Is it possible that when Pat Cowan is healthy, that he could take over the starting job for Olson, even though Dorrell has made it clear the last couple of years that Olson is his guy?
Sure, it’s possible. I do not know if that will happen, though. By the time Cowan is ready to come back, he will have practiced for one week within two months. Also, let’s not lose sight of the fact Cowan went 14 of 27 for 147 yards, had a couple of awful throws and a terrible interception against a bottom-half Pac-10 team.

How did Brian Price look thus far/this week? Should we expect to see him more plays?
Bruins coach Karl Dorrell said Price would play more this week, but Dorrell is the same guy that said Osaar Rasshan would play more last week, and Rasshan told me he was in for three plays. So, I guess, by Dorrell’s math, Price could play five plays this week. He looks fine in practice, but it’s easy to tell he is still adjusting to the college game because he seems to be thinking a little too much.

What is your evaluation of how PJ Irvin did against Washington? I realize he had 2 miscues resulting in penalties, but it seemed that after he settled down, he did an adequate job and seemed to give adquate protection.
He did ok, but it was nothing exceptional. Most of UCLA’s runs were on the right side of the line. I do think the coaching staff is anxious to get Shannon Tevaga back.

What offense do you think would best suit this UCLA team, or what style offense would take advantage of their strengths? Unless you believe the WCO does this and if you do why?
I like pure, power football. I grew up watching the Giants with three yards and a cloud of dust, I think that is the way to base an offense and then put the play-makers around that. I have no idea what suits this offense because I only get to see the kids play and practice in this one. I do know they do not have the people here to run a spread offense.

If UCLA ends 7-5, does Dorrell stay? I know you mentioned previously "a discussion would ensure," but other message board quarterbacks claiming inside knowledge state the AD is looking for excuses to keep, rather than fire, Dorrell. Thoughts?
I don’t know if he’s looking for an excuse to keep him. I just know that he is not on the hot seat as badly as some people want him to be on one. There are a lot of factors that go into such a decision, and the overall record is not the end-all, be-all. It is just a very easy thing to point toward.

Are you hearing any noise about Guerrero and Co drawing up any lists for names of replacements for Dorrell in '08? If so, any names you can share?
No, I am not. I’m sure Guerrero, like any athletic director, has a short list of names always at his disposal for anything. Just like the AD at Florida would have a short list in case Urban Meyer ever left, and the AD at USC in case Pete Carroll left. If an AD doesn’t have a short list of possible replacements for the coaches of the marquee sporst, that would be a concern. As for any names, I have not heard any, nor would I share until I was able to write it in the paper.

The day of the USC game, will you and Scott Wolfe do a one-on-one hot-dog eating competition so we can find out, once and for all, who truly is the big dawg in the LA Division-I college sports scene?
I’ll only do it if they are turkey dogs. Too much fat in a hot dog.

If Dorrell is fired, do you think UCLA administrators will be more committed to hiring a proven/quality coach? I know that UCLA will never plunk down huge cash for any coach, but do you think they would provide enough salary to attract a coach at the level of Ben Howland (when he was hired)?
I’ll answer the second part of your question first. Howland was not the first choice, nor did ULCA put down a bunch of money for him. I believe he was making less than $1 million guaranteed in his first season.
As far as UCLA administrators being more committed with a proven coach, I’m not sure. I, for one, do not think UCLA is the prime job that many others think. There is not much support from the academic folks, coaches have to live up the expectations of playing in the same town as USC, which plays its coaches twice as much and is much more friendly when it comes to academics and getting kids into school, and the facilities are not great. The weight room is still small, the practice field isn’t long enough to fit a full field on it, and there are other periphery issues involved. Not to mention the question of whether or not the administration is fully committed to fielding a top 10 team on a yearly basis.