May 2008 Archives

Ten UCLA women and the 4X400 relay team qualified for the NCAA nationals. Here is the release from UCLA:

UCLA football player Darius Savage was one of nine members of the men's track and field team to qualify for the national championships. Here is the release from UCLA:

UCLA's men's golf team brought the school its third national title this month, and the 103rd NCAA national championship in school history by winning the event today at Purdue.
The women's tennis and women's water polo teams won NCAA titles earlier this month.

By now, at least during my five seasons covering UCLA, the offseason passing program was well underway with player-run 7-on-7 sessions being conducted a few times a week.
However, new offensive coordinator Norm Chow has a different philosophy, and it is more mental than physical during this part of the offseason. The players are watching film and studying the playbook, as well as doing conditioning drills.
The 7-on-7 passing sessions won't begin for a few weeks still.

UCLA red-shirt freshman tight end Nate Chandler is recovering from a sprained arch, which had him walking around with his foot in a boot. However, it's not a long-term injury and he should be ready for summer passing drills.

This is from UCLA, where a pair of Bruins qualified for the national championships, and football player Darius Savage is in a wait-and-see mode.

Here is a release regarding the men's golf team leading the NCAAs heading into the final round.

Thanks for all the questions. It's always great when there is this much interest, and I enjoy answering them. Now, here is the final set for this week:

Here is the ninth set:

Here is the eight set of answers:

Here is the seventh set:

Here is the sixth grouping:

Here is the fifth set:

Here is the fourth grouping:

Before getting to the third set of questions (and there are 10 sets), just wanted to let you folks know to give a lookout Monday for a special video segment I'm preparing (ok, my wife is doing it since I'm technologically inept) for the blog. I don't want to give away too much, but I think everyone will enjoy it.
(Yes, this is a classic tease, but at least it could perk up your Monday).
Now, here is the third installment:

Here is the second set:

The volume of questions I received this week are what I expected when I returned from vacation last week. There were lots and lots of them, so I thank you for it.
That said, let's get right to the questions. Here is the first set of what I anticipate will be at least 10 sets of answers:

The NCAA West Regional Championships are at Cal State Northridge Friday and Saturday, and UCLA has a bundle of athletes competing. Yes, this is where you qualify for the nationals.
Here is something put together by UCLA's Stephanie Sampson about the school's participants:

Last week at the Big Throwers Classic in Salinas, UCLA senior All-American Greg Garza threw an Olympic "A" standard in the discus, a personal-best throw of 211-8. It qualified him for the the U.S. Olympic Trials June 27-July 6 in Eugene, Oregon. It also means if he finishes in the top-3 at trials, he is makes the U.S. Olympic team and will compete in Beijing later in the summer.

One thing I continually hear as I talked to various sources is USC commit Randall Carroll, a receiver at Los Angeles Cathedral, continues to be interested in UCLA. Although he remains committed to USC, several people I spoke to this week said UCLA is highly involved in the process.

I know I've blogged numerous times about Kevin Prince arriving at UCLA for August training camp, as long as the school has a scholarship to offer. Here is what Bruins coach Rick Neuheisel said about it.
"I would say I would do it in a heartbeat if I had the scholarship,'' Neuheisel said. "I'm looking through the numbers, and right now the priority is to get offensive linemen, and so I can't say he's definitely coming.''
As I've written about lately, I'm hearing UCLA expects to have a scholarship available for Prince.

A few weeks ago, while I was on vacation, there was quite a bit of chatter about UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel using the (USC assistant) Brandon Carroll walk-on video in recruiting against the Trojans.
In talking to my sources, they did not think Neuheisel used the video, or pointed it out to recruits, nor did Neuheisel tell his assistants to use the video to shed unfavorable light on the Trojans.
That said, the sources did not know if any of UCLA's assistants used the video to recruit negatively against USC.

UCLA softball players Anjelica Selden and freshman Gionna DiSalvatore were named first-team Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Americans. Here is the release:

UCLA tennis players Mathieu Dehaine and Riza Zalameda were named spring Scholar-Athletes of the Year by the Pacific-10 Conference. Here is the release:

Joe Abunassar, who runs Abunassar Impact Basketball and is training Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, said UCLA will get a much better offensive player if Mbah a Moute returns for his senior season.
"With Luc, it's footwork, being square (to the basket) and a lot of repetition,'' Abunassar said. "If he can knock down shots, he becomes a really dangerous pro player because he's got the long arms, can defend, has the body, he's smart.
"We're working out four or five hours a day shooting the ball, and confidence comes from that. ...The UCLA coaches, they're thrilled with Luc putting the work in because they're supportive of Luc, and if he does come back, he's a better player anyway. It's a win-win."

Here is the story I wrote for today's paper on Kevin Love readying for the NBA draft, and a sidebar I wrote on Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.
Love said his plans for watching the NBA are undetermined, but he knows what he wants to do.
"I'm hoping to be in New York,'' he said. "The NBA invites you, and I'm pretty sure I'll be there. It's an experience. It's something you watching when you're young."

From my understanding, UCLA is still waiting for J'mision Morgan's signed scholarship papers. Once signed and returned, it binds UCLA to Morgan, but Morgan remains free to change his mind and go to another school until attends his first class at UCLA.

One thing I kept forgetting to post from the weekend was how UCLA signee Kevin Prince, the quarterback out of Crespi High, was a huge hit at the Steve Clarkson event in Santa Barbara.
In talking to a few people about Prince's performance, they said he looked the best out of the quarterbacks in attendance.

UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel said injured quarterback Patrick Cowan will wait until August to have the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee repaired, but Neuheisel added he hoped Cowan would still want to be around the program in the fall despite being out for the season.
"I'm hopeful that he'll come back and be hungry enough to be a student assistant for us,'' Neuheisel said. "That's one of those things where you're not sure how a student is going to handle (not being able) to play and still be around it. We'll have to wait and see."
Cowan was UCLA's starter until late in spring practice, when he injured his knee during a non-contact drill in the next to last practice.

This is from UCLA:

I spoke to UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel recently, and he said Ben Olson heads into training camp as the starting quarterback, which isn't a surprise, but it does not mean Olson will be the starter come the season opener.
"I think Ben goes into camp as the guy, but that doesn't mean that (it's done)," Neuheisel said. "You've got a lot of guys that have to show they can play, so there is going to be opportunities for others to step to the front."
Kevin Craft will be the backup and Chris Forcier and incoming freshman Nick Crissman could play their way into position.
"We all know things can change quickly (because of injury) so we all can't sit back and act like it won't,'' Neuheisel said. "Let's hope Ben does terrifically, but if Ben isn't able to go, we have to have somebody else ready to go."

Send in some Q's by Friday 8 a.m., and the A's will appear throughout the day.

Not only did North Carolina transfer Alex Stepheson visit UCLA last week before the dead period began, but he also visited USC and met with the coaching staff there.
I know not much information is getting out about Stepheson and his status, but the family is trying to keep this from being a circus and is trying to remain low-key about it.

Here is another release from UCLA regarding a select-o-seat event this weekend at Pauley Pavilion:

Here is a release from UCLA about it's True Blue Celebration on June 7:

I am hearing UCLA is working very hard to secure a graduate school scholarship for center Alfred Aboya in case he decides to return for his senior season.

UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel said he had to make sure a scholarship was available before he could definitively say Crespi High of Encino quarterback Kevin Prince would enroll in the summer and participate in August training camp.
However, I'm hearing there could be a player (or three) leaving the program after the spring quarter, which would free up scholarships and ensure one was available for Prince even if JUCO offensive lineman Donovan Edwards accepts a scholarship to UCLA.

In case you missed it enjoying the Memorial Day weekend, here are a couple of stories I wrote that were in the newspaper -- on on Kevin Love hiring an agent and another on Luc Richard Mbah a Moute being invited to the pre-draft camp in Orlando.
Now, here is the list of participants for the camp, which begins tonight and runs through the week.

Here is the link to the item I wrote for the newspaper about Los Osos of Rancho Cucamonga quarterback Richard Brehaut committing to UCLA over the weekend.
One other thing he said was that is high school offense, which ran the spread and worked out of the shot gun last year, was returning to a more conventional offense this year, which he believes will help his transition to UCLA in 2009.
"I'll be under center a lot more, and that's what UCLA is going to do, so it's good I'll be doing it my senior year,'' Brehaut said. "We did it my sophomore year, and then last year to the spread last year. In the grand scheme of things, it's better (to be under center).''

UCLA's baseball team finished the season winning six of eight, including Pacific-10 series wins against Washington State and Cal, to reach the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins are the No. 2 seed in the Fullerton Regional.
Here is the release from UCLA:

Los Osos of Rancho Cucamonga quarterback Richard Brehaut said he's been a long-time UCLA fan, so the minute he received a scholarship offer, he was going to take it.
"I'm beyond excited, I'm so pumped up,'' Brehaut said. "A lot of my friends and family were always for USC, and I don't know, I just grew a love for UCLA and it's been there ever since. It's been since like third or fourth grade."
A big moment in the recruitment came when Brehaut threw in front of UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow last week.
"I was really excited to have the opportunity to throw in front of him, and he was one of the last guys to come out so I threw for a lot of schools beforehand,'' Brehaut said. "I kind of knew the format. Yeah, it was coach Chow, and a great coach, coming out to see me, but I knew what to expect. It's exciting, but I wasn't very nervous."

In light of the all but Norm Chow's contract figures now available, I did some numbers comparison and found that UCLA is not spending significantly more on Rick Neuheisel's coaching staff compared to what was spent on Karl Dorrell's final staff.
Dorrell's last staff was guaranteed $1,620,000, and Neuheisel's staff is guaranteed $1,405,000, plus offensive coordinator Norm Chow's yet-to-be-released salary. Sources put Chow's salary between $300,000 and $350,000.
I think it is one of the best staffs around, but it will be interesting to see what happens in the cases of running backs coach Wayne Moses and special teams coach Frank Ganz Jr. Both are being paid $100,000, well under market value, because they are still being paid by their former NFL clubs this upcoming season.

Since writing Kevin Love is withdrawing from classes and hiring agent Jeff Schwartz, I've received a number of inquiries about how this effects UCLA's APR, the dreaded formula used by the NCAA to ensure schools are doing their best to keep kids focused in the classroom.
After doing some research, Love withdrawing from classes does negatively impact the APR. But UCLA's APR four-year average is high enough (968) that it will not trigger any
scholarship penalties. The ninth week of the quarter begins Tuesday. A player must withdraw from classes much sooner to not effect the APR.

UCLA's decision to offer Los Osos of Rancho Cucamonga quarterback Richard Brehaut a scholarship this weekend came after a whirlwind week in which the Bruins' top two offensive guys -- coach Rick Neuheisel and offensive coordinator Norm Chow -- got to see Brehaut and Upland quarterback Josh Nunes throw in person.
It didn't take long for Brehaut to accept the offer.
Chow was on the campuses of the two quarterbacks Wednesday, and Neuheisel was at an event hosted by Steve Clarkson over the weekend. (Neuheisel was allowed to attend because his oldest son was participating).
Brehaut is a 6-foot-3, 205-pounder who threw for 2,348 yards, 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions as a junior. He also completed 65 percent of his passes.
I will have comments from him about his commitment it later today.

UCLA received a non-binding oral commitment from Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos High quarterback Richard Brehaut.
The commitment comes after UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel saw both Brehaut and Upland quarterback Josh Nunes at an event over the weekend in Santa Barbara.
I will have more later.

Power forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute received an invitation to the NBA's Orlando pre-draft camp, and will head there today, his brother Armel Minyem, told me this morning. Mbah a Moute received the invitation during the weekend, which doesn't give him much time to go since the camp begins this week.
Unlike Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook, who are going to the camp only to get measured and have some informal talks with NBA teams, Mbah a Moute is going to play in hopes of raising his stock.

Russell Westbrook told me it is yet to be determined which teams he works out for, and he didn't think it would be decided until the weekend. He is going to the pre-draft camp in Orlando, but said he would only be getting measured there and not playing in the camp.
He also said he has been in contact with agents, but is yet to sign with one. He did not rule out a return to UCLA, although sources said it is likely he will stay in the draft.

UCLA guard Russell Westbrook said he is training in Santa Monica, and he said he has a number of teams that want him to work out for him. No surprise, but unless he flops in the workouts, he will sign with an agent since he is projected as a lottery pick.

UCLA power forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute said he was to play for Cameroon in the 12-team Olympic qualifier July 14-20 in Athens, Greece, but he will not make up his mind until he knows whether or not he is staying in the NBA draft.
Mbah a Moute is working out at the Home Depot Center, and said he was unsure how NBA teams would react to his playing in the qualifier if he was drafted.
However, Mbah a Moute said he would play for Cameroon if he decides to return to UCLA.
Cameroon is in a group with Puerto Rico and Croatia, and the top two teams from each group advance to knockout play. The countries that play in the title game qualify for the Olympics later this summer in China, as does the winner of a game between the losers of the semifinals.

I posted some audio in regards to the ceremony last week at the Coliseum involving coach John Wooden, and a reader sent me links for the video of various speeches, so here they are:

Vin Scully
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Keith Erickson
Coach John Wooden

Again, thanks to the reader for sharing these links, and in the future, I invited others to email the links to me at brian.dohn@dailynews.com and I will post them.

This is from UCLA regarding academic achievement of several athletes:

Click here to read a story I wrote in today's paper on former Bruin Jordan Farmar. He had a huge block from behind in the Lakers win over the Spurs last night, and he joked about why he never made such a play at UCLA. And watchthe play here on youtube.

Former UCLA great and two-time Super Bowl champ James Washington and members of the Bruins coaching staff will hold a free football clinic on Saturday, May 31, at Los Angeles Southwest College.
Below is the release about it from the school:

Here is the story I wrote on UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel's contract, and a further breakdown of incentives in the five-year contract:

Academic Performance
Max earning potential is $50,000
$10,000 if team GPA is between 2.5 and 2.75
$20,000 if team GPA is 2.75 or higher

$10,000 is APR (tied to graduation rate) is between 92.5 and 95 percent
$20,000 is APR is 95 percent or higher

$5,000 for each Academic all-American up to two players

Regular season wins
Max earning potential is $100,000
$20,000 for winning eight games
$35,000 for winning nine games
$50,000 for winning 10 games
$65,000 for winning 11 games
$100,000 for winning 12 games

Pac-10 performance
Maximum earning potential is $100,000
$100,000 for undisputed Pac-10 title
$80,000 for Pac-10 co-championship

Post-season appearances
Max earning potential is $200,000
$200,000 for playing in the BCS title game
$100,000 for playing in a BCS at-large game
$40,000 for playing in bowl game in which payout is more than $1 million
$20,000 for playing in any other non-BCS bowl game

Coach of the year
$50,000 for being named coach of the year by the Football Writers, Walter Camp Football Foundation, Associated Press or AFCA

*There is also a $1.5 million buyout

Here is the story I wrote for today's paper on former UCLA center Kevin Love readying to sign with an agent and withdrawing from classes.
As another tidbit, here are the teams Love said he expects to work out for, likely beginning with the New Jersey Nets on June 5. He also said he expects to work out for the Charlotte Bobcats, Memphis Grizzlies, Seattle Sonics, Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks.
Love added it was still possible he could work out for the Chicago Bulls, but was told by the Clippers that Elton Brand would be there for a while so they would likely pass on Love.

I wrote this for Saturday's paper, but here's a sneak peek of a few lines.

Kevin Love said he will soon sign with Los Angeles-based agent Jeff Schwartz, ending any microscopic chance of returning for a second season.
Love, an all-American and the Pacific-10 player of the year, added he is no longer attending classes.
"I have to actually sign the papers to get out of school because I have a few (endorsements) on the table where I can actually start making money,'' Love said. "When am I signing with an agent? As early as Tuesday. It's just getting all the paperwork together. I'm going with Jeff Schwartz.''

(By the way, this is night owl time for those of us with toddler who believe it is their job to wake up the roosters in time to crow for the rising sun.)

Here is UCLA's coaching salary breakdown. The amount listed is guaranteed.

