Bruins Nation - 2013 UCLA Football Spring Game ShowcaseBlog Of The Bruins, By The Bruins, For The Bruinshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48017/bruinsnation_f.png2013-04-28T14:42:32-07:00http://www.bruinsnation.com/rss/stream/40400412013-04-28T14:42:32-07:002013-04-28T14:42:32-07:00Spring Game Showcase: Mora's Comments
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<p>Here are Coach Mora's comments after spring game showcase. He sounds like he had a great time:</p>
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<p>He joked about UCLA having an attendance of 50,001 beating Kentucky by 1. He was also beaming about all the Bruins who got drafted and are getting opportunities as free agents. He suggested this was the most nervous he has ever been for a draft, sounding like a proud Dad.</p>
<p>Not surprisingly he mentioned that he is not going to make much of out the tapes coming from this showcase because the setup was heavily favored towards the offense. Events like the scrimmage gives Mora and coaches an opportunity to see how some of the young guys react towards the Rose Bowl setup. He specifically gushed about the turf at the Rose Bowl and talked about how the perfectly cut grass can make impression on kids from out of state (apparently three kids from Louisiana were checking out the team) thought they were on synthetic turf because it felt so perfect.</p>
<p>Otherwise rest of the exchange with the reporters was fairly standards. Those guys didn't really ask any original questions so Mora was basically dishing out standard responses we have been hearing last 4 weeks.</p>
<p>GO BRUINS.</p>
<p></p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruin_football/2013/4/28/4279900/2013-ucla-spring-football-showcase-jim-moras-wrapup-commentsNestor2013-04-28T14:27:43-07:002013-04-28T14:27:43-07:00Spring Game Showcase: Video Highlights
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<img alt="Barr was fired up with the big crowd at the Rose Bowl." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1eo1LQyrMfR8Q8v7PUncr4fWClo=/0x345:4000x3012/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/12371245/20121227_kkt_al2_092.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Barr was fired up with the big crowd at the Rose Bowl. | Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Video highlights and official states from UCLA’s 2013 spring football showcase.</p> <p>Ralph Irvin has the highlights and interviews from last night's spring showcase at the Rose Bowl. The action got started a little late because of freeway traffic but hey what's new there. It looked like a decent crowd on TV. Pac-12 TV announcers gave us a number of about 15,000 while official site estimates "a crowd of 20,000".</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The highlight video above has comments from <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/38230/brett-hundley">Brett Hundley</a>, Anthony Barr, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162626/paul-perkins">Paul Perkins</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/113882/cassius-marsh">Cassius Marsh</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162613/devin-fuller">Devin Fuller</a> (he is now number 7 instead of 2), <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/113877/jordan-zumwalt">Jordan Zumwalt</a>, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162625/ishmael-adams">Ishmael Adams</a>. Hundley, Barr and Zumwalt sounded pretty excited about the crowd size.</p>
<p>Yesterday was the first time I got to see Perkins in action and he looked pretty good in that run after catching a swing pass from Hundley, which he took it to the end zone. Adams also got himself in the highlights taking on <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/136303/devin-lucien">Devin Lucien</a> on 1-on-1s and also getting himself a tipped interception pass.</p>
<p>The broadcast itself was a little choppy as Pac-12 TV crew is still figuring out how to make this fun for TV. I think they will get it figured out by next year. From the comment threads it appears that some of you were annoyed by Rick Neuheisel's comments as if he was taking credit for some of our recruits. I didn't see anything wrong with what Neuheisel said - given that he was responsible for bringing in Hundley and then redshirting him, along with playing a big role in upgrading the talent level of our roster, I certainly think he deserves some credit for the success. Neuheisel didn't turn out to be a good coach or manager of the program, but he certainly made an impact as a pretty damn good recruiter.</p>
<p>Anyway, here are the <a href="http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/042813aac.html">stats from the official site</a>. If folks have detailed observation from yesterday please share them in the fanposts.</p>
