Answers, part XXI

How come all the UCLA basketball freshman all had a 15 page paper due? Do they all have the same academic schedule?
As freshmen, there are classes everyone must take. I believe that is one of those classes.

has howland implemented his vaunted "jumpstop" offense, and if so, is it paying dividends yet?
It's not an offense, it is an element of the offense. Yes, he is stressing it (he always does), but it is not paying as many dividends as UCLA needs. Plus, it takes the ability to beat someone off the dribble and be aggressive on offense, and UCLA is still finding its way through that.

Are you a sports as entertainment or sports as a metaphor for life type of guy?
Both. I try not to take sports too seriously when I watch, but many lessons can come from sports experiences.

How good a job has the coaching staff done this season?
I guess you mean football, and I think this staff has done an above-average job. The biggest thing is the team has continued to play hard and believe it will get better even though the offense has been brutal.

Is the defense getting much better the last part of the season? If so, what is the main reason?
It is markedly better, and I think the reason is defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker figured out how to best use his personnel, and they became comfortable in the schemes.