage in some kind of weeding out process involving seniors, think again.

Chris Foster from the LA Times has an article on how CRN reached out to the seniors of our football program in his first days as the UCLA new football coach:

Day One. Meeting One. Question One.

Rick Neuheisel, still with that new-car smell as UCLA's football coach, wasted little time getting to the point in January. In his first meeting with the Bruins, he had all the seniors raise their hands and asked, "What does rebuilding mean to you?"

Neuheisel already had an answer for them.

"It means, 'To heck with the seniors, we're rebuilding for the future,' " Neuheisel said. "I don't think that's right."

With that, Neuheisel headed down the path many first-year coaches follow, trying to lead his team away from a bad case of senioritis.

The Bruins, who scrimmage today, have 19 seniors on scholarship, 11 of whom could be starters in the fall. The group ranges from quarterback Ben Olson, who has one chance left to reach the lofty projections set for him, to Marcus Everett, who was granted a fifth year of eligibility, to cornerback Michael Norris, who has waited in line to be a starter. [...]

Neuheisel has said of his seniors-to-be, "They all came here to win and take the program to a higher level. Why would we wait?"

In some ways CRN's approach in Howlandesque. After all it was Coach Howland who depended on the senior leadership of Dijon Thompson, Ced Bozeman and Ryan Hollins to jump start our hoops program. Instead of trying to scapegoat players from previous era, Howland was able to brilliantly mix experience talent from the previous era (who were never received competent coach) with the tale with the infusion of fresh talent he brought into the program to form the foundation of his current successful program. For Coach Neuheisel to jump start our football program he will have to do much of the same.

That is why it's not prudent for anyone to give up on players like Olson, Everett, Norris or any other seniors, until they have finished their careers at UCLA. They still have ways to go.

And I am hopeful that there is a decent chance that they will able to revitalize not only their individual careers but also play key roles in building a solid foundation of what should be one of the premiere football programs in the nation.

GO BRUINS.

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This is GREAT stuff

There's the distinct feeling that he's out there wanting to win for the players. Just like we saluted Ced, Ryan, and Dijon for truly buying into the Howland system and reestablishing UCLA Basketball as we know it, seniors that help CRN make next year a success will also help future years be successful, and they too will not be forgotten.

by Tydides on Apr 12, 2008 10:43 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeap

This is why people should think twice before spouting off and dismissing BO as a "bust." Reminds me of the same people who were dismissing Ced by his senior year. We know how that story turned out.

by Nestor on Apr 12, 2008 10:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

speaking of Ced...

Can anyone read Polish?
Google Translator can't translate from Polish to English:
http://www.energa-czarni.pl/114183.dhtml

I hope this means that he's kicking butt in the polish leagues...

by sfatoo on Apr 12, 2008 9:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Carson Palmer

He was considered a bust. Then there was a coaching change, and suddenly he's a Heisman winner and number 1 overall pick. People seem to think that it will take a long time for players to get better, but for some players, who already have the physical skills, the light bulb can go off really quick with the proper coaching. I think Ben will have a very good senior season as long as he's healthy.

by UCLA4Life on Apr 12, 2008 11:09 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Keep in mind

It took Palmar 2 years to break out under Chow. It was during his second year under Chow when he exploded in the national scene. BO will have one season. Nevertheless the point remains though ... no one should give up on our players.

by Nestor on Apr 12, 2008 11:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know

but it seems Ben Olsen is familiar with Norm Chow from the past so I would think the learning curve would be a little shorter. Plus you forget one important aspect about the two, Palmer went to usc, so naturally it would take longer to learn things. :)

by UCLA4Life on Apr 12, 2008 12:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Expectations

While we may lose many of the games were expected to lose, I have a pretty good feeling we won't be blown out by teams we're favored to beat by double digits (like last year).

I believe that there is enough talent on this team to at least be competitive in every game. And with the energy, fire, and passion that CRN and his staff are instilling now and come fall, we may surprise some people.

"You don't make it to the Final Four three straight times for no reason..Obviously coaching has something to do with it." Darren Collison

by godblesstyus95 on Apr 12, 2008 11:49 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Much will depend on the O line

Even the simplest scheme requires a strong O line. That's why I'm pleased to read that the new coaches are focusing hard on improving this years players and looking to bring in more O line talent asap.

Ben Olson's tenure represents a terrible offensive "scheme" (that gives it far more credit than it deserves, and an ineffective O line that both made it impossible to gain yards and made him vulnerable to injuries.

I'll bet with the improvement in the line, we'll se Ben at his best.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Apr 12, 2008 5:00 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs