Answers, Part X

Which do you enjoy covering more....football or hoops?
I love both of them, but right now football because practices are open and Neuheisel is a hoot to deal with.

It's been said that UCLA admissions is likely to make fewer exceptions for football this year versus last year. Why is that? It appears their academic performance has been good. Wouldn't that lead to as many or more exceptions?
I have heard the same thing, and the reason it would happen is because admissions doesn't care about the success of the football program. It's a simple fact. Their charge is to protect the academic side, and the belief is allowing more exceptions, even if those kids do well in school, lowers the academic profile.

Why are there so many details about the UCLA program that just do not make sense? (not painting the endzones, not allowing the band to play while marching in, UCLA sideline in the sun, etc.)
I've said for a long time UCLA is successful in many athletic endeavors despite itself. I also believe there is a level of arrogance within the administration that breeds such things.

As a former sportswriter for the other paper in town, during pre-internet times, I'm curious how you see the relationship between your blog and your print stories. From my perspective, the blog is simply an ongoing notebook without page limitations; plus the interactive feature.
I treat the blog and the newspaper differently, in that the blog allows me to get information out immediately and the paper allows me to develop ideas and stories more because it is not as quick-hitting as a blog. I try to give the reader something different on both sides, so even if the topic is the same, they get something else.

Is there a difference in what type of recruits KD and CRN they went after? If so, what are they.
It is a little too early to tell, but one difference I see is Neuheisel is much more willing to compete for guys and try to convince them to come to UCLA, whereas Dorrell used to find guys who wanted to come to UCLA, who had the grades, and then tried to coach them harder to make them better players.

I noticed we substitute quite a bit on the defensive line throughout the game. Is it more of a question of the type of play we expect (run play vs. pass play) or giving breathers to our starters?
Breathers to the guys on the defensive line, especially last week against a physical Stanford. If it were feasible, I think defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker would go with Brian Price and Brigham Harwell at defensive tackle on every play.

What has been your favorite sporting event that you have covered and who has given you your favorite interview? Why?
Wow, that sends me into my memory bank. Favorite sporting event was probably the 1993 U.S. Open in golf because it was the first big-time, national-type sporting even I covered.
My favorite interview was probably one I did with Brigham Harwell a few years ago when he told me everything he had been through as a kid, including living in a car with his mom and brothers, and yet he harbored no animosity and was so upbeat and positive.

Does the elevation of Mike Harris to the first team at Tuesday's practice indicate that he has been showing improvement in recent days, or does it simply reflect that the offensive line is in a dire situation?
Although Harris has improved, it showed the dire situation of the offensive line.

Now that Rosario has thrust himself into the wide receiver rotation with his breakout game against Stanford, do you think that his freshman teamate Moutra might also get more action during the remaining games?
No, quite the opposite. If another spot is taken in the rotation, it leaves less time for Moutra.

Do we have a shot against Cal? What do you think is the likelihood that we steal one in Berkeley?
I think UCLA has a shot at beating Cal, but only if it can force at least three turnovers. In all honestly, I think UCLA returns home with a loss.