April 2008 Archives

UCLA senior Kevin Chappell tied for first for the Pac-10 individual title, but he lost in a playoff today to Airzona's Creighton Honeck. Honeck birdied the first playoff hole while Chappell made a par.
The release is below:

Offenisve linemen Shannon Tevaga and Noah Sutherland both were invited to the Oakland Raiders mini-camp.

Freshman Chace Stanback will transfer after the spring quarter. Here is the UCLA release:
What do you guys think?

UCLA coach Terry Donahue was named the school's alumnus of year. The following is the UCLA press release:

Here's a release about the UCLA men's and women's tennis teams, which will host regionals in the NCAA Championships.

Pre-screenings start today for ``Gunnin' for that No. 1 spot, '' a movie that features eight future NBA players, including Kevin Love. The following is a press release and some info on the film:

This is from a UCLA spokesperson:
Ben Olson has decided to have surgery on his right foot next week. He will have a screw inserted in his right fifth metatarsel. Recovery time is
approximately 6-8 weeks, the same time as the recovery time for the
fracture.

Larry Brown, the former UCLA coach, is coaching in the NBA...again. He was hired today to coach the Charlotte Bobcats, the ninth NBA coaching gig. What do you guys think? Good fit? Will he finally retire here?

Terrence Austin had hoped to compete in track once spring football was done, but it won't happen now. There's plenty of depth with the jumpers, so his services weren't need this season. Last year, he jumped as the Bruins needed someone to score. This year, that's not necessary. The only chance he would've had to compete was this weekend's dual meet against USC. After that, there are a limited number of entries for the Pac-10 Tournament, so he wouldn't have been able to compete in that meet anyway.

In case you're wondering who your fellow Bruins fans want to see at quarterback, JC transfer Kevin Craft is leading the poll at 43 percent.

The update is that there is no update. Olson was scheduled to meet with doctors yesterday, but he did not.

Glenn Love has a mild bone bruise of his right knee. He injured the knee in the spring scrimmage.

Seems like we had a pretty smooth transition with the blog update. Comments are coming through, too. If you seem to be having any problems, please let me know. Thanks.

Michael Pitre will attend Kansas City Chiefs camp.

This is part of a release from Grassroots Basketball of America. The organization is hosting a tournament at USC this weekend, and there will be some UCLA commits that are scheduled to play. The following is the info from the GBOA:

Offensive lineman Brian Abraham has received an invite to attend New Orleans Saints mini-camp next week.

Here's what Ater Majok's coach Edward Smith said about Majok's decision to commit to UCONN today. He had a planned trip to UCLA over the weekend but didn't go. He's now on his way back to Australia, where he's from.
``He didn't get an opportunity to go to UCLA,'' Smith said. ``He had a great visit here (at Connecticut). He felt all the pieces were in place and decided to shut (the recruiting process down.''

Rick Neuheisel will play in tomorrow's Chick-fil-A Bowl Alma Mater at Reynolds Plantation in Georgia. He's paired with Sinjin Smith. Coaches and celebrities will play for a $350,000 scholarship purse. The release is below.

Ater Majok, a recruit UCLA was hoping to sign, committed to UCONN today. He was scheduled to take a trip to UCLA this past weekend but after his trip to UCONN, he decided not to go, his coach just told me.

Keyes said he stayed in constant contact with his friend, and former teammate, Chris Horton, who was selected in the seventh round by Washington.

``We talked the whole weekend,'' Keyes said. ``I'm really happy for him that he got drafted. I thought he and I were one of the top safety combinations in the country. And I know we're going to prove it when we get our opportunity.''
--This was from Ramona Shelburne.

Bruce Davis will now be a teammate of former USC star Troy Polamalu in Pittsburgh.
``It’s all good to me,’’ Davis said. ``He’s a great football player. Maybe I’ll learn a thing or two from him. Even though he’s an ‘SC guy, he’s a big hitter. And we’re teammates now.’’

In talking to the agents for various players after the draft, I was told cornerback Rodney Van and offensive lineman Shannon Tevaga could sign with teams today. I was also told a few teams were inquiring about tight end William Snead.

Today is the day the Daily News is changing over to a different blog server. It is supposed to happen in the afternoon, but we shall see. It is being done because the blogs are so popular, they outgrew the old server's capacity to handle the traffic.
I am told the changes for the readers will be negligible, but it will be much better for us to post entries. Again, we shall see.
As part of the changeover, readers will not be able to post comments immediately. That should happen later in the week. Please be patient about this.
Also, I am now heading on vacation for a few weeks after the long haul of football and basketball season, so Jill Painter will be handling UCLA, and the blog, for the next three weeks or so, and Ramona Shelburne will be chipping in. The Q&A's will return in late May.
If there are any questions, especially regarding the inability to post a comment, please email Jill at Jill.Painter@dailynews.com. Thanks, and see you folks in a couple of weeks.

Here is the story I wrote in today's paper about UCLA's coaches speaking with Crespi High of Encino quarterback Kevin Prince entering school early because of the quarterback situation.
Prince said the topic never came up until Patrick Cowan's ACL injury was diagnosed Friday. Ben Olson is out for two months with a broken foot.
"They hadn't talked about it, but I guess it came up because of what happened to Pat and Ben," Prince said. "If I decide to come in early, I would make the decision soon."

This is from Ramona Shelburne, who talked to Dennis Keyes yesterday.

Keyes was disappointed not to hear his name called on Sunday, but now he has a shot with Arizona and will participate in its mini-camp.
``I was disappointed, but all I wanted is an opportunity to get into camp and I know I'll make the most of it,'' he said. ``I'm just really excited to get started.''

Here is a release about UCLA and the NFL draft:

Kevin Brown was invited to Seattle's mini-camp, which is next week.

Just got off the phone with Chris Markey's agent, and was told Markey is going to the Chicago Bears mini-camp as a free agent.

Former UCLA receiver Brandon Breazell agreed to a two-year free agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs and former cornerback Trey Brown agreed to free agent deal with the Chicago Bears. Both players will be heading to mini-camp next week.

I just got off the phone with Alvin Nelson, the agent for former UCLA free safety Dennis Keyes, and was told Keyes agreed to a "priority free agent" contract with the Arizona Cardinals and will be at mini-camp Friday.

Here is the story I wrote on Josh Shipp declaring for the NBA draft that was posted online earlier today.

Here is the transcript of the Patriots conference call with Matthew Slater.

Chris Horton nearly became Mr. Irrelevant, the nickname given to the last player selected in the NFL draft. He was the fourth-to-last player picked. He was No. 249 and went to the Washington Redskins. UCLA finished with three picks this year - after just one last year - Bruce Davis (third round), Matthew Slater (fifth round) and Horton.

Bruins JUCO QB Kevin Craft spent the last three years playing out of the shot gun, and offensive coordinator Norm said it is taking Craft some time to adjust to being under center.
"I haven't done any drop back stuff since I was in high school," Craft said. "It is an adjustment, but I have from now until our first game to get all that. It is an adjustment, and I'm still getting used to it, just when I'm dropping back, relaxing, and seeing the field differently."

I just talked to Bruce Davis, who was elated to be a Pittsburgh Steeler. He was picked in the third round at No. 88 overall. He said he got the call from a scout at about 8:30 in the morning. He said he was half asleep and half watching the draft. He stayed up late Saturday night talking with friends and stayed at a friend's after feeling frustrated since he wasn't picked in either of the first two rounds. But when he got the call, none of that mattered. Then he called his dad and then his mom.
``There was a loud uproar of people,'' Davis said. ``Everyone was screaming. I’m screaming. I'm running around the house with my shirt off. All I've got on is a pair shorts, and I'm running around knocking on doors.''

Josh Shipp has declared for the NBA draft. The following is a story Brian Dohn wrote for the Web site:

Narbonne High's Byron Moore Jr. said the reason he committed to UCLA was a potpourri of reasons, but academics was the No. 1 thing.
He made the commitment after visiting Oregon on Saturday, but the Ducks didn't seem to be much of a threat. Moore said he wants to play safety at UCLA, and thinks he will fit in well at free safety, but the Ducks were recruiting him as a receiver.
"I like defense -- being able to make plays and hit people,'' Moore said. "I like to be the last man back there."

If you read any fan blog in Boston, there's a big buzz over who Matthew Slater is, beside the fact that he is the son of Hall of Fame Jackie Slater. The Patriots listed Slater as a receiver, although he was surely drafted for special teams. New England even traded up to get him in the fifth round. Slater had three kickoff returns for touchdowns in 2007 and 986 yards in kickoff returns. He has a kickoff return average of 29 yards per return.

In summarizing spring practice, UCLA coach Rich Neuheisel said practice was physical, and added something I found interesting.
"I think guys understand that we're at a different tempo, and that you have to bring it,'' he said. "Hopefully, that will mean we'll have a great offseason in the weight room, and in our speed development, and that we'll come back a stronger, more physical team on Sept. 1. We'll need to be if we're going to compete with the Tennessee Volunteers."

Matthew Slater was just drafted by the New England Patriots with the 153rd pick in the fifth round.

Narbonne High receiver/defensive back Byron Moore Jr. gave a non-binding oral commitment to UCLA. I will have more from him later.

Here's the transcript from the Pittsburgh Steelers' conference call with Bruce Davis this morning.

Here's the story I wrote off of the spring game from the Rose Bowl, but an interesting sidelight is whether or not Patrick Cowan did damage to his ACL during Monday's practice, then practiced Thursday.
The series of events goes like this:
He had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in February, and injured it Monday in practice.
The next day it was announced an MRI was clean, but he did not practice. Cowan went down again in Thursday's practice.
Coach Rick Neuheisel said Friday’s MRI showed “more than what was in there on the Tuesday MRI.’’ He made a comment similar to that twice during conference call, and after the second time he added the Tuesday MRI “was fine, normal.’’
Cowan was asked whether the Tuesday MRI showed a slight tear to his ACL, and would not answer the question. Instead, he said, “All I know is it’s to a point where I need surgery."

Davis was just drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, which runs the 3-4, at the No. 88 pick in the third round.

UCLA received a non-binding oral commitment from La Puente Bishop Amat cornerback Sheldon Price tonight. I will have more information on him tomorrow.

UCLA's defense had seven sacks, 10 tackles for loss, two interceptions and nine pass breakups.
The tackling leaders were Mike Schmitt (7), Alterraun Verner (6), Reggie Carter (5), Glenn Love (5), David Carter (5), Akeem Ayers (5), Steve Sloan (4), Aaron Ware (3), Chase Moline (3), Brian Price (3) and Michael Norris (3).

Quarterbacks
Kevin Craft 11 of 24, 95 yards, INT, TD
Chris Forcier 4 of 6, 52 yards, INT
Osaar Rasshan 4 of 7, 60 yards, TD

Running backs
Chane Moline 16-42
Christian Ramirez 11-33 TD
Trevor Theriot 1-7 TD

Receivers
Gavin Ketchum 3-32 TD
Christian Ramirez 3-25
Taylor Embree 2-39
Ryan Moya 2-24
Trevor Theriot 2-13
Dominque Johnson 2-9
Logan Paulsen 1-25
Alex Pearlson 1-24 TD
Terrence Austin 1-6
Ryan Graves 1-5
Marcus Everett 1-5

It was a bland spring game as the defense remained in its base 4-3 with little, if any, blitzing and the offense utilized a bunch of screens and runs between the tackles.
QB Kevin Craft had a shaky start but settled down by the end and move the offense, at times.
One possible downer is free safety Glenn Love injured his knee. UCLA does not know the extent of it, but he should undergo tests in the next few days.
Also, linebacker John Hale said his recovery will be either 3 to 4 weeks, or 2 to 3 months, depending on the severity of the surgery needed to fix the torn meniscus in his knee.

I know there are a lot of questions about Patrick Cowan and getting a sixth year of eligibility. I checked with UCLA, and was told the criteria for gaining a sixth year is missing two seasons beyond a player’s control. There was no medical issue when he red-shirted as a freshman.
That said, UCLA and Cowan may still explore a sixth year, since it cannot hurt to at least check.

Not only is quarterback Patrick Cowan having season-ending knee surgery, but projected starting starting weakside linebacker will undergo surgery to repair torn meniscus in his knee. Hale was injured in Thursday's practice, but continued to practice.
Also, quarterback Ben Olson, who is now pegged as the starter, said he will meet with a doctor Monday about having surgery to have a pin inserted into his right foot to help the healing of a broken bone.