<p>GO BRUINS.</p>
<p></p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruin_football/2013/4/28/4279836/2013-ucla-spring-football-showcase-video-highlights-official-statsNestor2013-04-28T06:16:41-07:002013-04-28T06:16:41-07:00Grayson Mazzone One-Handed Catch during Spring Showcase<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://blog.pac-12.com/grayson-mazzone-ucla-one-handed-catch/">Grayson Mazzone One-Handed Catch during Spring&nbsp;Showcase</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>From Pac-12 Network: "Grayson Mazzone supplied one of the best plays of the spring with this acrobatic one-handed catch Saturday during UCLA’s Spring Showcase"</p></p></div>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/2013/4/28/4278232/grayson-mazzone-one-handed-catch-during-spring-showcaseBC_Bruin2013-04-28T00:05:29-07:002013-04-28T00:05:29-07:002014 recruits were there at Spring Showcase<object height="315" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AyvjRqI2xDw?hl=en_US&amp;version=3" /></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AyvjRqI2xDw?hl=en_US&version=3" allowfullscreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" height="315" width="560"></embed></object>
<div class="source source-img"><p><p>They were there in the Rose Bowl Saturday. Joe Mixon, Michael Lazarus, D.J Calhoun, Adarius Pickett and Robert Wilkes. How can you miss seeing them with those hair? Video posted on YouTube.</p></p></div>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/2013/4/28/4277844/2014-recruits-were-there-at-spring-showcaseLA Bruin2013-04-27T15:13:42-07:002013-04-27T15:13:42-07:002013 UCLA Spring Football Showcase: Open Thread
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<figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Open thread tracking live UCLA spring football action from the Rose Bowl.</p> <p>Let's get the party started here on BN. After about a month of practices (14 practices) Coach Jim Mora and our Bruins wrap up 2013 spring football with a "showcase" at the Rose Bowl tonight. Patroclus set up <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/2013/4/26/4271528/2013-ucla-football-spring-game-preview">tonight's scrimmage preview here</a> and there is not a whole lot to add to <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruin_football/2013/4/4/4185240/spaulding-roundup-ucla-spring-football-practice-updates">the detailed discussions we have had regarding practices</a> and the <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/administration-failures/2013/4/25/4268874/embarrassed-exposed-ucla-ad-picks-up-the-tab-for-student-bus-rides-to/in/4040041">general incompetence of our athletic department</a> in promoting tonight's scrimmage <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruin_football/2013/4/4/4185240/spaulding-roundup-ucla-spring-football-practice-updates">here</a> and <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruin_football/2013/4/27/4276000/2013-ucla-football-spring-game-showcase">here</a>.</p>
<p>The game is going to be broadcast on Pac-12 TV Network (it's a pretty cool network even though having this means you will have to suffer through the agony of watching our cluster**** hoops program). The festivities I am sure are already in full swing at the Rose Bowl. Mora tweeted just a little while ago to declare it is <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/UCLACoachMora/status/328266795641356288">already "rocking" at the Rose Bowl</a>. But the broadcast (first time ever for UCLA football) will start in less than two hours around 5 pm PST.</p>
<p>I would keep the expectations in check in terms of enjoying a spring game. I have seen couple already (Oregon and Southern Cal) on the network. They are bland to watch as outsider. But I think if you are a hardcore junkie of the program (like most of us are here) the action today should be interesting.</p>
<p>Obviously it will be fun to see super stars such as <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/38230/brett-hundley">Brett Hundley</a> and Anthony Barr do their thing. It will also cool to check in on guys like <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/113870/jordon-james">Jordon James</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/136303/devin-lucien">Devin Lucien</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162617/jordan-payton">Jordan Payton</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162613/devin-fuller">Devin Fuller</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162623/kenny-walker">Kenny Walker</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/113882/cassius-marsh">Cassius Marsh</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/113877/jordan-zumwalt">Jordan Zumwalt</a> beyond reading reports and YouTube highlights. But I am also excited to see guys like Jerry Neuheisel, TJ Millweard, Malcolm Jones, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162645/nate-iese">Nate Iese</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162628/fabian-moreau">Fabian Moreau</a>, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162624/kenny-orjioke">Kenny Orjioke</a> in live action to see how they are progressing in the program.</p>
