Q&A time

Do you know how close North Carolina Forward Deon Thompson was to coming to UCLA?

I don't suppose you can share with us what Tavega did to get on RN's short list?

Scott Glicksberg, Micah Reed, Jess Ward and Sonny Tevaga, the exceptions or the rule?

The latest message board rif-raff has Matt Barkley re-considering his commitment to USC and taking a closer look at among others UCLA. This is inaccurate, right?

Brian,
Is VB a real person or is he actually your sinister alter ego?

When you were considering a career in journalism, did you ever think you would have to make phone calls to 17 year old high school students to see where they were considering attending college?

can you do a follow up with Taylor Embree to see if he did look up Taylof Swift after last weeks interview and if he changed his mind on that question? (meeting Jason Taylor or Taylow Swift)

Several online sources reported that Tommy Trojan was painted blue last Friday, did you hear anything about this?

What do you think about painting the statue: funny, dumb, keeps rivalry interesting? A few weeks early, but it's not like it can happen at the appropriate time now with the 24/7 security around him before the rivalry game right?

Is UCLA doing a better job (both in football and hoops) of keeping alumni involved and interested?

Is there still a shot to flip Marlon Pollard or has the staff moved on?

How many non-committed recruits are expected for the USC game?

I read where Patrick Hall and Pressley were somewhat interested...is there any truth to that?

Do you think UCLA is too agresssive in their non-conference scheduling? Has CRN said as much?

Brian, Since craft seems to do better with a hurry up offense, why don't the Bruins simply go with the hurry up?

Brian: Since you're in NYC: Peter Luger (Brooklyn)or Sparks Steakhouse? or are you going across the bridge & tunnel for some NJ home cooking?

I realize this is speculative, but if WWalker gets a much deserved head coaching gig would Greg Robinson late of Syracuse and def coord at Texas before that, be on CRN's radar for the def coordinator job?

How much time do the football players have off (from football) before preparing for the 2009 season?

Brian, is A. Dean in the doghouse? In his garbage time carries, he seemed a lot quicker than any of the RBs ahead of him on the depth chart. I can't help but think that if he sees a bit of daylight that he's gone --something that I can't say about Bell or Coleman.

UCLA seems to be hitting the JC ranks hard. Because, as you said, many JC players are marginally talented, how much of this can be attributed to a desire for an infusion of physically mature athletes vs. a shallow pool of high school talent willing/able to come to UCLA?

Brian, does Notre Dame have the rule in which a verbal commitment of theirs cannot visit another school w/out losing his offer to ND? If so, did Stockton schedule the visit here not knowing the rule. In the end do you think he visits us?

What is the funniest thing Neuheisel has said to you?

Brian, how exactly do coaches 'pressure' kids into commitments?

You’re not on Wikipedia’s list of notable Rutgers alums. Does that make you burn with a scarlet rage?

Who is the guy that Kevin Craft comes over to on the sidelines after every play?

Brian, as a college football fan, whats your opinion on the UMich situation. It just seems to me that coach Rod. is a great coach, but he does not fit UMich well.

How actively does Howland recruit top players from outside the West Coast?

What is the status of potentially upgrading Spaulding Field to have a more grand entrance and offices on the Northwest corner just across from the locker room?

Brian, any thoughts on only 4 African American head coaches left at universities?

Which, if any, of the Hawaiian recruits are Mormon and will need to take time off to go on their mission?

Brian, your early predictions for this years Bruin football team were pretty much accurate. That being said, do you expect the football team to dramatically improve next year, or will it be 'much of the same.'

I like the links you put up on the right sidebar to publications for our upcoming football opponent, but can/will you do the same for our basketball opponents as well? We have a basketball game against Michigan tomorrow and it would be nice to see their papers (Detroit News, Michigan Live, and The Oakland Press are the ones I use).

I thought finalized plans had been approved and a renovated Pauley would open on Wooden’s 100th birthday in 2010. Is the current fundraising project designed to support those renovation plans? Or is UCLA back at square 1 with no architectural plans at all?

Will the football and basketball squads have Thanksgiving dinners as a team?

