Q&A time

Are you getting as tired as I am of the comments section of many posts turning into the VB show? Half the time when I see a large number of comments and expect interesting discussion it turns into a bunch of meaningless comments by VB and his affiliates/cronies.

1) How was your vacation? What did you do?

2) Why is Stan Hasiak listed as a 'soft verbal' now on the recruiting sites? I thought he really liked UCLA.

3) Is Walker upset about staying at UCLA?

4) VB's haiku

Chow sucked at Titans
Slow start at UCLA
Yoda lost his touch?

5) Dohn, Jill and UBTA golf sometime?

Where do you see Morrell Presley committing: USC or UCLA?

(1) If you are the UCLA coach, what positives do you take away from the USC game?
(2) How close was Walker to getting the SDSU job, and will he consider a bigger payday to possibly head to LSU?
(3) Do you think Sarkisian's hire will impact current UCLA verbal pledges?
(4) Is CRN trying to get out of any future games that were scheduled under CKD's watch? Is there any talk of scheduling Notre Dame for future years?
(5) When you talk to potential recruits, are they more positive about the future of the program than in past years?

Do you still believe that none of the SC commits will flip to UCLA? (Hall, Presley, Carrol, Flournoy)

How many silent commits does UCLA have that you know of? I know you said one, but I have heard that there are two.

I know you get asked this every Q&A session...so apologies in advance. Has the staff made any progress with Manti Teo? What are the odds he ends up a Bruin?

I heard Charles Siddoway is down to Alabama and UCLA? Do you see the Bruins ending up with his commitment?

Do you think Neuheisel's dedication and enthusiasm on the recruiting trail will pay off with a top-10 recruiting class in 2010?

How much of a project is J'Mison Morgan in your opinion?

How does Jonathan Franklin aka jet ski look? Particularly does he have true home run speed, and does he have good hands? Was wondering if he could lineup as a speed WR next year.

What is the status of the "Silent Commit?" when do you think this person will take away the silence?

So with Holiday playing better and more confident, and the other freshman getting more time in these early non-conference games, do you think that the Bruins can live up to their own hype and make a deep run in the NCAA tournament?

Which players do you think will be asked to make a possible position switch before the next football season?

UCLA brought in a bunch of talented receivers last year, but only Embree and Rosario played. Which of the others do you think will make the biggest impact next year?

Any feel at this point on whether the late start for 2009 football recruits is still hurting us and if getting a great start for 2010 may pay dividends soon (like Feb/Mar) with key early verbal commits? U$C got several verbal commits in early 2008 for their 2009 class.

Brian, thanks as always for hosting this section and extra props for allowing substitute teacher Jill to host this last week as well.

1. Have you heard whether any NFL team is looking at DeWayne Walker as a defensive coordinator?

2. The SD Tribune down here referenced a "source" who mentioned Walker did not interview very well in the second go-round. Did you hear of any similar issue or commentary when Walker interviewed for the UCLA job last year?

3. Besides Walker, are there any other assistants who may be leaving the program?

4. What is your signature shot on the basketball court?

I know you won't get into names, so I'll ask this question to keep us all in suspense (hopefully). Do you expect any surprises in this year's list of recruits (football) or will the commits fall into place as you expected (since the end of the season)?

Is there a certain magic number that, if UCLA holds their opponents under that score, Howland thinks it’s enough to win?

Do you think the 2009 USC-UCLA football game will decide the Pac-10 title. How about the 2010 game?

What's your read on Coach Walker's situation? Do you see him and the rest of the D staff staying? Do you sense CRN will bring in any new assistants on either side regardless of whether Walker leaves or is he content with his staff?

Is Brehaut still set to come in for the Spring?

Does UCLA set aside a specific basketball and use if for every home game? If so, do they practice primarily with it? If not, do the players get input on the game ball used, such as preference of brand new or worn in a little?

Are there any big name recruits from Hawai'i that our coaching staff is looking at for next year? And would you like some of our 5 inches of the snow and -8 degree windchill us midwesterners are experiencing?

If UCLA’s next road opponent uses a basketball brand other than adidas, does the team practice with that brand of ball in the days leading up to the game?

Do you think Craft showed any improvement this year? If so, how?

Jill said you send the interns down to OC on Chick-Fil-A runs...what's up with that?

Aside from strict man-to-man, what is Howland’s overall defensive philosophy and some of the strategies that support it?

Does Howland think every loss could have been a win with better defense? Or would he ever admit UCLA lost on the offensive end?

I have heard from some K-State fans that they are trying to buy out next year's game at the Rose Bowl (typical Bill Snyder). Do you know anything about this? Could we fill an opening with a quality opponent on such short notice?

We know Walker is good at creating good overall defensive schemes .Is he also good and coaching the fundamentals and developing individuals?

Do you think UCLA would ever invite Gonzaga as its opponent in the Wooden Classic?

What aspect of the DePaul win had you move the team up from the midteens to the Top 10 in your poll?

What did you think of AZ's win over the Zags?

You've mentioned that you thought 1 year ago UCLA should have gone with Walker as HC. However, given what you've seen from Coach Rick this season, do you think he can improve UCLA in the way the fans want?

Who is VB, do you actually know him, and why does he think he is second in command of this blog?

Imagine that Zidane scores that header against Italy in OT; France wins, and he doesn’t get tossed. With 2 World Cups and a Euro on his resume, would he stand shoulder to shoulder with Pele as greatest of all time?

Will you concede that some (most?) journalists thrive on nonsense like Plaxico, TO/Romo, etc. because it gives them something to write about the 6 days a week that aren’t game day?

What is Dohn's dream car?

I know you mentioned that Reggie Carter is going to test his Draft status.., heard of any others? Also until when do they have to declare their eligibility for the draft?

Should England have used Robbie Fowler over a declining Alan Shearer in the mid to late 1990s?

If Guerrero asked nicely, do you think Roman Abramovich would cough up enough to pay for the Pauley renovation?

Thanks again for your work Mr. Dohn. Hope the vaycay was off the hook partying all night. Is Ben Howland putting in more of an effort to have a better offense? It is so BORING. Let the kids play.

Has Josh Shipp ever considered changing his shooting form? Putting his feet together is awkward and can be unbalanced. His outside shooting has really dropped off.

Do you think Collison is holding back a little in an effort to get more players involved in the early season?

Does Holiday's no-show against Texas end the one-and-done talk?

Do you think Howland has the guts to play the freshmen meaningful minutes in tight conference games to prepare them for next year?

Ever year I'm frustrated that Coach Howland shows so little faith in his freshman (with a few exceptions). Why is Howland so quick with the hook? It seems like Bobo and Gordon could use more significant minutes, before conference play, other than just mop up time.

How does UCLA divide up time at Pauley, men's gym, and elsewhere for all the teams that need to practice? Does men's BB get priority?

You tend to stay away from the gossip and drama of recruiting. Is that because the gossip is not newsworthy?

You once mentioned BB practice lasts about 2 hours...does that include film study and preparing for the opponent? If not, how much extra time is spent by the players reviewing tape?

Have you ever seen tape of Dragovic playing with the junior Serbian national team? Also, do you think his game fits in with what Howland wants out of players?

Does Howland care what quality of coaching a potential recruit gets in high school and AAU?

Please rank your favorite VB Alias posters:

Not VB but an incredible re-creation
VB's Office Plant
The Ghost of VB's Cat
The UCLA Mini Helmet fka VB's Office Plant
The Video Camera in VB's Bedroom
VB's Junior College GPA
VB's Cat who is still alive

Why have BH and other UCLA B-ball coaches avoided using zone d? I don't recall Duke using it often over the years, and IIRC, Wooden didn’t use it. Wouldn’t it help out during portions of games where teams don’t have the athletic advantage?

can u give a list of some of the high profile players that would have come to UCLA if they had the grades like Marshawn Lynch, Reggie Dunn, Kemonte Bateman, etc

What are the key messages in Neuheisel's sales pitch to get recruits to pick UCLA?

There was discussion here a couple of days ago regarding, for JC transfers, 1) whether there is a requirement that they complete an AA degree prior to admittance and 2) if there is, whether it is an NCAA rule or a UCLA rule. What's the story?

On Rivals.com, Brian Price isn't ranked as one of the top 25 D-lineman in the country. He wasn't even honorable mention all american despite being 1st team all Pac 10. Isn't Price definitely a top 5-10 DL? Can't you do something about this? It makes me absolutely furious.

