Hasiak talks
I spoke to Kapolei (Hawaii) High offensive lineman Stanley Hasiak about his decision to de-commit from UCLA and commit to Cal. He said the biggest reason was he believed Cal would compete for Pac-10 title next season, and it would take UCLA at least three years to compete for a Pac-10 title.
"I'm going to be straight up; their campus isn't as great as UCLA's campus,'' Hasiak said. "I love UCLA's campus. I felt like I had more of a connection with the Cal coaches.''
Hasiak said UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel and offensive line coach Bob Palcic were at his uncle's house in Windsor, Ont., last week and got to know the family.
"My family said they were nice guys. I don't have a problem with them. They're cool guys,'' Hasiak said. "But Saturday the Cal coaches came up and did the same thing with the in-house visit, and my family got a good feel. They came with us to our family reunion, and (the family) got to know more about the coaches."
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About Inside UCLA
This is Brian Dohn's sixth season covering UCLA after spending 4 1/2 years covering the Dodgers for the Daily News and other Los Angeles Newspaper Group papers. He graduated from Rutgers, where the first college football game was played in 1869. Sure, the Scarlet Knights suffered for a long time, but now RU is doing what Jerseyans always thought was possible. Winning at Rutgers also proves winning is possible everywhere else in the nation, so underachieving coaches better be careful. Now, if only men's hoops can turn it around.
very straight forward answer, much appreciated. This is the biggest decision, up to this point, these kids are going to make and they HAVE to make a choice based on their comfort level. If that is CAL than so be it.
But I do have one message for Stan. UCLA is a) going to beat CAL next year and 2) compete for the Pac ten in 2010.
I think the UCLA rise, which is expected to come under Neuheisel (hopefully he comes through) will hurt Cal the most. We cannot yet compete for USC levle recruits, but lots of really quality california prospect, who did not have USC offers, have elected for CAL instead of UCLA in recent years. That, I think, is going to change.
Brian, unless you have a real scoop, you misstated the first sentence.
Unless I'm just totally reading it wrong.
I am sure the opening sentence is just a typo. He decommitted from UCLA and committed to Cal.
Spit it out Dohnster
Ace in the Hole!
Ace in the Hole!!!
Another one bites the dust! First D.Edwards (Reasons still unspecified), but maybe there's something at Cal that attracts big time lineman! Rick needs to step up his game! BRUINS IN 09 baby!
Clearly, he is not the type of person we want representing our great university. We wish him the best, and we can move on to welcoming those with the inner fortitude to build the next great Bruin tradition.
Stan is a huge loss to us and our immediate plans to bolster our OL. I'm sure he'll do well at Cal and will play in the Big League one day. His decommitment must be an incentive for our recruiting staff, Palcic and Rick in particular, to not take anything for granted and really move on the remaining OL prospects.
Good riddance, punk. Hope you have fun next year when we pummel you in the Rose Bowl. But watch your back when you get off the bus. You better hope Dohn and Painter are tailgating with us. Otherwise you are gonna get an earful of VB.
pffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff....
While I would have really liked him to go to UCLA since we need that position filled big time, I can still relate to him just wanting to go where he wants to go. My biased view believes that in two years or so we'll be above Cal and could he regret his choice in de-committing from UCLA...perhaps...but let's not rip a kid for going where he wants to. We'd praise him if he de-committed from Cal to go to UCLA so lets be fair in both directions.
All niceness aside, I hope he enjoys sitting his rear end down next to Donovan Edwards on the bench when is isn't in their crappy facilities. Go Bruins!
VB big talker Betty Crocker
Stan woud pound you into the afterlife and then you could hang with me just like the good old days before that darn Subaru seperated us.
Kal will never win a pac 10 championship. Kal is in their glory years as we speak and have won ZERO PAC 10 championships.
VB shut your mouth. thanks.
Leave the poor kid alone. Why did we not call Pressley the same thing when he changed his mind to become a Bruin? Because he changed his mind to become a Bruin. I'm sure that all of you who are ripping the kid stuck to every initial decision you made when you were 18. This is probably the biggest decision that he has ever had to make and all people can do is rip him for change over his mind. Please do what Coach Rick will have to do...Get over it and move on.
I don't begrudge him a bit. It's recruiting. Cal is an excellent school and has sent players into the NFL and that is what recruits care about. We see it with our basketball program. You would have to be pretty naive to think getting a UCLA education is important to everyone especially someone from Hawaii.
We can and should still work the local prospects. In 3 years a lot can happen to an overlooked player who receives some solid and consistent coaching. That has been lacking at UCLA. We need commitment from the coaches before we can expect it from kids. I can name 4 OL coaches from the past 5 years (Cable, Connelly, Colletto and Palcic). You wonder why UCLA doesn't send more prospects to the NFL.