Is there any reason to believe the offensive line will be any better next year?

Would you rather: (a) answer another question why Craft remains the starting QB; or (b) chew a lightbulb?

Is Howland basically committed to UCLA for the rest of his career? Is there any scenario you can imagine that takes him away from UCLA within five years?

I see Howland staying at UCLA at least another 15-20 years and retiring as its head coach. I don't see him wanting to coach elsewhere, including the NBA. Is that your sense as well?

Assume: (a) Hamani Stevens stays with his commit to UCLA; (b) Sheller doesn't injure his knee on an ATV in the off-season; and (c) Donovan Edwards goes to UCLA instead of Cal. Would it have made a difference this year?

Wow. 2 people asking same question virtually at once...I posted 1 q and promise that someonese else posted 2nd on his own!

I've noticed that Ben Olsen pretty much keeps to himself on the sidelines during games. Pat Cowan is always talking to the other players, and Craft, seemingly trying to help out. Is Ben shy? Aloof? Should he be more involved?

How would you grade the quality of questions posted on this blog for you based upon: (a) creativity; (b) humor; (c) knowledge of college football; (d) knowledge of college basketball; and (e) overall quality.

In your opinion, will the staff be able to get a decent amount of JC kids past admissions for next year? If so, will the OL see improvement as a result of that?

Where do you draw the line in terms of reporting football game preparation. Obviously, Neuheisel saying "we need to run the ball better" is not classified information.

Being that you are from Jersey, I'm going to venture a wild guess that you are a Springsteen fan. Favorite song? Favorite album? Favorite member of the E Street Band?

I've noticed that Jimmy Rotstein always looks up and slightly to the left before he starts his stride toward a kick-off. Any idea what he's looking at?

Would you consider it the pinnacle of your career to cover the Chick-Fil-A bowl?

Do you ever see Eric Scott coaching at UCLA again? It would appear that he would help greatly with recruiting.

Have you ever had ambition to be a columnist?

What concrete steps have you seen Neuheisel take to get more high-profile football alums (Aikman, Ogden, MJD, etc.) involved with the program?

Why are Pac-10 basketball refs so bad?

Has Chow been as good of an offensive coordinator as you thought he would be?

Do you think BH will still try to land a pg in this class? Who are they recruiting?

1) How does Kevin Prince look in practice?

2) How does the talent at Oregon State compare to UCLA? Much superior, slightly superior?

3) Does Craft always throw to his first read in practice?

4) Who is the best O-lineman this year?

5) Going out on a limb here, what FB position did you play in High school?

Do Ben Howland and Phil Jackson ever talk shop?

Would you take UCLA's hoops recruiting classes this year and last year, or UNC's?

At one point you wrote that Howland cooled on the Wears and stopped pursuing them. But then you later said that he went after them hard and was "stunned" when they went to UNC. So which is it?

Do you have an opinion on Larry Drew vs. Jerime Anderson and whether Howland made the right move taking the latter?

During the Washington game, I noticed Forbath wearing one white shoe and one blue shoe. Nothing unusual about that for a kicker. But the white—ie, normal—shoe was on his kicking foot! What’s up with that?

What are the strengths and weaknesses of Glen Love and EJ Woods? If the 09 season started next week, who appears more ready to be a starter along side rahim moore?

Brian, in junior football when you were playing the D line, did you ever break down the sealer block by the tight end/fullback and tackle the tailback for a loss?

What's the deal with James Keefe? Was he a bad evaluation or just not that talented and overrated out of HS?

Would it be possible to color code your content (football one color - basketball another) or put your football type questions in one grouping and your basketball type questions in another.

Brian, how does a player get to be a walk-on for the B Ball team? How did Coach Wooden's great grandson get on the roster?

Do you have open access to interview all UCLA basketball players or are there restrictions. For example - only on Fridays. After games for 15 minutes. Etc ...

Do you see any significant chance that Dragovic supplants Keefe at the power forward position, particularly if Keefe continues to struggle?

In your opinion, is Honeycutt good enough to start at the 3 right away next year since Shipp leaves and Jrue more than likely leaves early making Lee the starting 2 guard (probably)?

