Here is lucky No. 13:
Of the freshmen redshirting who would you say are the 5 players most likely to be
significant contributors by the end of their third year in the program (RS SO)?
Got me? This is purely a guesstimate, but I’ll go with RB Milton Knox, QB Kevin Prince, WR Jerry Johnson, DB Aaron Hester and DB E.J. Woods.
Does Coach Neu inspire you to believe he will turn the program around as well as
coach Howland inspired confidence the job would get done?
Apples and oranges. It is much easier to turn basketball around, and he commitments from Jordan Farmar and Arron Afflalo before I started covering UCLA, so the base was in place. I’m not doubting Neuheisel will turn it around, but I am taking a wait-and-see approach.
you mentioned Cal fans like to email you about player admissions. what do they say? what do you reply? if you do not reply please use this space to do so in one or two sentences.
They like to say UCLA and Cal have the same admission standards, even for football, because they are both UC schools, and accuse me of being a homer (I’m sure some of you folks will dispute that). I simply reply with factual data and statements from players I interviewed who say they couldn’t get into UCLA, but got into Cal. Basically, I find Cal fans, on a whole, to be the biggest whiners of any school UCLA plays. (Yes, Cal fans, start the emails now).
RE: Replay at the Rose Bowl. When a play is under review, they never show the replay to the crowd. Instead, they put the Pac-10 replay rules on the video screen.
Why? Can you influence change with your contacts at the RB or UCLA?
Because the Pac-10 and the officials don’t want 60,000 people in the Rose Bowl booing or cheering based on a replay, because, I guess, they believe it will put more pressure on the officials. But I agree with you, it should be up on the replay board. Let everyone see what the officials are looking at.
Crocs sponsors the “replay” at the Rose Bowl. Did you notice that?
Did you broker that deal?
I did not notice that, but I take a size 10 if said sponsors want to help me out.
I believe each school is allowed 50+ official visits per season. We’ve only
had 2 officials in 3 home games, do u think the staff is waiting to bring in like
30 kids for the SUC game???
From my understanding, there is talk of a big recruiting weekend for the USC game, and also at least one big weekend in January.
Has Rick indicated any frustration with the change in recruiting (earlier commitments) since his last HC gig? Is he utilizing any connections in either Washington or Colorado?
He has expressed frustration a little bit, but nothing major. He is also getting caught up to speed with it. Also, he has connections with coaches from those days, and he is utilizing it whenever possible. However, his recruiting area and admissions qualifications have changed.
Do you think Rick can be a great recruiter?
Yes, I think he can be. But he needs to prove it, and needs to have a solid person running the show, and he has that right now in Angus McClure.