How many points do you think the Lakers will lose to the Clippers by on Christmas day?

Hey Brian. Like the additions to your blog re: new links. What about continuing links to other teams' local city newspaper sites? Is that too much work? You could do a week and include all of the cities.

why dosent UCLA have a bigger Polynesian/Hawaiian presence?? We are near the bottom along with Stanford? Is it an academic thing? Oregon,OSU, SUC, UA, ASU even Cal seem to have alot of Polynesians on their team.

Is it true that the fellow media members caull you Dohn Corleone, the Blogfather? If this movie was made who would play you?

What's your opinion on Bradford winning the Heisman? Did you have a vote? If not, who was your choice?

There was a lot of (internet) hoopla surrounding the recruitment of Morrell Pressley while you were on vacation, does it look like he may switch commitments.

What does california need to do to improve their lineman production? Also does UCLA need to start recruiting academic transcripts two yrs in advance before offering players?

Brian, do you like the recruiting websites out there or despise them?

I think this is the first time that I have seen you rank UCLA considerably higher than the rest of the AP. Have you gone soft on us or are you just trying to get more airtime with Howland?

Brian, is the staff recruiting Billy Sanders as a DE or TE? Is Zach Ertz still a possibility?

Brian, are your sources confident that Stan Hasiak will become a Bruin?

Hi Brian, before the SC game I asked if UCLA was practicing any trick plays. Was the one that went for a TD the one you saw them practice?

Hey Brian, were you pleased to see UCLA fans bonding with you and voting for the Rutgers soccer jersey last week?

No question here Brian, just wanted to say that it is commendable that you continue to take so much time to answer so very many questions. Thanks from us all!

Is there anyone of the D staff that may be considered to replace Walker if he leaves, or will they look outside the program?

Did Darren spend a lot of time during the offseason working on his midrange (including floaters) game? He looks more confident taking those kinds of shots these days.

Brian, have you heard anything regarding Jim Harbaugh being considered to replace Norv Turner as HC of the Chargers? Do you think he's ready for an NFL HC job?

Why do you think BoBo plays such few minutes? And does he understand why he doesn't get much playing time?

Since Morrell Presley in an early enrollee, does that mean we will know of his decision well before signing day?

Do you think the special teams were just as disappointing as the offense this season?

Did you miss us last week?

Seriously Brian, where would Liverpool be if it was not for Steven Gerrard? I am a ManU fan but that guy is amazing!

When is the last day for underclassmen to declare for the NFL draft?

Have you heard anything about UCLA possibly recruiting Isaac Williams out of El Camino Junior College?

You have identified a few players who UCLA is calling on or will attend recruiting events, who have committed elsewhere. Are there any UCLA commits that are doing the same with other schools?

Who enforces drug policy violation penalties on the players?

Hey dohn while you were gone I hardly come on the site because it was not as informative as it usually is, I visitied wolf's blog and he has a live chat would you considered doing a live chat???

Which teams in the Pac 10 is Howland most afraid of losing to? Whether it is because of the talent, coaching, environment, or travel demands...

Why is one of the wacEST conferences in America named the WAC Conference?

How many O-linemen are we looking to bring in in this class?

If a player has already taken an official to UCLA are they allowed to come to the recruiting weekend?

Are we planning on bringing over a 25 man class with recruits like Brehaut, Taylor, and potentially Pressley entering school early?

Not a question but
you do a great job with blog
objective and fair

did JC Cornerback brandon driver ever make his official visit last and any update on his recruitment

If LSU offers Walker a DC position with a significant increase over his current salery, do you think UCLA is in a position to give Walker a meaningful raise in order to keep him on board?

how can you remove the ads & other script that blocks many of the messages?

Is Howland making a bigger effort to limit the minutes of his players in order to keep them fresh for March?

Please rank the Pac-10s FB coaches from best to worst, in your opinion, along with the reason(s) why one guy's ahead of/behind another...thanks!

Are you surprised that it took Howland a month of the season to tell Jrue Holiday what his role was on the team?

Or are you suprised that it took Jrue Holiday a month of the season to figure out what his role was on the team?

How do these miscommunications happen?

Which UCLA HC would you be most likely to fire your shoe at during a presser???

(How's your arm strength/accuracy?)