Because I know you love hypotheticals so much...

1. Which one player from any of Dorrell's Teams do you think would have made the biggest difference this year? How many wins better do you think he would have made us?

2. What starting 5 would you make if you could use any player that Ben Howland has coached at UCLA?

Captain Keith would never have let Tevaga back abourd the Wizard. is CRN too much of a folk guitar playing softie for bigtime college football?

Devils beatable
Trojans a rivalry game
Chance to go bowling?

What kind of award will Craft get once he breaks the UCLA record for interceptions?

Prediction for what qtr he will break? He will tie at ASU, and break in first qtr of USC game.

You attend practice everyday. How loose is Forcier's grip on the offense? Like an XL sweatshirt on Gary Coleman, or is it only comparable to a crescent wrench that's a few quarters of an inch too big?

how many JUCO offensive linemen do you anticipate may be opening day starters next year?

Answer to post above
Trojans are unbeatable
Jeff delusional

Bruce Springsteen vs. Bon Jovi vs. Southside Johnny? Who would win in a cage match? Who has the better hair? Wardrobe?

Haiku popular
Easy or hard to answer
Dohn man of letters

Have the coaches given any though to Christian moving to fullback? He played in high school and when he first moved to the backfield, he assumed it would be to fullback so he isn't averse to the idea. I think that he'd be a terrific threat.

Do you ever get interviewed about UCLA on TV or radio and if so what channels or programs can we find you on?

How would you describe the mood/attitude of the players in light of how the season is going? Could you compare the mood/attitude of the players/program from the past 5 years thus far?

We will hopefully be calling Moser a bruin in a few hours, but if not a lot of people are saying that Nike will have played a major roll in it. What is your opinion on this and do you know if the athletic wear provider for a school affects recruit's decisions?

Has Coleman been getting more 1st team reps this week in practice? It was pretty obvious during the first drive of the UW game that the offense moves more efficiently with Coleman running the ball than when Bell is in the game.

Which school has the best hoops fans that you’ve seen in person and which school (whether you’ve seen in person or not) do you think has the best fans nationwide?

Ghost of VB's Cat
Six syllables in first line
Just let a guy dream

UCLA football: bowl eligible next season?

Trojans in '06
Also called unbeatable
Then came 13-9

Out of the ESPNU Class of 2009, 88 of the top 100 recruits have committed somewhere. Of those 88, 7 have committed to Pac-10 schools, of which 3 are going to UCLA. Not counting UCLA, that's less than half a recruit per school. Why is this?

Sorry, there are actually 8 recruits, not 7, meaning it's a little more than half per school. But my point stands.

After the Tennessee game, all the players talked about how they have Craft's back and stuck by him. Do you get the sense from practices that they still support him or has the luster worn off? Has Craft stepped up as a leader this season, or should he step up more as a leader for the team?

By contrast, the big 12 has 17 of the top 100.

I'm glad that Craft hasn't gotten seriously injured with all the hits he's taken on the field. Some hits looked like he got hurt but still continued to play. Are you surprised that he hasn't been injured this season since our QB position seems jinxed (ie. Cowan and Olson)?

From what you have seen of Prince in practice would he be an up grade at the QB position compared to past years???

Did Kevin Love need a security guard to get to class since he was so noticable and a high profile player? I know players like Leinart and money taking Bush needed guards at SUC. Also was he a cocky guy to deal with?

Do you perceive a rift between the older and younger players due to the lack of senior leadership on this team?

In your opinion, what is Neuheisel's philosophy on recruiting JC players and how does it compare with Dorrell and Toledo?

how does the NCAA regulate benefits provided to a student-athlete by a fellow student-athlete? and yes, i'm thinking about a certain millionaire point guard. could he, for example, treat teammates and/or recruits to expensive meals whenever he likes?

based on what you've seen, if ucla could keep only one of the two, and it was your call to make, would you keep dean or knox? and would it be a tough call?

What's your take on the one and done's for basketball?

How would you rate Drew Olson as a qb?

