(Rumor) CRN to Pull Scholarships Over Ditch Day?

by bluestreet on Apr 17, 2008 11:44 AM PDT Comment 30 comments

I am not sure how reliable is this poster named "money" on Bruinzone, but he posted this:

CRN to have individual meetings with all seniors today.

To discuss the ditch day, gauge their commitment to the program, and decide whether their scholarship will be renewed for 08-09. Rumor has it several scholarships will be yanked and a very LOUD message will be sent. Story should be hitting the blogs sometime this afternoon.

If CRN decides to pull scholarships of the ring leaders who organized this stupid, lame, "tradition" I will back him 100%.

These seniors need a serious lesson re responsibility.

Go Bruins!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

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Interesting Blue, but it's

A blogger, so I wouldn't give much credence to it until we hear some more facts.

Interesting turn of events indeed.

by bruinhopeful on Apr 17, 2008 11:47 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

Not even a blogger but a message board poster.

I am really curious though to see how CRN acts on this. This has become a pretty big deal and a black eye (in PR world) for the entire program.

by bluestreet on Apr 17, 2008 11:49 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

It's funny...we all assumed that CRN would try to turn this into a positive, but if this is true, this is definitely the statement.

by bruinhopeful on Apr 17, 2008 11:53 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not sure

I do not think that pulling a scholarship would be the best idea at this point in time. But based on the UCLA players' comments in the press, they DEFINITELY need to learn a lesson.

This isn't going to be a 3 game season. YOU CANNOT make up losses. You cannot just "make up" a missed practiced.

Remember what Florida did when their basketball team was not performing? They pulled removed access to all the nice practice facilities. I think that is what CRN should do something on this magnitude.

by dokein on Apr 17, 2008 12:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Billy Donovan

did the right thing. He saw that his team was simply making assumptions and taking things for granted--not appreciative and not giving 100%.

So, they didn't get to practice at the new facility, and they weren't allowed to wear the school colors.

It's symbolic, but it's powerful.

Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on Apr 17, 2008 12:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The part that bothers me the most

is that based off the press comments, no senior seems to have any regret. They all think they can just make it up in today's practice.

If I were Chow / CRN right now I would be thinking: we have two quarterbacks who are supposed to be leaders on the team. We have Kevin Craft, who is a JUNIOR and has the potential to be good.

If we are going to have a losing season next year anyways, why not just develop the newer quarterback instead of wasting time coaching two quarterbacks who don't want to practice?

I mean, that is going too far IMO, but if I were the coach, the THOUGHT would definitely have crossed my mind.

by dokein on Apr 17, 2008 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cowan

To me Cowan stands out as someone who really fucked this up. I have been hearing a lot about how his team-mates respond to him. He could have made a statement by taking a stand.

This is a kid who by some miracle has two of the best quarterback coaches in the country to learn from. And he blows it by leading the charge over the wall.

I agree at the very least this kid should lose his starting job and be bumped down to number 2 and Olson to number 3. Craft should get the first team snaps for rest of this spring.

by bluestreet on Apr 17, 2008 12:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I Think Ben Olson

failed to show real leadership here. He should have stepped up and convinced the seniors to do the right thing, and he did not.

Just thing about it...a quarterback fighting for his position on a team that is trying to dig itself out of a hole, playing for a new coach who doesn't really know him all that well. Does he stand up and say, "No, we can't do this, it's a bad idea."? No, he either decides it's a good idea, or he doesn't stand up. Either way, it's poor leadership.

Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on Apr 17, 2008 12:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Both Cowan and Olson

let everyone down.

In Cowan's case it's even more glaring because of all the hype we have heard around him about how his team-mates "respond" to him.

by bluestreet on Apr 17, 2008 12:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ditto For Cowan

You're right...they BOTH should have stepped up.

Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on Apr 17, 2008 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know how credible this is

but I will say that CRN has pulled all the right moves to this point so I'm going to fully support his decisions until he gives me a reason not to.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Apr 17, 2008 12:04 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

We were on Jim Rome

He commented on the ditching thing as well. This was on NATIONAL TELEVISION.

!@#$!@#$!@#$!#$%@#$%@#$%@#$

by dokein on Apr 17, 2008 12:15 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I totally support CRN

These seniors don't really have anything to show for their time at UCLA other than one win over U$C. They need to focus and get ready for the season.

ODIE

by Odie on Apr 17, 2008 1:02 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Even though he's gone, blame KD

He re-instated ditch day. He gave it his stamp of approval and these players were recruited by him and therefore under his influence.

by bluegold on Apr 17, 2008 1:32 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

You Know,

I'm no big KD defender, but I can't really hold him responsible for the decision that these young men made. It sounds like CRN expected them to be responsible and gave them the opportunity to get together and do the right thing by him and the team, and they just blew it. I'm sure he was very clear with them about his own opinion of this, and they just ignored that and did their thing.

You can't blame KD for this one. They weren't "under his influence," they were offered a choice, and they made it themselves.

I'm trying to teach my 11 year-old to take responsibility for her own decisions after she's made them--whether they end up being good decisions, or not so much. Surely I can expect at least that much from these young men?

Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on Apr 17, 2008 1:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Disagree

I blame KD for this too.