Do you think Keefe will be playing more minutes per game down the line?

Brian, how long does an in home visit generally last?

Do you expect Nate Chandler to compete for a starting spot at OT or does he need more time?

Apparently Braden Warner is not going to be there for Spring ball. What's the best case senario for him to enroll at UCLA assuming of course he can attend UCLA.

When will we most likely know which assistant coaches are leaving due to no longer getting their NFL salary?

What's the soonest after a UCLA football or BB game that you've had to file your game story? When your deadline is imminent, is there someone else who gets postgame quotes for you?

After having watched one full season of Coach RN and Co. coach football, what are your impressions of the coaching staff? What do you think they do well coaching-wise? What do you think they can improve upon as a staff or individually? Are there any deficiencies that should be addressed?

Do you have any additional insight as to CRN's motivation to get a law degree and whether he has ever used it professionally?

Do you think Aboya has done enough this season to get bigger contract offers when he turns pro? If I recall correctly, the ones he got during the offseason weren't very lucrative.

Aren't you concerned that the credit crunch could force Liverpool to take drastic measures like selling some of its top players? They have a massive amount of debt on their books.

byron moors parents going to treat RN to dinner? already have?

byron moors parents going to treat RN to dinner? already have?

Was Morell Presley the silent commit you referred to a couple weeks ago?

who is your favorite coach to talk to and why?

We know you are not a fan of rankings, but do you think Morrell Presley is the real deal? Do you feel he'll still like UCLA come signing day?

I read somewhere that Charles Siddoway's stock is dropping in the eyes of recruiters, have you heard the same? He seems to now hope UCLA is still interested (ESPN interview), is UCLA thinking of pulling their offer?

Does Chris Roberts, UCLA's radio play-by-play guy, have a "day job," either with the university or on his own?

Let's test your LA sports knowledge...Who is the original Golden Throat?

Have you ever thrown your shoes at the president (or anyone for that matter) during a press conference?

Do we get a Q&A next week? After all, Friday is a workday, and I'm sure we'll have loads of questions about Mercer and Wyoming. . .

Is Howland putting pressure on the guys to wallop Wyoming as payback for the 2004 Las Vegas Bowl?

Who would you rather see in the Undie Run: UCLA girls or Rutgers girls? Well, I think that's obvious...

Does UCLA have a chance to flip Marlon Pollard from ND? How about Cierre Wood, or Shaq Evans?

Have you heard whether or not UCLA has a chance at landing the commitment of Xavier Sua-filo? If we have a chance, how good is it? Thanks Dohn.

How many silent commits does UCLA currently have?

Do you still think Michael Phillip will sign with UCLA?

How many guys are Neuheisel and staff trying to sign for the 2009 recruiting class?

Hey Brian,

do you think Morrell Presley switching over to the Bruins, makes it more likely that other SC commits will switch over to UCLA as well?

For football, is the JC signing day different than HS? Is there a reason why, if they're different. And what are the dates?

Wooden loathed calling timeouts--he was almost embarrassed to do so. We all know about Howland's love affair with timeouts. Do you think they've ever discussed this difference in strategy and how do you imagine such a conversation would play out?

I think everyone's playing for 2nd behind North Carolina. Do you see any team out there that could match up well enough to beat the 'Heels at a neutral site tournament game?

So 1 SC recruit changed his mind--great! But don't you think it's going to take a lot more of that, including guys talented enough for SC to make UCLA their 1st choice?

I went to Staples Center and, despite sitting in the absolute last row, could hear the ball bounce. Do you know if the court has a microphone or sound amplifier? How about Pauley?

Thought experiment: Could you imagine the late Andre the Giant getting in and out of a SmartCar in under a minute?

Vidal Hazelton, the SC WR, is down to Mizzu and Rutgers. Good luck.

Do you project Logan Paulsen to hold onto his starting TE job or has Moya earned himself that title? Who is better at blocking? I would imagine LP.

Jordan Farmar once mentioned that he didn't realize how much exposure he'd get playing at UCLA. What does this "exposure" entail?

Given that UCLA football commit, Stan Hasiak has planned trips to Oregon State, USC, and Washington, should UCLA fans be concerned? Can you give us an update on his recruiting situation? Thanks!

Is there any downside to having football players enroll early for spring practice?

