Talking Big?

Well, BYU is a 9-point favorite, so he's not saying anything that we do not already know.

I hope someone forwards this to Rick.

I'm not sure why Hall's quote is a big deal? Sure, they are supposed to beat us. They are favored, and we suck. What's the big deal?

Am I the only one who believes this blog would be better off if the troglodyte VB found a permanent cover to his cynical cave?

They win the LV Bowl on a missed field goal by KF and Max Hall is running smack. Just tell the umpires to watch the holding and tackling by BYU's 40 year old offensive linemen. It was out of control in the UW game. Besides, Utah is the class of the MTWC.

It's homers like E3 who can't handle the truth. Dude, I know you probably think we are BCS bound because we beat Tennesee, but the bottom line is that we are still playing with untalented Dorrell players and we need a year or two to build a strong team. Sure, we will win some big games this year, but we aren't going to muster anything better than a Sun Bowl.

Try to get rid of VB. I am here to stay. Dohn loves me. I add spice to his blog.

Anyone want to take wagers on how long till VB says he's the first at the Rose Bowl to tailgate, always stands up while cheering, says he and his friends have 8 season tickets and drive from OC, and gets upset as if someone is trying to "censor" him and then pretends he's proud to get such reactions. I'll give it about three posts.

All of the above, Bailey. Glad you know that much about me. Bottom line, chumps, VB is a realist and I know you can't handle it. I know you are probably the guys in Tunnel 19 who got up with 1:47 left in the game to beat traffic, thinking that we were going to lose, only to listen to our comeback on the AM570. And you call me cynical and negative? Please.

I love UCLA sports and I always will. But I'm also not dumb enough to think that we are all of a sudden a BCS team because we beat ONE Top25 opponent. I know we'll be better than Dohn projected this year. I think we will win 7 or 8, but I'm not a big enough homer to believe we will even come close to winning the Pac10.

Damn VB, you let me down. I thought you said you were a die hard fan? Well, we don't suck and true die hard fans never say that about their team.

"We've got to prepare like crazy" doesn't make it sound like there is any lack of respect there.

Also, it's spelled SuC, and we do not.

Only one-week from arguably ucla's biggest victory in 10-years (yes, even bigger than that 2006 SUC victory because it had more national implications and was far more entertaining to neutral observers), and the dew is already off the rose?

By the way, that ol' SUC team is No. 1 in the nation again. How does a school that SUCs so much do it?

Oh sorry, I didn't know "die-hard fans" were supposed to let their fanship blind them into a pathetic haze of homership.

@ONLYTHETRUTH

I dunno, ask Mayo or Bush.

as much as VB can really rub me the wrong way every once in a while, i havta say that he is also right a lot more often than people give him credit for. being realistic doesn't mean that a bad team (which, yes, we are) can't beat a good one like BYU. it just means everyone shouldn't expect them to. it means you can still be proud of and congratulate your team after an upset victory hopefully without everyone coming to you afterward going "OH WHAT NOW? EAT YOUR WORDS!!!"

frankly, being a die hard fan has nothing to do with not saying your team sucks. you know they do, but cheer to death for them anyway. if more people would use intelligent analysis, the world would be a better place. i hope people realize how annoying it is when people blindly champion their teams (see: SEC) and try not to do the same themselves.

Agreed. Just because we can admit that our team is not that great doesn't mean that we aren't die-hard fans. There is a HUGE difference between being a fan and being a homer. I can, at times, be a huge homer, but try to stay realistic as much as I can so I don't look like one of those subjective, down-south, SEC fans.

Hey Bruin Fam,
I think everyone should be able to offer their opinions on this blog, that is the purpose of a blog. With that being said, I strongly disagree with VB quote "that we suck". Teams that suck quit! I don't think you will see this team quit! I agree with his assessment that we have a long way to go in raising our talent level to where it should be. I would question anyone who calls them self a die hard Bruin fan and offers a statement like that so early in the season.

GO BRUINS!!! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!

Nobody is saying that it is bad to be impartial VB. It is the incessant whining and complaining that people take issue with.

I am glad you have issues with the team. But be constructive. Provide solutions.

Placing blame and pointing the finger over and over and over again is not leadership.

Please excuse my comments if you are already aware of this and simply like to troll around on the internet with your massive amounts of free time.

When did I ever point a finger at anyone? I was merely trying to calm down all the Bruin homers who took offense to Max Hall's quote. His quote was not that offensive, but Dohn's post came across as an attempt to perpetuate some mild controversy. Maybe I am wrong, but Bruin fans seemed to take offense to Hall's statement.

Just because I think we "suck" doesn't mean I am not a fan. And it doesn't mean I am "pointing fingers" at anyone. I am merely stating the truth. That compared to the rest of the football nation, we are not going to be that great this year. I"m not saying we will NEVER be good. I'm saying the simple truth:

BYU is favored this weekend, and we are NOT THAT GOOD.

"Dohn loves me. I add spice to his blog."

LOL - Seriously, who says that?? Classic...

I always cringe when guys who aren't on the field criticize 'talent'. That said, I will agree that UCLA didn't start recruiting representative talent until 2006 and much of that has to be developed.

I don't agree that "we suck". I think this team's ability is still yet to be proven, since coaching is a crucial element of success. If the team can remain injury free and the players are able to execute the offense, then we may be a pretty decent team by year's end (which is the 7-8 wins you project). "We suck" isn't truth, just merely your present assessment of the team.

The quote is a non-issue, I agree...

BYU is favored, so all of sudden that makes then great.
I thought what happens in the game was more important than the odds??
So VB, if we beat this supposed powerhouse, who managed to beat a bottom tier pac 10 team on a terrible call and managed to beat us in a bowl game on a blocked field goal after our walk on QB drove us for the winning score.
I wonder what you will say then.

GO BRUINS!!!
FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!

haha i wonder what bruinfbbb has against free time?

You wanna know what I'll say then? I'll say that it was a great win and that we are still going to only win 8 games this season. Which, by the way, is a GREAT accomplshment for our team considering the circumstances.

And since when can non-players not assess the talent on the field? I guess we better cancel college gameday because Corso, Herbstreet and Fowler aren't actually on the field playing right?

oh and rico bruin, i bet he says something along the lines of we beat a better team than us (its not like that never happens in sports, especially college football...), that it makes him very happy, and that they played with a lot of heart and we probably had amazing coaching. you know, the stuff that fans usually say after a victory?

i also see no need for the disparaging of byu in your post. completely unnecessary. they are a quality program.

well my post got significantly more lame when he answered before i could predict his answer.

I love when people criticize me for having too much free time, but then proceed to read my posts and comment on them all day. LOL

And, generally, the more "free time" you have means the better job you have.

Cancel College Gameday? That's easily your best comment on this blog.

I am in blog hell! In one corner there is Mr. I-Stuff-My-Face-With-Hot-Dogs-At-6AM-At-Lot-H/VB and the other we have Mr. "Football Is An Illusion"/Riverboat Gambler/ONLYTHETRUTH. And if I had a choice between those two and Sam Gilbert, I prefer Sam Gilbert! Woe, woe, woe is me!!!

Fan4 - I'm convinced they're the same person. Haven't you noticed the common theme in their posts: Me, I, Me, me, I, me, me....and....me...

Forget BYU quotes, UCLA coaches should get all of their "bulletin board" material from VB. With fans like these, who needs enemies?

A bunch of tools all of you are. But you are all my friends, since we are all Bruins. Come visit me in Tunnel 19, Row 72, Seats 1-8. I'd love to chat with you homers.

LOL... Okay, whatever you say, 'D.'

How many away games you "fans" attending this year? Wanna know how many I'm going to?

How many of you you "fans" are going to Knoxville next year?

How many of you "fans" are selling your USC/UCLA tickets on Stubhub because you are too afraid to go? I guarantee I'm sure as heck going!

BYU is in the biggest joke of a conference and they think they have a quality program??!! HAHAHAH

Sheesh - I swear it feels like there are more and more 18 year olds joining up over the years... It's just sports, fellas.

Look, I understand that many people find VB's comments to be extreme at times. I suspect this is why so many people are overreacting to a common phrase - "we suck." To be fair, it IS a loaded phrase, but it's a phrase that can be interpreted many ways.

VB was using it to say that we aren't a USC, OSU, UG, etc. -caliber team right now and that we shouldn't get overly excited about a quality (and somewhat lucky) win. There wouldn't be 5 comments in this thread if he'd said it that way. It's about intent...

Some of you took it to mean that he was trashing the team and disrespecting the program (and by extension its fans). It's clear to me that he loves UCLA and is a fan. As such, I don't think he should have to edit himself, even if some people - including myself at times - get their panties in a bunch because we disagree with his opinions.

I think he's fairly answered any questions of his fan-hood or the intent of his comments. For your part, be fair enough to accept his answers whether you like them or not.

Just my $0.02.

Anyone else enjoying the coincidence that the title of this entry is "Talking Big?"