KD inherited a soft and weak program from Toledo which was having issues off the field. He cleaned up the program but still left a soft and weak program behind him. This falls on KD.

by bluestreet on Apr 17, 2008 2:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not a big KD backer either

but I agree with you. Did KD have an influence on this? Sure, he brought the tradition back, but these young men made a decision. It was a bad decision and they're going to face the consequences. KD an influence? Sure, even if it's minimal, but you don't blame KD. Blame goes to the seniors.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Apr 17, 2008 2:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you Bruingirl

No one forced the action. This reminds me of senior prank day at my beloved high school where a few students took part in the senior prank by releasing rodents/bugs in the gym. They were promptly dismissed. While a traditional prank would have been met with some detention, etc., their choice to make a mockery out of my high school led to their dismissal. Same goes for this situation--you embarrass the school, you're gone. And, to be politically incorrect for a second, the vast majority of these players aren't exactly what would be deemed "elite" so the leash should be extra short.

by bruinhopeful on Apr 17, 2008 2:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let's just say that the negativity

of KD's tenure is being felt today in one form or another.

by bluegold on Apr 17, 2008 2:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting Turn of Events

First CRN holds a meeting to assure the players who will be seniors next year that he will not set them aside and will not put the long term rebuilding goals in front of trying to give them a positive experience in their final year at UCLA.

They repay his loyalty by ditching.

I'd say all deals are off. CRN owes them nothing. If they sit on the bench so that CRN can develop the younger talent needed for the ultimate turn around, so be it.

If players like Craft are showing promise, I'd move them up on the charts.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Apr 17, 2008 3:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Good point

When you contrast the two events, the prank becomes even less acceptable.

Aside from all the practical reasons not to ditch (limited no. of practice sessions, new coaches, new offense, etc.), the players ran right by another reason, sufficient unto itself, to "ditch" the prank.

Namely, they embarrassed their coaches, and they embarrassed the university. In front of coaches and potential recruits, no less.

by Bruinut on Apr 17, 2008 4:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Right on 66

It's like getting a promotion then immediately going out to Vegas to run up the company card (sorry...young guy analogy)

Any follow up as to any happenings today at practice?

by bruinhopeful on Apr 17, 2008 4:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hold on

While I never really liked this 'tradition', the fact that is it had been done each year that these players had attended the school. That makes it presumptive as an acceptable behavior. Plus the fact that the move had been originally instigated by the current head coach and his teammates back in the day makes it very questionable to take any real punitive action against the players. Saying that it was a lack of leadership by anyone presumes knowledge that I don't have access to.If I were CRN I'd simply make it clear that it is no longer permitted and MOVE ON!

by kauwildman on Apr 17, 2008 4:45 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The operative phrase is "MOVE ON."

Kau, I don't agree with the excuses you offer, but I agree wholeheartedly with what the end result should be. We need to move on. If there is some punitive action, either real or slap on the wrist, it needs to be done so the team can put this distraction behind it.

by Fox 71 on Apr 17, 2008 5:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Making a Statement

CRN has carefully crafted a "new" image of the program from day one.
All the positive PR, living out of a suitcase for weeks and weeks...seeking great assistance coaches, working the media, the fans, local HS coaches...literally taking back the city for us as Bruins on the strength of his energy, his will...his passion bucket.
Then this...how simple it is to flush down the drain all that hard work for something stupid. It reflects poorly on the university, on the team and on the coaching staff.
If scholarships are pulled for this I shudder the thought if the wrong people are punished...HOWEVER a statement needs to be made....now is not then, today is not yesterday..this operation is under new management and we mean business.
I trust that CRN and Chow will do the right thing to fix this and I know that right now there are some very nervous young men on this team...and they should be and, deserve to be.

by GemCityBruin on Apr 17, 2008 6:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

actually,

you can make up a practice, specially a spring practice day. come on now, really? would it have been better if this would not have happened and avoided the bad pr- ya. would have been nice if the seniors recognized that they need all the practice they can schedule to learn the new offense and get acquianted with the new leadership, sure. but it's not that serious, the florida situation doesnt even relate. they had a garbage season, our seniors missed a practice. schedule an extra double day in the summer, an extra saturday practice. i think it'd be a travesty if any players have their scholies pulled, didn't cheat on an exam, didn't commit a crime. the ditching of practice doesnt embarass the university in any way, that's just blowing things out of proportion. this is simply an unfortunate bump in the road in the transition from coaches. if you think missing a practice day in april will have any bearing on games in the fall you're off your rocker. maybe the attitude of the team is reflecting poorly, but neu-money will get it in order by then, trust.
quoting allen iverson in his all his eloquence- "what are we talking 'bout? PRACTICE?! we're talking 'bout practice? practice?!"

Across The Face

by rb bruin on Apr 18, 2008 12:28 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

As much as I like the AI quote

I think there is a pretty big difference between learning a new offense in football versus an NBA practice where they...what is it they do again in NBA practices? Learn new ways to carry the ball without being caught?

Also, we are talking about someone as skilled as Iverson. Do we have anyone even remotely that skilled on our football team? I would say no.

by Free the 16 on Apr 18, 2008 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs