Bruins Nation - Jim Mora Turns Down Texas: Longhorns Reportedly Hire Charlie StrongBlog Of The Bruins, By The Bruins, For The Bruinshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48017/bruinsnation_f.png2014-01-04T15:27:52-08:00http://www.bruinsnation.com/rss/stream/50328272014-01-04T15:27:52-08:002014-01-04T15:27:52-08:00One Mora Note re. Longhorns
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<p>I don't really feel like blogging about Texas and Mora speculation any more. It was annoying. Longhorns appear to have their guy in Charlie Strong, who I think is a sold coach.</p>
<p>However, I do want to blog an additional note on this because it's been amusing to read from some corners of Texas fandom that no way, no how their beloved Longhorns offered a job to Jim Mora. In their world it is impossible that someone like Mora turned them down. Well here is <a target="_blank" href="http://www.footballscoop.com/news/12164-why-jim-mora-said-no-to-texas">a note from FootballScoop</a> which has a pretty good reputation when it comes to offering news bits on coaching rumors:</p>
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<p>I spoke with <b>two sources today who confirmed what Adam Schefter previously reported, that Jim Mora was effectively offered the job at Texas and turned it down</b>.</p>
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<p>The report added what we have heard through our Bruin channels here. Mora and his family are getting attached to LA despite their roots in Pacific Northwest. And the report added <a target="_blank" href="http://www.footballscoop.com/news/12164-why-jim-mora-said-no-to-texas">this</a>:</p>
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<p>Oh, and if you were looking for just one more reason to like Jim...we hear that nearly the entire negotiation with UCLA (when the Washington job came open and UW came courting) was related to additional compensation and security for his staff. When those numbers are revealed (no idea when that might be) we are told some of his staff members will be the highest or among the highest in the country at their position.</p>
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<p>So there you have it.</p>
<p>Good luck to our friends in Texas but I think it's time to drop the silliness that the Longhorns didn't come to Mora with a concrete proposal, which he eventually turned it down. It happens.</p>
<p>GO BRUINS.</p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruin_football/2014/1/4/5274678/Texas-Charlie-Strong-Jim-Mora-Longhorns-speculationNestor2014-01-03T22:17:01-08:002014-01-03T22:17:01-08:00Report: Texas Hires Charlie Strong
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<p>Let's close the loop on this stream with this <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2014/1/3/5253868/charlie-strong-coach-hired-texas-longhorns" target="_blank">update from other mothership</a>:</p>
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<p id="paragraph0">Louisville head coach Charlie Strong is being hired to replace <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/115256/mack-brown">Mack Brown</a> at Texas, <a href="https://twitter.com/BobbyBurton247/status/419317321232957441">according to 247 Sports</a> and later <a href="https://twitter.com/ChipBrownOB/status/419322908444344320">Rivals</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/footballscoop/status/419323346438737920">Football Scoop</a>. <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-football/news/20140103/charlie-strong-agrees-texas-longhorns-head-coach/">Sports Illustrated says</a> Strong has agreed to a five-year deal worth $5 million per, and <a href="https://twitter.com/McMurphyESPN/status/419323689356648448">ESPN reports</a> the hire is not official, but that Strong "will accept."</p>
<p id="paragraph1">Strong would be the 29th head coach to lead the Longhorns.</p>
<p>Earlier Friday, Baylor's Art Briles and UCLA's Jim Mora officially took their names out of consideration, and Florida State quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/159092/jameis-winston">Jameis Winston</a> <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2014/1/3/5270104/jimbo-fisher-texas-rumors-jameis-winston">joked about Jimbo Fisher not leaving</a> for Austin.</p>
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<p><span>Good luck to our Texas friends. I think Strong is a solid get for the Longhorns and they are going to be tough - especially at a "neutral field" like Jerry Dome next season (thanks a lot Chianti).</span></p>
<p>GO BRUINS.</p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruin_football/2014/1/3/5272550/texas-reportedly-hiring-louisvilles-charlie-strongNestor2014-01-03T09:31:31-08:002014-01-03T09:31:31-08:00Mora Turns Down Texas - Again
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<figcaption>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Report from BruinReportOnline.com indicates that Jim Mora has turned down Texas.</p> <p>We wanted Jim Mora to publicly quash all Texas rumors by end of the day today. Looks like <a href="http://ucla.scout.com/2/1362687.html" target="_blank">we got our wish</a>:</p>
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<p>Jim Mora has informed <a href="http://texas.scout.com/">Texas</a> that he's not interested in the Longhorn head coaching job, according to sources.</p>
<p>Texas and Mora's representatives were in contact and had discussions Thursday. The job wasn't formally offered to Mora, but it was discussed in a way that if Mora wanted it, the job was available.</p>
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<p>Read Tracy's full report <a href="http://ucla.scout.com/2/1362687.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p>And we've got a Tweet:</p>
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<p>The <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23BruinRevolution&src=hash">#BruinRevolution</a> is gaining steam. So proud of our University and what we are building together. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23GoBruins&src=hash">#GoBruins</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%238Clap&src=hash">#8Clap</a></p>
— Jim Mora (@UCLACoachMora) <a href="https://twitter.com/UCLACoachMora/statuses/419158292439371777">January 3, 2014</a>
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<p>Well so much for all the silly hoping from Trojans and other conference fans about Mora going somewhere else. Thankfully Mora played this perfectly. From all accounts now Mora has turned down Washingotn and Texas in the same offseason. As noted last night he <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruin_football/2014/1/2/5268866/it-is-time-for-jim-mora-to-quash-texas-coaching-job-rumors-again" target="_blank">quashed Texas speculation few weeks ago as well</a>. It will be impossible for any school to negatively recruit against him saying that he's going to leave for another college job. If he's not taking his alma mater's job or the Texas job, he's not going anywhere.</p>
<p>This should also send <b>a strong signal to number 17</b> and rest of the recruits -- the kind of commitment Jim Mora is making to UCLA.</p>
<p>GO BRUINS.</p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruin_football/2014/1/3/5270258/jim-mora-turns-down-texas-longhorns-againNestor2014-01-03T08:50:17-08:002014-01-03T08:50:17-08:00Mora Remains Mum While Briles Says No To Texas
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<p>Baylor head coach Art Briles, who was thought to be one of the leading candidates for Texas head-coaching position just posted this on Twitter account to quash all the rumors/speculation about going to Texas:</p>
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<p>Contrary to reports and rumors I am a Baylor Bear - 2013 Big 12 Champs</p>
— Coach Art Briles (@CoachArtBriles) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachArtBriles/statuses/419134561964937216">January 3, 2014</a>
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<p>That's how it's done. Meanwhile, we still don't have anything definitive from Jim Mora yet as UCLA heads into a key-stretch in recruiting season.</p>
<p>As mentioned last night, while Mora getting this kind of buzz is good for him and for the program to a certain extent, at certain point he needs to kill these rumors -- which fanbases and media personalities from opposing teams (ie Trojan sympathizers like Collin Cowherd and Petro Papadakis) are using to create an air of instability within the UCLA football program.</p>
<p>Hopefully Mora comes out and puts a stop to all of this by COB today. It shouldn't be that difficult to type out 140 character tweet on his smart phone.</p>
<p>GO BRUINS.</p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruin_football/2014/1/3/5270084/baylor-head-coach-quashes-texas-rumors-still-no-word-from-moraNestor2014-01-02T21:58:31-08:002014-01-02T21:58:31-08:00Barking Carnival w a great perspective on Texas/Mora <blockquote>
<p><p>He's at exactly the right job. Great recruiter, has embraced the college environment, good player relations, and has restored pride to the Bruins in a medium-expectation environment. Sky high expectations, relentless pressure, and the constant criticism at Texas might reveal the NFL Jim Mora of Atlanta and Seattle who was an embarrassingly petulant weenie. I'm happy for the guy. I hope he has the good sense to stay in a sweet spot.</p></p>
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<div class="source"><p><a href="http://www.barkingcarnival.com/2014/1/1/5262392/the-texas-head-coaching-hire-the-candidates">Scipio Tex at Barking Carnival</a></p></div>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/2014/1/2/5269006/barking-carnival-awesome-texas-blog-on-mora-as-a-candidateNestor2014-01-02T20:52:05-08:002014-01-02T20:52:05-08:00Time for Mora to Quash Texas Rumors - Again
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<figcaption>Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sp</figcaption>
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<p>It is time for Jim Mora to once again quash rumors/speculation connecting him to opening at University of Texas.</p> <p>Back in December 17 there was some <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruin_football/2013/12/17/5222660/Texas-jim-mora-emphatically-dismisses-Longhorns-rumors-Bruins">speculation about Jim Mora and University of Texas</a>. At the time <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruin_football/2013/12/17/5222660/Texas-jim-mora-emphatically-dismisses-Longhorns-rumors-Bruins">Mora shot down those rumors multiple times</a>. He did it first after a practice at Spaulding and then during an appearance on Jay Mohr's radio show.</p>
<p>When he appeared on Mohr's show <b>he was </b><b>specifically asked about whether he has any interest in the Texas job, his answer was "No" and that his plan was to "stay" in Westwood and "hopefully retire" as the head coach of UCLA</b>. When pressed again he asserted he gave an "emphatic" answer on his interested in retiring as the head coach of Bruins.</p>
<p>Well <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/2014/1/2/5267934/mora-texas-nonsense-alabama-oklahoma-sugar-bowl-tv-schedule-college">the Mora-Texas internet-rumors have been running rampant all day</a> today thanks to Tweets coming from NFL "insiders" such as Adam Schefter. We have been discussing about it in our Sugar Bowl open thread. Most of us on the frontpage are not all that concerned about. And I think <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/2014/1/2/5267934/mora-texas-nonsense-alabama-oklahoma-sugar-bowl-tv-schedule-college#207335325">BillyZoom is on to something here</a>:</p>
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<p><b>I think...</b></p>
<p><span>Steve Patterson is leaking names to appease big donors and create a "national search" narrative. Believe that Texas is negotiating with Charlie Strong right now. With everything that has happened this offseason... KP, Klemm, recruiting going well, etc, I'd be really shocked if Mora left for Texas.</span></p>
<p>Never say never with this stuff, but it would be a real surprise.</p>
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<p>Seems like a plausible take there.</p>
<p>But now <a href="http://ucla.scout.com/2/1362470.html" target="_blank">Tracy Pierson from BruinReportOnline.com </a>r<span>eports that Mora's "representatives" are "listening" to Texas</span><span> </span><span>(in an article not behind paid firewall) [emphasis added]:</span></p>
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<p>There have been rumblings around the UCLA program, too, today, expressing concern that Texas could be a legitimate threat to entice Mora.</p>
<p>The new, re-negotiated contract extension that UCLA and Mora agreed to in early December after the University of Washington pursued Mora has yet to be approved by the UC Regents. Sources have indicated that there is an interim buyout in effect, however, and that buyout approaches $10 million.</p>
<p><b>No sources have indicated that Mora has expressed interest in the job, other than his representatives listening to Texas's representatives. </b>In fact, sources very close to the situation are confident Mora, despite the potential astronomical salary and the perks, and all of the advantages of the Texas program, will remain at UCLA.</p>
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<p>The fact that there are these kinds of leaks and speculation out there makes Mora a valued commodity in college football coaching market. That is also a good thing for UCLA at this snap shot of time. At the same time though this is also recruiting season. It doesn't help UCLA when there is speculation involving Mora's "representatives" and Texas while key blue chip recruits are nearing decisions.</p>
<p><span>I doubt this Mora-Texas stuff will go anywhere. While it's fun to have this type of chatter out there for now, it doesn't help us (Bruins) too much if these rumors continue to linger. </span>So if Mora doesn't have an "interest" in Texas, I hope he makes that very clear publicly within next 24-48 hours, just like he did on Mohr's show few weeks ago. Given what we have seen from him publicly in last few weeks, this shouldn't be that hard. Right?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>GO BRUINS.</p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruin_football/2014/1/2/5268866/it-is-time-for-jim-mora-to-quash-texas-coaching-job-rumors-againNestor2014-01-02T15:56:24-08:002014-01-02T15:56:24-08:00Mora-Texas Nonsense; Sugar Bowl Open Thread
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<figcaption>Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Open thread tracking Sugar Bowl between Alabama and Texas and quick comment on more silly Mora-Texas rumors.</p> <p>The college football season is slowly winding down. Here are t<a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/2013/12/21/5226022/college-football-2013-bowl-schedule-and-weekend-open-thread/in/5008023" target="_blank">he remaining games in this year's bowl season</a>(<a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/2013/12/21/5226022/college-football-2013-bowl-schedule-and-weekend-open-thread/in/5008023">thanks again to uclaluv</a> for compiling them few weeks ago). Only one game is on TONIGHT:</p>
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<li><b><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2013/12/8/5190342/2014-sugar-bowl-alabama-vs-oklahoma-news-injuries-tv-schedule">#3 Alabama vs. #11 Oklahoma</a>, Allstate Sugar Bowl, 5:30; ESPN</b></li>
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<p>While all eyes will be on Alabama-Oklahoma this evening, as we are in the middle of coaching-carousel off-season madness, there are some ridiculous rumor/speculation floating around the internets (HT <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/2014/1/2/5267708/mora-to-texas-rumors-firing-up-again">Bruins#1</a>):</p>
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<p>Texas very interested in UCLA's Jim Mora. UT & reps of Mora had conversations today sources told <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter">@AdamSchefter</a></p>
— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/McMurphyESPN/statuses/418875369874157569">January 2, 2014</a>
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<p>Ooooh. We are so worried here. But wait, there is more!</p>
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<p>Have heard same chatter re: talks between Mora’s reps/UT. Mora is very good coach & would do well at UT. Think Art Briles would dominate.</p>
— FootballScoop Staff (@footballscoop) <a href="https://twitter.com/footballscoop/statuses/418878182717005824">January 2, 2014</a>
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<p>And now there is a<a href="http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/10233431/sources-texas-longhorns-eye-ucla-bruins-jim-mora-mack-brown-successor" target="_blank"> story on Johnny Manziel-Tim Tebow network</a>! So we have to get really worried now!<br><br>Uhm. I guess Texas can always call Mora's representatives. But that is not going change the fact that Mora is not leaving Westwood for Austin. Whatever.</p>
<p>GO BRUINS.</p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/2014/1/2/5267934/mora-texas-nonsense-alabama-oklahoma-sugar-bowl-tv-schedule-collegeNestor2013-12-17T20:49:32-08:002013-12-17T20:49:32-08:00A Message for Texas: "NO"
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<figcaption>Stephen Dunn</figcaption>
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<p>Mora emphatically denies rumors of his interest in the head coaching position of University of Texas and asserts that he wants to retire in Westwood.</p> <p>We have been reading the amusing rumors floating around the internets about <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2013/12/15/5197508/texas-football-coaching-search-candidates" target="_blank">Jim Mora being some kind of serious candidate for the vacant Texas head coach position</a>. We have been getting a kick out of reading posts on Texas sites discussing how Mora would be <a href="http://www.burntorangenation.com/football/2013/12/15/5211824/texas-longhorns-coaching-search-candidates-jimbo-fisher-art-briles">a "legitimate possibility" for the Long Horns</a> along with Mike Gundy, Gus Malzahn, Garry Andersen, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/115134/james-franklin">James Franklin</a> [See also <a target="_blank" href="http://www.barkingcarnival.com/2013/12/17/5220938/vegas-props-new-texas-head-coach-odds-strong-briles-franklin-early">Vegas odds</a> posted by our good friends at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.barkingcarnival.com/2013/12/17/5220938/vegas-props-new-texas-head-coach-odds-strong-briles-franklin-early">the Barking Carnival</a>].</p>
<p>Well none of us on the frontpage were all that concerned about it (so we didn't bother blogging much about it). But just in case if there are any questions, I think Mora's comments today (on multiple occasions) should make it clear that this is just not going to happen for the Longhorns fans.</p>
<p>Mora talked about it after practice today. You can watch the video (starting around 4:30 mark) when Mora flatly dismissed the rumors:<br><iframe frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/STvgpX8sGZo" height="315" width="560"></iframe> <br> He said the rumors were "flattering" about our program and that it shows that we are heading in the right direction, and then flatly said that he is "very very very extremely delightfully happy to be the head coach at UCLA and want to be for a long, long time."</p>
<p>Oh, he wasn't done. He was asked about it again later in the day on Jay Mohr's radio show when he emphatically dismissed the rumors (while discussing the UCLA program with Jay in a great give and take). Listen to it around 6:03 mark of the interview:</p>
<p><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" src="http://www.am570radio.com/player/embed.html?autoStart=false&useFullScreen=true&mid=24100893&startButtonColor=0xA33335" scrolling="no" height="150" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p>Again when specifically asked about whether he has any interest in the Texas job, his answer was "No" and that his plan was to "stay" in Westwood and "hopefully retire" as the head coach of UCLA. When pressed again he asserted he gave an "emphatic" answer on his interested in retiring as the head coach of Bruins.</p>
<p>Not sure what else is there to add here. The Longhorns need to move on to other "legitimate possibilities" in their long list or they could just get it done by naming Todd Graham as successor of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/115256/mack-brown">Mack Brown</a>.</p>
<p>GO BRUINS.</p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruin_football/2013/12/17/5222660/Texas-jim-mora-emphatically-dismisses-Longhorns-rumors-BruinsNestor