UCLA just received four verbals from players who were committed to other teams (Presley, Sanders, Pollard, and Maka). So let's quit crying. If you can't take the rollercoaster ride that is recruiting, you should stick to women's golf or rowing.
Cal now has 5 OL commitments and is likely getting one more. They must not have many returning guys on the OL. That's a lot to take in one class.
Man - VB is such a tool. This is a 16 - 17 year old kid here. If this is the only way you can feel superior, you really need to find better validation. Hey, SuperFan - grow up a little yourself before you put down kids. I've been watching your stupid antics for quite a while, and you've got way too much bile for student athletes in your system. Buy a video game or something, because your act is getting really old.
the only stan that is important is stans donuts. if stans donuts decommits, then we shall revolt!
This is what I was afraid of, but Dohn kept reassuring us that the coaches had this "Ace in the Hole". Well, apparently it didn't work. Unless we have't used it yet, which I doubt. Can you now mention this "Ace in the Hole" now Brian? What was it?
It looks like Neuheisal's arrogance has bit him yet once again. Supposedly we didn't take Siddoway because we had ALL these OL who we thought were better. Well, now with the decommit of of Hasiak, we are really in deep. If Neuheisal can't recruit against Cal, we are really going to have problems. We need to regroup, restrategize, and deliver ASAP or we are DONE for this class. We need to do WHATEVER it takes, within the rules of course, to get Su'a-Filo and Phillip, because I don't see any worthwhile OL recruits left on our list. I don't understand why CRN couldn't schmooze his way into that Family Reunion.
maybe we can feed and bulk up a few DE or DT's to make them OL guys?
I bet all of you Bruin crybabies that if Peter Carroll wanted to, he would have schmoozed his way into the Hastiak Family Reunion and brought home that Big Boy to USC signed, sealed and delivered. Just like Tedford did. Cheers!
LAWYER JOHN
Pete is too busy saving the inner city from gangs. Doubt he would have to the time to recruit in Canada.
Hey Lawyer John you better check on that frat house you are a part of at scum hole U because I think it got robbed!!
I don't get the hostility here. I am disappointed like the rest of us Bruins fans, but the kid and his family are entitled to decide what is best for him. Perhaps, even, Cal is optimal for him for reasons we don't know.
MP decommits to UCLA and he is a hero
SH decommits to Cal and he is a classless loser
Therefore MP is a classless loser and will fit in just fine in Westwood.
We've got your Ace in the Hole right here. Bears Rule!
Something Hasiak does not know and will find out the hard way. UCLA is to Cal what Oregon St. is to usc. He will have egg on his face.
I'd like to hear from UB right now.
I want to hear his thoughts on what his son has written today.
I bet he's proud.
Hey Paralegal John,
Learn how to spell Stan's last name.
Cal winning the Pac-10, thats not going to happen.
This was the first year I can remember that
they finally won a Non-BCS bowl.
Hasiak talks and sings!
High up in the hills of Westwood
Sprawled offensive to the eye
Lies a Cal extension campus
Known as Westwood High (high high high)
Home of all the Bruin bearcubs
UGLY is its name
The student body's vile
The football team's a pile
and the campus is a shame!
Any chance of theACE IN THE HOLE STILL HAPPENS?!
As many of you have mentioned, this is just a teenage kid trying to make the best decision that will affect him for the next few years of his life. As much as I would have liked Hasiak to become a Bruin, I don't blame him for going to Cal. That is where he felt comfortable. However, He may end up regreting going to Cal once UCLA puts a the "smack down" on the Bears the next few years under our new coach.
I have faith in CRN. Go Bruins!!!
Man, where does one begin when talking about this?
I am so lost I am not sure I could find my way with a Thomas Guide....
I understand that recruits change their mind, and that is usually that. Not this time though...
First there's the "Ace in the Hole" bit. I don't fault Dohn for reporting it, but now one wonders if it wasn't just a pure bluff on the UCLA coaching staff's part. If it wasn't...maybe Hasiak and his girlfriend broke up?
Secondly, there's the whole...contender in '09 bit. That may be true, but most of Cal's O-line is young and forces Hasiak to fight for a spot. Given that he's a borderline elite prospect...I'm not sure that's worth the risk.
Third, what must Tedford and company have said about Hasiak to make a guy who could have started four years at left tackle change his mind? This seems to have more to do with Neuheisel's offensive philosophy than anything else.
Fourth, this is the biggest blow possible of the recruiting season. This guy was supposed to be the starting left tackle. We don't have a senior, mobile QB to offset weakness at that position. This will cost the Bruins wins, unfortunately.
UB is going to stick his head in the sand this time around and pretend he's not related to VB.
Dammit Rick, get your schedule right, a friendly game of badmitton at the reunion could have sealed the deal