Rich Neuheisel, head coach $1.25 million
DeWayne Walker, defensive coordinator $375,000 (two-year deal)
Norm Chow, offensive coordinator $300,000-$350,000* (three-year deal, still receiving difference of $1 million and UCLA contract from Tennessee Titans)
Chuck Bullough, linebackers $190,000
Todd Howard, defensive line $190,000
Tim Hauck, safeties $125,000
Reggie Moore, receivers $125,000
Wayne Moses, running backs $100,000 (still being paid by St. Louis Rams)
Bob Palcic, offensive line $200,000
Frank Ganz Jr., special teams $100,000 (still being paid by Baltimore Ravens)

*According to sources since contract is still not signed

I received a copy of football coach Rick Neuheisel's contract today, and in addition to the $1.25 million he is guaranteed in each of the five years, he can earn an additional $500,000 annually in bonuses.
Much of the bonus money is tied to on-field performance, with 12 earning him an extra $100,000, an undisputed Pac-10 title worth $100,000 and an appearance in the BCS title game worth $200,000.
He can also make $50,000 for being a national coach of the year and $50,000 for academic performance.
The clauses for remaining in control of the program and the responsibility for adhering to NCAA rules is the same as any other contract.
It means all of the contracts of the staff are signed, except for offensive coordinator Norm Chow. Part of the reason that continues to be slow is because Chow is still owed $2 million over the next two seasons by the Tennessee Titans, but the amount UCLA pays him will be deducted from that figure. And, according to sources, there is a fair-market clause in Chow's contract with the Titans, so UCLA cannot just pay him a small amount and have Tennessee pay the rest.
That said, sources are telling me Chow's UCLA salary will be between $300,000-$350,000. He agreed to a three-year deal.

Sorry for the broken link on the fourth set of answers. Here they are:

Hope everyone has a nice Memorial Day weekend. I'll have some more UCLA stuff over the next few days, but have a good, safe time. Now, here is the final set of answers:

Here is the sixth set:

Here is the fifth set:

Here is the fourth set of answers:

Here's a few tidbits from Dallas South Oak Cliff High center J'mison Morgan, who was released from his national letter of intent by LSU, which allowed him to commit to UCLA today.
He said he wanted out of LSU after coach John Brady was fired, but waited until he met with new coach Trent Johnson.
"I met with coach Johnson first and got to hear what he had to say,'' Morgan said. "I made my decision after that.''
He said Kevin Love announcing he was going to enter the NBA draft had no bearing on his decision to attend UCLA. "Nothing. Not at all,'' he said.
Morgan also said UCLA was "real close the first time'' before he committed to LSU.
By the way, UCLA's first summer session begins June 23, and Morgan will be officially a Bruin when he attends his first class since he cannot sign another national letter of intent.

Power forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute is still waiting to hear whether he was invited to participate in next week's pre-draft camp in Orlando, but several teams have contacted him about workouts after the camp,
Toronto, Dallas, Portland and Chicago each inquired about working Mbah a Moute out.

This is the third installment:

Here is the second set:

Here is the story I wrote for online on South Oak Cliff (Dallas) High center J'mison Morgan announcing today he will attend UCLA.

I just got off the phone with J'mison Morgan, and he told me he just announced he is going to attend UCLA. He said the release has been sent to UCLA and he will speak with coach Ben Howland in a little while.
Morgan said he will arrive on campus in late June and begin taking summer classes.

Not sure why but there weren't nearly the number of questions that I expected, but there were still a nice amount. That said, here is the first set of what will be seven installments of answers.
By the way, I will also have some reaction from J'mison Morgan today, as well as some other stuff I'm working on.

For those of you that love the night time, or the early morning, here is a bonus post on a preview of what will be in Friday's paper.
Not that it is a surprise, but Josh Shipp's mother, Debbie, told me tonight her son will soon announce he is returning to UCLA for his senior season.
"He's still chasing that national title,'' she said. "In the next day or so he'll say something.''

UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel will get an up-close look at quarterback prospects Josh Nunes of Upland and Richard Brehaut of Los Osos in the next few days during Steve Clarkson's event in Santa Barbara. Neuheisel is allowed to be in attendance because one of his kids will be participating in the event.
I'm hearing after the weekend is when UCLA could make a move and offer either Nunes or Brehaut.