Do you know if UCLA's recruiting philosophy focus' heavily on speed guys, like Florida. Does not seem like we have good overall team speed.

Will Sean Sheller be ready for next year's football season?

Heard rumblings that SC is trying to get Hasiak. Any truth to that? or any other recruit who has verbally committed to UCLA? Thanks Dohn.

In the mid to late nineties, UCLA was annually getting top 5 recruiting classes nationally. I know you weren't covering UCLA then, but any idea through you sources about what changed with academic standards so that we can't let in the Ogdens, Mitchells, Fosters, Neces, etc?

Hey Brian,
You think with Morrell's shocking commitment our chances of getting Randall Carroll might have went up to say fifty fifty? Also, any update on the Flournoy situation? Thanks a whole lot man!

Brian,

I always hear about USC alumni staying in good touch with the program, people like Leinert, Palmer, Bush, and Keyshawn Johnson all stay in good contact. Is there a particular reason you think this doesn't happen at UCLA? I mean we have had some great players such as Aikman and Ogden.

Now that Pressley has flipped every USC commit considering UCLA will now flip as well, right?

Hey Brian,

Just wanted to say thanks a lot for doing the blog. Just had a few basketball questions for you. How is are progress was going with 2010 Big man Josh Smith. Also, any update on Kendall Williams, will we keep him or will we drop him? Thanks

Any idea who were looking at for the DT position other than Branden Warner and potentially Eddie Williams???

Morrell Presley switched once, why should we believe he won't switch again? How do we know Uncle Pete isn't at his house today luring him back?

Brian, how many silent verbals do we have at this point, if any?

Should we expect any surprise commits on National Signing Day (AKA, players that fans don't think have any interest in UCLA)?

BTW, thanks for all he hard work. We missed you while you were gone

What allowed Coach Neuheisal to be able to comment on Morrell Presley? Was it the filing an "intent to enroll"?

May be a bit hard to answer, considering your employer owns this blog, but what would be your sports reporting "dream job"?

Signing Presley was impressive, but what will CRN's '09 class have to look like for you to be impressed with his first sole recruiting class? In other words, what will "exceeding expectations" look like to you?

Why didn't you give out grades following the SUC game? I feel schooled. Get it?

After this year, our basketball team looks awfully young. When do you see us being a legit NCAA title contender? Year after next, perhaps?

Any idea how many guards Howland would like to sign in the 2010 class?

Very early to predict, I know, but from what you see right now, how far do we go this year in the tourney?

Any idea when we'll know whether the NCAA will sanction USC over the Bush scandal? Please don't suggest I ask Wolf - in my view, he's an SC grad who takes bias and homerism to unprecedented heights.

Does the coaching staff see Ryan Taylor as a high level prospect who should significantly upgrade the talent level on the offensive line? Or is he seen as another body who can hopefully develop into a servicable option until more talented players come into the program?

Looks like the recruiting momementum is really picking up--is this your sense, too? Also, do you think UCLA is at an advantage for the moment because it's not preparing for a bowl game?

Do you think Coach Rick has a little (or a lot?) more moxie in taking on Carrol in recruiting and other battles?

Thought experiment: You're an AD hiring a football coach, and the only two choices available are the nation's best recruiter or the nation's best Xs and Os guy...whom do you hire?

Rick Pulled In Presley
Wants To Start As a Freshman
Paulsen hits the bench?

Do beat writers from other schools come up to you at various games and ask for tips on maintaining a successful sports blog? If so, what do you say to them?

Any proposed solution to the lack of African American head coaches? Or does it not really matter until society as a whole changes its view on African Americans?

When are you going back on vacation so that we can have someone with personality like Jill run the blog?

It does not seem to make sense to me that some of these JUCO guys get scholarship offers and "commit" even though they are long shots to get in. Is the scholly just enticement for them to get their grades up to get in?

With Pressley is enrolling in the winter does this all but rule out a red shirt?

Is CRN planning on bringing in 25 plus Pressley, Brehaut, and Taylor the EE's???

Can you tell me how likely we are for these other school commits?

Randall Carroll
Patrick Hall
Devon Flournoy
Iuta Tepa
Billy Sanders
Joel Gray
Hebron Fangupo

If not Te'o who do we bring in as a 3rd backer along with Golper and Bowens???