<p>There are many other things to watch of course. It would be interesting to see whether <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/113868/dietrich-riley">Dietrich Riley</a> gets any action. I am also curious to see how our secondary looks and how the "running back by committee" works out against our defense.</p>
<p>Hopefully the Rose Bowl looks good on TV. If we had a competent AD, no doubt we get close to 50K at the Rose Bowl. I think we will get a solid crowd thanks exclusively to <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/administration-failures/2013/4/25/4268874/embarrassed-exposed-ucla-ad-picks-up-the-tab-for-student-bus-rides-to/in/4040041">the efforts of a fired up leadership of a fully engaged head coach</a>. But I will be shocked if it's a packed house give as usual Guerrero and his staff have done a pathetic job of promoting this on and beyond campus.</p>
<p>Anyways, should be fun. If you are watching the game fire away your thoughts in this open thread. If you have extended reflections please share them in the fanpost section. Those of you - who are at the game - have a great time and as always would love it if you share pictures and your personal notes/observations from the game.</p>
<p>Enjoy <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/british-open">the open</a> thread.</p>
<p>GO BRUINS.</p>
<p></p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruin_football/2013/4/27/4276218/2013-ucla-spring-football-showcase-open-threadNestor2013-04-26T15:05:44-07:002013-04-26T15:05:44-07:00UCLA Football Spring Showcase Preview
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<img alt="Sunset in the Arroyo Seco" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tfxMxFg4-W4H3H3xqok1JbxG-cA=/3x0:3996x2662/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/12231575/20120908_jel_al2_809.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Sunset in the Arroyo Seco | Kirby Lee-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>The Bruins wrap up spring practice tomorrow night at the Rose Bowl</p> <p>Tomorrow night, the Bruins finish up Spring Ball at the Rose Bowl with a scrimmage, series of drills and celebration of UCLA Football that coach Mora has referred to as a Spring spectacular. Per the official site, this has transitioned into the "Spring Showcase".</p>
<p>Per<a target="_blank" href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruin_football/2013/4/20/4247960/spaulding-roundup-spring-spectacular-and-count-on-me/in/3949281"> comments made by Mora </a>earlier in the week, the plan on the field is for the team to begin the session with a series of situational and general drills. Those will be followed by a 60-play scrimmage, split into halves - shortened from the originally planned 100-play scrimmage due to injuries and the resultingly short depth chart.</p>
<p>For the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruin_football/2013/4/20/4245196/UCLA-Jim-Mora-spring-football-Rose-Bowl-2013">hoped-for 50,000 Bruins making their way to Pasadena</a> on Saturday, the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/042313aac.html">off the field</a> activities start with the noon opening of the Rose Bowl parking lots for tailgaters and others looking to make a full day of it - while admission to the game is free, parking will cost $15/vehicle. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/2013-spring-game.html">The Fan Zone will open at 1pm</a>, with the same assortment of food vendors, UCLA merchandise and kids activities as we see during regular season games. According to the official site, there will be a pair of<a target="_blank" href="http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/2013-spring-game.html"> student bands playing </a> in the fan zone throughout the afternoon, so look out for that.</p>
<p>The on-field activities start at 5pm. At halftime of the scrimmage, a few fans from the stands will picked to come on the field to compete in a variety of skills competitions for prizes. After the scrimmage, players will remain on the field to sign autographs and take photos with fans. The night will end with a fireworks show, expected to<a target="_blank" href="http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/042313aac.html"> start around 7:45pm</a>.</p>
