Profs for Norris
When UCLA cornerback Michael Norris raced down field and downed a punt inside the 10-yard line during Wednesday's practice, it elicited this response from special teams coach Frank Gansz Jr.: "We can count on you, baby. You can deliver."
I spoke to Gansz after practice about the return game, and although Terrence Austin leads in the competition for returning punts and kicks, he had plenty of superlatives for Norris.
"Michael Norris impresses me as a football player all around,'' Gansz said. "I'm very impressed with Mike Norris right now. I'm talking about punt returns, kick returns, everything.
"I like Mike Norris as a football player. I think he's one of the best football players on this team, and I think the guy does everything he's supposed to be doing. And I like his consistency day-in and day-out, not only on the field, but in the classroom."
16 Comments
Leave a comment
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.
Hey Brian, how is norris doing on the punt return team as a gunner? I remember him being hit by a punted ball at least twice, causing Bruin turnovers. Has he improved his awareness this spring?
it's PROPS, not profs. proofread please
joe i think he's making a joke playing off of 'props' for the fact that he's playing well with the fact that he's doing well academically.
if that's the case, i give you an A for creativity, brian, and a B- on the joke itself.
Norris is doing well academically. The Profs - that is short for Professors - are all for Norris because he is getting good grades.
You guys must have graduated from USC - that is short for University of Stupid Comments.
Sorry... trying to make a case for "profs" being some sort of witticism is really stretching. My guess is that it is a typo - one that an editor would catch, but on a blog is going to slip by.
I'm a total spelling/grammar-phobe, and I cringe when I see these, but I let them go by, knowing that the blog format values speed over grammar. But if I start seeing 1337Z0l2Z, I'll be outta here!
I withdraw any hasty criticisms - except the USC part, per se.
it's either a typo or just bad writing. how does Profs for Norris make any sense at all? because he does well in the classroom? therefore professors are for norris? come on, how dumb are you guys.
Poor ol' Mr. Dohn. If he is anti-ucla can you blame him? Make one typo and all the ucla intellectuals come out of the woodwork.
Give the guy his props for doing a bang-up job on giving us the scoop on the pre-season practices.
Not that that would occur to anybody.
I always liked Norris as a person and as a player. I hope he performs well this year.
This entry title is epic fail
OMG!!!! 10+/- posts discussing the use of props/profs! Is this the Merriam-Webster/Urban Dictionary discussion board?
My goodness. It was a play on words. Gansz talking about Norris being exceptional in the classroom. If it didn't work, so be it. But to spend so much time on it ...I'm speechless.
haHA! the sweet taste of victory! oh how much sweeter "come on how dumb are you" and "must have graduated from USC" made this.
besides all the nonsense about the title, i think this was a great bit of information. thanks brian!
How sad is this when VB has the most worthwhile comment? LOL
Michael Norris might always be remembered for the fake punt play where he was the only one who apparently did not pick up the signal. Norris was gunning down the field when the punter passed the ball to him -- he was all alone and might have had a touchdown. The bewildered look on his face was memorable when Michael turned around as the ball bounced on the turf behind him. Will he ever get another chance like that in his career?