How much better do think the 10-2 team than us currently given all of the late and overtime wins.

i have friends from new jersey that affectionately call Rutgers - "THE RUT" when we watch them play. Do you call them that too?

How much of an influence does a shoe company that sponsors an AAU team have on the basketball prospects ultimate college choice. Can you give us some insight...

I thought Joshua Edwards and Chris Meadows would be contributors to the team after their injuries healed. Are they still banged up?

From attending practice, do you get enough familiarity with the offense to determine if Craft is making the right audibles at the los, based on what the d is showing at the time? If so, how does he rate with making the right audible calls?

Rather than handle the Dragovich thing internally, to avoid sending the wrong message to fans, how would you deal with it?

So now that Moser is committed and we're out of rides, is Howland's plan to monitor guards until spring, and make an offer if Jrue Holiday declares, and otherwise hold tight on commits for this year?

whats your take on howlands 09 recruiting class? and what was moser final decision to choose ucla?

how much power did oprah have in electing obama? is oprah our new world leader?

Mr. Dohn,

I saw this on last week's game thread -- do you know what happened to Christine Nubla? Somebody thought she moved back to the bay area...

Do the UCLA basketball players have a curfew in New York City? Does Howland let them hit the bars and have some fun?

Is there a way to see past UCLA football games (maybe online) or do the networks block the viewing. I missed the Washington game and I want to see a win!

Thanks for the great info Brian.

How good of a hire was Coach Neuheisel in terms of making your job easier and more enjoyable? Which college football coaches would you like to cover?

I know this is off topic from UCLA but in last weeks Q&A you said that you were not a fan of North Carolina coach Roy Williames why is that because from most accounts hes well respected?

I think that Nikola Dragovic is scheduled to be in court on Dec. 4 which is also the day UCLA plays at Texas, could you find out if Nikola can get the court date postponed to a later date that wouldn't conflict with an away game?

Do you believe UCLA will offer Bradley Randle or do you believe they are done for RB'S in the 09 class with Dalton Hilliard already in the fold?

From being around the program do you believe that Aundre Dean understands why he hasn't gotten much playing time with his blocking issues or do you think he's having some sort of ego trip and thats why he's considering leaving?

Most games on Fox West are replayed several times during the week...just check the schedule and set your DVR

Sure, coaches always trot out "one game at a time," but has the staff started to prepare for SC? Gimmick plays? Schemes? Film study?

What's the big deal with the Big 3 CEOs? You took the Daily News private jet to NY, right?

Apparently, UCLA's pass defense is better this year than last, yet Lockett & Norris have been glaringly 'less-than spectacular.' Is there any validity to this fact being a result of playing three poorly QB'd teams ('Furd, Tenn, & Washington), or are we really better in this respect?

Since the middle of last season, I've noticed that Coach Wooden has attended very few games at Pauley. Should we be concerned? With his grandson on the squad, I hoped Coach would show up at the start of the season, but I'm beginning to worry he may not be back.

Are you better with Xs and Os for basketball or football? If it's football, do you think that's a product of being able to see the practices?

With recruiting, is it anything goes until the letter is signed? UCLA is hosting kids who have made a verbal elsewhere for the SC game...but how would Rick feel if guys that made a verbal to him visited elsewhere?

If a scholarship athlete lives off campus, does he get some kind of housing stipend? If so, is it a flat amount or is there cost of living formula (eg, Westwood is probably more expensive than Pullman!)

What is your impression of UCLA overall as a university?

Should we be concerned about Aundre Dean transferring? I don't know how a freshman can be so unhappy about his lack of carries.

what happened to Chase Stanback? I know he transferred but never found out where. Where did he end up, and is he sitting out this year?

What kind of restaurant does Moser's mother own?

how would you assess brian price at this point? a certain greek sports-talk host recently compared him to former usc and oakland raider uber-talent/under-achiever darrell russell. is that even remotely fair?

You always speak highly of Alteraun Verner…Could you describe him in a few sentences? Also, are there any previous stories you’ve done you could link to?

Do you think an NFL team in L.A. would significantly affect UCLA attendance and interest? Would the UCLA athletic department prefer that the NFL never return to L.A.?

