Answers, Part III
Here is the third set of answers:
Does Howland get one "silver bullet" with the admissions committee to bring in an ncaa-minimum qualifier (for example, perhaps Elijah Johnson) on account of the fact that all the rest of the players he's bringing in are excellent students (e.g. Brendan Lane's 4.2 gpa)?
That's not really the way UCLA works, so I doubt it. Howland usually doesn't take the silver bullet path anyway.
There seems to be quite a few freshmen that could contribute this season. What's your feeling about our freshmen running backs Dean, Knox or Coleman playing some??
I expect Dean to play a lot, Coleman is 50-50 depending on whether Chane Moline (a similar style player) performs well and at this time Knox is heading toward a red-shirt.
Earlier you mentioned (or mentioned somebody mentioning) that P. Cowan wasn't the student assistant type of personality. How has he taken to his new job? Is he taking it seriously or simply as a means to finish school?
Got me. He has not been out to practice yet because he just underwent surgery for his torn ACL this week. I don't expect to see him on the practice field for a while.
I know this is primarily a basketball/football blog (based on reader feedback) .... but what the heck has happened to UCLA Track and Field. Some big name athletes came out of that program but the program didn't seem to have a very good showing at the last NCAA's and the number athletes at the olympics seems to be going down too. What's changed?
I'd like to tell you, but I have no idea. I'll ask and see what I can find out.
Why does UCLA have trouble recruiting outside the west in basketball, while schools like UNC, Georgetown and others are able to pull kids from anywhere including Southern California? Is this something you think will change?
I think it will change. One of the reasons is because UCLA wasn't one of the top 5 programs like the others mentioned for a while, especially when the kids playing college ball now were growing up. Also, those schools have to pull from other areas because the basketball talent isn't as high as it is in SoCal. In all honesty, if UCLA could have its pick of only SoCal kids, there would be little need to leave the area.
Brian - great job on the blog and your regular reports. Would you ever consider joining your readers/fans for a tailgate or are you too busy with other assignments to enjoy a nice, cool libation between your duties?
Indeed, I would consider it. In fact, I've done it before.
It is obvious that the hiring of Neuheisel/Chow has injected the Football program with more passion and energy. Do you feel that this hiring has had the same effect on your reporting?
Nope. I love my job and reported hard even when the team was bad. That is what I strive to do, give a great, quality effort every day (even though the results don't always show it). In fact, when a coaching change is being made, that is sort of like the Super Bowl for beat writers.
Richard Brehaut was recently ranked number 34 on ESPN's Top 150 list, which was recently re-evaluated. I know he showed up big time at the Elite 11 Camp. I know you said in last weeks Q&A that UCLA first realistic shot at the Pac-10 title will be in 2010. That being said, do you believe that Brehaut has what it takes to shoulder UCLA back into conference and national contention?
From everyone I talk to that knows the quarterback position very well, it sounds like he has that type of talent. However, he must be surrounded by talent. Trent Edwards is in the NFL, but had such little talent around him at Stanford, he did not win much in college.
How much reps would a transfer like Maiava get in practice if at all?
I was told he will play in scout team.
If DWalker leaves at the end of this year, could you see one of the current defensive assistants (Bullough/Howard) getting the DC job?
No, I don't think that would happen. I know a name of two that would be on the top of the list, but I'm not going to get into that right now.
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About Inside UCLA
This is Brian Dohn's sixth season covering UCLA after spending 4 1/2 years covering the Dodgers for the Daily News and other Los Angeles Newspaper Group papers. He graduated from Rutgers, where the first college football game was played in 1869. Sure, the Scarlet Knights suffered for a long time, but now RU is doing what Jerseyans always thought was possible. Winning at Rutgers also proves winning is possible everywhere else in the nation, so underachieving coaches better be careful. Now, if only men's hoops can turn it around.
Brian -
Regarding the final question in this set, I know that you said yor are "not going to get into that right now"...but...throw us a bone.
would one of those names be Norton, perhaps?
Cold, Warm, HOT?
To the question about east coast schools recruiting west vs. UCLA recruiting east, it's demographics. Everything east of the Mississippi is just denser, and when UCLA comes in late(as it always will with regards to kids back east) they are up against a boatload of quality schools, all in their backyard. A kid back there can miss on UNC but still opt for the big east, acc, conf usa, and b10.
A west coast kid missing on UCLA, which btw is already saddled with tougher admissions, has fewer options. He AIN'T going to WSU, Stanford is equally tough, and zona USED to be the other option. ASU is new to the scene, $C is a black hole, no one thinks about Cal. AND EVERYTHING IS SPREAD OUT. Between UCLA and Zona, there is ASU. Between unc and Uconn there are TONS of options. Fans back east think nocal is socal's backyard!!!!!
The east coast bias held by media and recruits alike is demographically motivated.
The other thing you have to look at is the system. When you're talking about UCLA/unc/ku/uk/mem/osu, there is a clear distinction of styles between us and them, and it may simply boil down to that. We lost the Wears because of style of play, imo, and that can't be helped.
The one recruit that hurt is Hollis Thompson who is going to a deliberate school like UCLA, but by all accounts his story was about his mom.
And don't forget, Wooden recruited approx ONE significant out-of-stater per year from '64 to '75.
Neuheisel will bring back ole Kenny Norton. Rick loves when people talk about him, so he'll make a big statement after a mediocre season.
Title IX has hurt the Track and Field program on the men's side. I think there are close to 12 and 1/2 scholarships for a team of 50. Before Title IX there was at least 22. Art Venegas, as the head coach, is not a very good recruiter for non-throwing athletes either.
As far as Track and Field, they are also hurt by the academic standards when it comes to recruiting the sprinters (male, in particular ... sorry, guys!!!).