<p>On the health front, Ellis McCarthy will sit out among other injured Bruins. Kylie Fitts will be active and participating after recovering from a sprained ankle.</p>
<p><b>[Update]</b> - For people outside of Southern California or those otherwise unable to make it to the Rose Bowl, the spring game will be televised by the Pac-12 Network, starting at 5pm Pacific.</p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/2013/4/26/4271528/2013-ucla-football-spring-game-previewPatroclus2013-04-25T22:42:39-07:002013-04-25T22:42:39-07:00Incompetent UCLA AD Embarrassed Into Action
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<figcaption>Why are you hatersz giving me a hard time over $7?!!!! | Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>After being embarrassed by Jim Mora’s, UCLA’s incompetent and tone-deaf athletic department finally decides to pay up for student bus trips to the Rose Bowl.</p> <p><a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/2013/4/24/4264110/jim-mora-is-personally-paying-for-student-bus-rides-to-the-rose-bowl">After being embarrassed by Coach Jim Mora on Wednesday</a> evening <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/football/la-sp-0426-ucla-spring-football-20130426,0,167710.story">Dan Guerrero's Morgan Center employees finally <s>felt a little shame</s> woke up on Thursday afternoon</a>:</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/education/colleges-universities/university-of-california-los-angeles-OREDU0000192268.topic" title="University of California, Los Angeles">UCLA</a>'s spring game Saturday was going to cost UCLA students $7 for the bus ride to the Rose Bowl.</p>
<p>Then <a href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/college-sports/ucla-bruins-ORSPT000000294.topic" title="UCLA Bruins">Bruins</a> Coach Jim Mora stepped in. And then athletic department officials rethought the matter.</p>
<p>Mora had volunteered to pay for students' bus fare to the game, Josh Rebholz, UCLA associate athletic director of development, said on his Twitter account Wednesday night.</p>
<p>On Thursday afternoon, athletic department officials decided to pick up the tab for the trip to the Rose Bowl.</p>
<p>"I greatly appreciate Coach Mora's enthusiasm for the students, like we all have great enthusiasm for students," said Associate Athletic Director Mark Harlan, who oversees marketing.</p>
<p>"His offer is great, but the department will certainly pay for the buses on Saturday," Harlan said. "Upon further review, it was the right thing to do."</p>
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<p>Upon further review? They actually had to review this just couple of days before the game. Keep in mind it was <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshRebholz/status/327218934388498433">just yesterday afternoon Morgan Center was pathetically trying to claim that it already "subsidizes" the bus trips for students to the Rose Bowl</a>, failing to realize how Mora just completely embarrassed them by making the point that the bus ride should have been free.</p>
<p>For his part <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/2013/4/24/4264110/jim-mora-is-personally-paying-for-student-bus-rides-to-the-rose-bowl#158708601">Mora took the classy route</a>:</p>
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<p>Bruins, pls know that Shannon & I INSISTED on thanking students for their support. DG and the Ath. Dept. have bent over backwards to help FB</p>
— Jim Mora (@UCLACoachMora) <a href="https://twitter.com/UCLACoachMora/status/327589554729123840">April 26, 2013</a>
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<p>As <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/2013/4/24/4264110/jim-mora-is-personally-paying-for-student-bus-rides-to-the-rose-bowl#158745623">JoeBruin15 astutely observed</a> Mora is just being "a gracious host/employee/person doesn't look to show others up," and is "avoiding potential conflict caused by showing his bosses up while managing to build a tremendous amount of goodwill with folks and trying to fill as many seats as possible on Sat."</p>
<p>But what Mora has done with his kind and gracious move is expose the total incompetence and laziness of a clueless athletic department which just realize 2 days before the spring game that they should have made the bus rides for the students to the Rose Bowl free. Way to engage the students Chianti. Epic fail once again.</p>
<p>GO BRUINS.</p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/administration-failures/2013/4/25/4268874/embarrassed-exposed-ucla-ad-picks-up-the-tab-for-student-bus-rides-toNestor