Does UCLA have a shot with any of the out of state guys visiting during the USC game? (Tyler Stockton etc.) Or is it just a free trip to Cali thing for most of them since they are committed elsewhere? Thanks Dohn.

Does UCLA have a chance with Chris Hubbard, the OT who visited from Georgia a few weeks ago?

How solid is Stan Hasiak's verbal to UCLA, there are some rumors going around that it is shaky at best.

Do you think UCLA's strength and conditioning program for football needs to be overhauled?

Do you see Neuheisel bringing in a better 2010 recruiting class than the 2009 class?

Does USC commit Randall Carrol have any interest in UCLA? Do we have any legitimate chance of signing him?

You have commented before that UCLA does not have any receivers in the rotation that have true deep speed and therefore cannot stretch the field. In your opinion do either Jerry Johnson or Moutra have the speed to be deep threats next year?

Any chance Jrue Holliday isn't a one and done player?

With all the accusations regarding USC (Mayo & Bush), do you think people around the program should of known what was taking place? Would you notice if someone shady like Rodney Guillory were hanging around UCLA and how would you handle it?

Any update regarding Pete attending two Loyola games?

Are there any high profile recruits that are more interested in UCLA then they were a month or two ago?

From what you are hearing, is the FB staff pleased so far in how the 09 recruiting class in turning out?

Who are the hardest working O linemen? Are they the hardest working in the weight room as well?

Do you think Knox and Franklin are getting better experience then Dean is by redshirting and getting PT on the scout team?

How often are you asked to not write about certain stories?

Is the person or people in charge of allowing more special admits going to be in that position(s) for a while? Is it an elected or appointed position?

What player on the team drives the nicest car? Would you notice if a high profile player (ie Bush) drove a nice car and wouldn't that raise a red flag to sports writers that cover the program?

Is there any truth to the rumor going around the message boards that you have 1 year of eligibility remaining and have agreed to beef up a little bit and put that jersey blood to work on the o-line next year?

If recruiting goes well, is it possible some current players with scholarships will be asked to relinquish their scholarships in favor of recruits with higher upsides?

Was it entirely Bethel-Thompson's idea to leave or was he shown the door on his way out?

What's Pat Cowan doing these days? Is he still involved with the team?

On a roll this week
Matt Barkley is wavering
Can Neu reel him in ?

Do you think Ryan Wright would be starting or getting significant playing time if he had not transferred? Does the coaching staff regret that he transferred?

What do you do to stay up-to-date and make informed choices when you vote in polls?

Have you seen any indication that any of the UCLA basketball freshmen feel they are not getting enough playing time?

What do you think makes a coach a good recruiter? Which of these qualities do you feel the Bruin Football staff have and lack?

Do you know if Sean Sheller is making good progress recovering from his injuries? Do you seem him being able to make the two-deep next season?

How has Connor Bradford looked in practice? Does he look like he has the potential to start for the Bruins at some point?

Will the Bruins be significantly improved next season on the gridiron? Do you any possibility that the team wins 8 or 9 games?

How many more JC guys do you see the football staff signing for the 2009 class?

Are there any football recruits the staff is doing well with that you have been asked not to write about?

Who do you see starting next to Brian Price at DT next year? Have any of the DT's on the current roster, other than Harwell and Price of course, looked impressive to you in games or practice?

Does Howland want Keefe shooting 3-pointers?

Where would you have ranked us pre-season if Kevin Love had come back?

Are you as dismayed as I am that Collison and Shipp appear to have no more clue about how to attack a zone than they did as freshmen? Do you think Coach Howland is going to have to start spending more time on his offense?

Will Howland finally realize that Josh Shipp is killing the team after the Michigan loss?

Any truth to the rumor that Hasiek is thinking of decommitting?

Brian what is your best guess as to why UCLA bball teams have no idea what to do against a zone defense?

brian,

after another offensive nightmare for the bruins against michigan, do you think ben howland has taken this program as far as he can and it is now time to bring in a real winner to take ucla to the next level?

which team is better the 06 team that beat SUC 13-9 or this years squad?