Bruin Bites: Happy Father’s Day, BruinsNation Turns 8 & Other UCLA Notes

What a special day today is here on BruinsNation.

First of all, we want to wish a Happy Father's Day to all the Bruins Dads here on BN. Hope you have a fantastic day which ends with a win for our boys in Nebraska later this afternoon (first pitch is scheduled for 5 pm PS).

Second, today also happens to be the 8^th anniversary of Bruins Nation. That's right. Eight years ago today - Odyessus, Ajax and yours truly - officially opened this place up, moving our little corner from this little blogspot to over here as the first non-baseball team blog on SBNation. Reflect on that for a minute - as we have seen so many blogs launch and then close shop all over the internets. Before there was any blog from the NFL, NBA or any other college football/basketball program here on SBN, this little place - "Blog of the Bruins, for the Bruins and by the Bruins" - got the party started on a network that has exploded into something special.

It is impossible to go over what we have been collectively been through in last 8 years as a community which in many ways has been one of the gloomiest decade in the world of major revenue programs of UCLA Athletics. But it's a testament to the core spirit of UCLA Blue and Gold bleeding alums and students that have powered this place through the hard times, cynical times but at the same time amplified the euphoria in the good times through humor, snark, (frank and biting) analysis, and most importantly raw passion. If you haven't had the chance to we recommend going through reading the stories on why we bleed blue and gold here, here and here.

We will see if we get to 10, but so far it's something we feel good about and is also reflective of the power of community that has been built here for the years.

On to some (football heavy) notes on this special Sunday:

• ICYMI earlier this past week (to no one's surprise) it was announced that pre-season All American LB Anthony Barr and super stud OL Xavier Su'a-Filo will represent our Bruins at next month's Pac-12 Media Day. Sony Studios Lot in Culver City will host the event on July 26.
• This past week there has also been a lot of discussion about UCLA offering an 8th grader QB from Texas. The story was fanshotted here but as noted in the comment threads despite all the national hype the story looks suspect. I really hope the story is not true because if there is some validity to it, I'd think it's just as disturbing as how we all felt when we read this story more than three years ago.
• On Dad's day it's worth noting the son of the greatest NFL receiver of all time Jerry Rice Jr. is transferring to UNLV to finish out his last remaining year of eligibility as a college receiver. Jerry walked on at UCLA three years ago. From everything I have read and heard about him he has been a solid Bruin and the Rice family have been awesome. Hopefully he will get lot more PT as the Rebels and finish out his college career with a great year in Vegas.
• Lastly Jet Ski and his fellow NFL rookies recently had some fun interviewing each other at the NFLPA rookie premiere. Here is the video in case you hadn't seen it (courtesy of SBN):
  
  Jet Ski as always doing smooth work on camera.

As mentioned above - the first pitch for today's CWS game against LSU is scheduled for 5 pm PST. Once again a Happy Father's Day to everyone here and let's get a win tonight

GO BRUINS.