Answers (cont.), Part XXI

Brian, do you have any idea who Arizona will be looking to take over their B-ball program? I am hearing names like Pearl, Callipari, Few, etc...
I have no idea, but I haven't really checked it out. And I don't see Tennessee or Memphis letting a guy go now, so if that is the case, it would mean Arizona will spend the season with an interim coach, and the names to be thrown out will be crazy.

What's your opinion on L. Olson's sudden and surprising retiring? Did you see this coming? Did you interact with him during your career? If so, what kind of guy is he?
I'm not surprised because that situation has been a mess for a while. In talking to some of the guys about Olson in the last month, I thought this could happen. And I really didn't interact with him much because it always seemed like he was doing something else while he was being interviewed.

There was a freshman on the UCLA women's basketball team last year named Regina Rogers, she is no longer listed on the roster. any news on her? also, did alexis olivier leave the team because her mom is not coaching at UCLA anymore?
Sorry for the delay in answering this one, but I had to make sure my information was correct. Rogers is from Seattle and transferred to Washington (she is from Seattle) and is red-shirting. Alexis is still in school, but is not on the team. While I couldn't nail down the reason for her not playing is related to her mom not coaching, that is the consensus.

i heard a rumor that ESPN is again trying to change the UCLA/Tennessee
game to labor day for the 2009 season. any truth to the rumor, and if so,
when might we know?
I wouldn't call it a rumor. I call it something I reported a few a weeks ago. But I don't think anything will be known until after the season. The UCLA-Tennessee game this season wasn't changed until March, so there is no hurry to do it. I'm sure ESPN will want to see what happens with both programs the rest of the season before making a decision. Plus, UCLA would have to move its Sept. 5 opener against San Diego State.

We hear a lot about donors for Ucla athletics, especially the upper-level ones. I'm curious to know what you'd consider to be a "bigtime" donor at UCLA? Would you (or Dan G.) consider someone donating around $100k/year to be a high-level donor? A larger amount? Lesser amount?
Yes, I would consider donating $100,000 a high-level donor. It would be very good for UCLA's athletic program.

How would you assess Brigham Harwell's and Brian Price's performance this year? How do you account for the wide disparity in the number of tackles for each?
Harwell and Price are playing well, and doing exactly what they are supposed to do in the middle. I think the running game is successful against the Bruins because the linebackers aren't playing as well, and too many missed tackled by the safeties. And the reason Harwell is getting more tackles is runs are going at him and his side of the more often.

Besides the obvious answer, do you think there is any chance of Gaddy remaining in Arizona?
I don't think he stays there unless Arizona comes in with an incredible coach and Gaddy can be convinced to wait until the spring to sign his letter of intent.