Secure measures
One of the many, many, many differences in the way UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel handles things compared to what transpired under coach Karl Dorrell was evident when I went to get something out of my car during practice this week.
First, a quick history lesson: during Dorrell's tenure, practices were closed to the public, but often people stood in one of the parking structures and watched, while others just wandered through the Spaulding Field gates to get a look. And rarely was their presence even acknowledged.
When I went to get something from my car, and spent a few minutes fumbling around in the trunk, a security guard came over and asked if everything was ok. He told me he was making sure people weren't hiding out to watch practice from deck.
Also, the moment the Spaulding Field gate slides open and an unfamiliar face pops up, it is made known practice is closed to all but former players, family members of current players and the local media.
the batmobile has a trunk?
So, what you're telling me is that if I ever move back to LA and work right by UCLA again, my lunches spent eating Panda Express from Ackerman while sitting on the hood of my car in Lot 6 overlooking Spaulding Field are over?
gubon13 just game away the location of the batman's cave...
gubon13,
Yup, I first encountered with that Mr. Security Guard 2 weeks ago...
The best way to avoid spying is to simply open up the practices to all comers.
Never have understood this secrecy policy. What are they doing over there, learning how to split the atom? It is just football. Heck, everybody has practically the same plays. The thing is the other team does not know when you will run them. Also, some teams say 'We am coming right at you, let's see if you can stop us.'
Moreover, that guy across town has open practices and his players say they love it, that they practice harder because they have an audience.
You know what, truth, you're right. We should also move our practices to the SC campus, change the blue to red and trade in Joe and Josie for a dude on a horse. Actually, I heard Rick Neuheisel is considering changing his middle name to Pete.
"We am coming right at you"
SC grammar at its finest....
Yeah, maybe we should open our practice that way we can get more agent runners to offer our players secret contracts, clothing and big screen t.v.'s? Oh wait, that other team across town already does that....my bad.
So, TRUTH, you don't mind and USC is fine with Coach Treschel posting up a video camera at this afternoon's practice? After all, they both pretty much run the same plays, right?
Seriously - WTF are you talking about??
Great idea. Why have the kids focus on game preparation when they could be chillin' with Snoop Dog instead? That's exactly what we need to solve our OL woes.
Interesting comments, although fraught with a little too much bias and emotion. But let's take them one at a time:
1. I will attempt to stop saying "We am" instead of "We are." Sorry, it is a childhood habit I just cannot break.
2. No, Rick does not have to change his name to Pete. The suggestion was simply that there is usually more than one way to do things.
3. Yes, agents are a problem. But only Bush caved in, and he is only 1 of 100s of athletes at SC, all of whom have gone straight.
4. And yes, I don't think there would be a problem if Ohio State were to videotape an SC practice. They have SC on tape in games. And, again, you may know what is coming, but you don't know when. Anyway, it does not seem to bother Coach Carroll.
5. Finally, do you really think having fans or celebrities hanging out at practice will undermine the kids' concentration? What better way to prepare them for the real thing i.e. 70-100,000 screaming fans on game day.
so youre saying its a good thing or bad thing?
that was a good one Maltridge! and as far as having closed practices, i like the idea. lets hit them by surprise!!!
Dohn isn't talking about "a practice", he's talking about a recent practice in which UCLA is installing the gameplan for the upcoming opponent. Sounds like CRN is more careful about onlooking outsiders than Dorrell was, another symptom our program is in better hands.
Every program conducts open practices, but not the week of a game - again, what are you talking about?
I know we're talking about football here, but it is quite contrary to THE TRUTH that only one of hundreds of 'SC athletes fall prey to runners and agents. That is, unless you've never heard of basketball, which in fact is true in many Trojans' cases. So, since the two highest-profile athletes (Bush, Mayo) the school has churned out happen to be frauds, the logical conclusion is that it continues to happen on down the line without being recognized. And in preparation for the "well, this happens at all schools" defense, no one else comes close to matching this dubious record. While it may be accurate to some degree, you've got to infer from the facts that it occurs more at an infinite degree at USC.