Why have the coaches cooled on Siddoway? Abele a better prospect?

What have you heard regarding John Martinez and Xavier Sua-Filo? Who is the more likely pull?

Brian,

Merry Christmas!

Thanks so much for this forum. I really appreciate all that you do and the extra mile you go.

With coaches leaving programs like Washington and Tennessee, is it Rick's strategy to target some of the kids being recruited by the old coaches at those schools?

Do you think Morrell's commitment will have a serious snow ball effect on recruiting? Or, is this just the product of good recruiting that may not pay dividends this year, but maybe next year and thereafter?

For a top basketball recruit, what the good points and bad points of playing at UCLA?

If Maurice Drew stayed his senior year do you think he would have had a shot at the Heisman?

Which USC basketball player from the past 5 years would have been a really good fit with Howland and UCLA?

Does the football staff feel real confident that the JC commits will be at UCLA come the fall? Or is it a fall back plan in case they can't get commitments from "better" higher quality High School kids? How hard will Rick try to get the JC kids into school?

Refresh my memory...did the NCAA recently change the rules on technical fouls so that the ball is awarded back to the team that had possession and not automatically given to the other team?

Have you heard anything about D-1 FB transfers coming to UCLA? Donahue got a few every so often. Is Rick trying to develop that kind of profile as well? One transfer comes to mind that worked out real well. Aikman. Heard of him?

The other day during the basketball chat you mentioned UCLA had an "ace in the hole" with Hasiak. What did you mean? IS he simply solid on UCLA or does UCLA have something to lure him if he starts to reconsider?

Are you annoyed by the Bruin Shuffle at the Rose Bowl as much as I am?

Did you notice early in the USC game when Raymond Carter went down before getting hit after a short run? Do you think he is still a little gun shy? He did take a big hit early in the season.

Can a school have a player walk on then award him a scholarship after fall camp to get around the 25 scholie limit?

Is there a limit to the number of times a coach can a home visit with a recruit?

What quarterback is a similar player to Kevin Prince? Just in terms of style, not saying if he's like Joe Montana then he's going to be as good as him.

After watching RN for a full season, what are you most impressed about? Where do you think he fell short?

What are the most prevailing recruiting needs left?

How close was Dewayne Walker to getting the UCLA head coaching job?

What's your opinion on Walker not getting a head coaching gig? I feel we are very lucky to still have him as DC.

What do you think Howland and Neuheisal want for Christmas?

any truth to the rumors that Dewayne Walker is close to becoming LSU's defensive coordinator?

Will Dewayne Walker be with the Bruins for another season?

If Walker were to leave to become DC at another school, would any other coaches follow him?

I get the sense that the biggest assest RN brings to the program is his ability to recruit. Do you have the same feeling...if not what is his biggest assest as a head coach? Thank you for your hard work have a nice holiday.

Do you think UCLA will be able to field a Pac-10 average offensive line next season? Or at least one that is only slightly below average rather than an unmitigated disaster?

What does UBTA stand for and who are these people?

Is the football coaching staff still recruiting JC offensive tackle Joe Evinger?

If you could take a special assignment and cover one team anywhere in the world for a season, who would it be and why?

Thought experiment: If you take this season's best college football players, give them a 6 week training camp, then face them off against this year's Lions...who wins?

Any truth to the rumor that Patrick Hall would like to commit to the Bruins, but hasn't done so because of non-football issues?

If you USC's football talent is 10 out of 10, what is UCLA's on a scale of 10?

What players from the class of 2015 does UCLA have silent verbals for? My point is, Isn't all this recruiting speculation meaningless until the players get on the field and actually do something?

Next September San Diego State will roll into the Rose Bowl for its season opener with new coach Brady Hoke. How do UCLA coaches prepare for this type of scenario?

Have you heard of the hoops frosh playing a 5 on 5 against the vets and if they have how did they perform?

If the silent commit has not been revealed (Presley), is this a recruit slated for O or D?

Who do you think will be the starting QB in 2009? I realize Craft has the job as the incumbent. But, do you think that Prince will be able to beat him out for the position?

Sean

Do you know what the players will be doing in the offseason to get bigger, stronger, and faster? Rick had mentioned in a couple of press conferences that the team was not strong enough to compete against a lot of teams.

Sean