Assistant FB candidate
Former UCLA and Dallas Cowboys safety James Washington is interested in filling the spot on the football staff vacated by Tim Hauck, and I'm told he will get consideration.
Washington, who played at L.A. Jordan, has strong ties to inner city and a familiarity with the program. He served as a mentor to the defensive backs the last few years and was a frequent visitor to practice as part of his television gig.
We are a 4-8 football team that already has one coach with no experience, we cannot afford another.
This would be huge, now we need Troy Aikman as QB coach
This would be a great move. Chris Horton singled out Washington as one of his reasons for success. The film work described by Horton was Howlandesque.
Though James is not Vin Scully on the FSN broadcasts, he is able to communicate and relate to kids in ways we don't understand. Plus with his love for UCLA, he won't be looking for the first bus out of town.
I think James Washington would be an excellent hire. With roots to the inner city, it will reestablish UCLA's critical recruiting pipeline therein.
Then why not bring in Eric SCott if you're looking for roots to the inner city??
James washington is cool. I personally like his commentary. Dude's got flavor and is pretty funny with a flair. I don't know if he strikes me as a hard nosed coach who can be strict and demanding though.
James isn't going to coddle the players.
Read this.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/lee_jenkins/12/11/horton/
Thanks for the link fan4life. I read that awhile back and I forgot it mentioned James. This would be a great hire. "Coaching Experience" is way overated. If it is in you, it is in you. Bottom line.
Thanks Dohn! I'm glad you said former Cowboy and not former Redskin!
I hope he gets the job!
Hey "Fan4Life." That was a great pull from the SI article. Great coaches are great teachers. Clearly, James Washington is a great teacher, as exemplified by Horton's account.
A couple of months ago, I was watching the Lexus Gauntlet (Love that show during the football season!). Billy, Petros, and James were talking about UCLA's poor tackling that week against that particular opponent. James was beside himself about how the secondary was not "wrapping up" when they tackled. Kids are so focused on delivering the big, Ronnie Lott-type collision. We all have seen what that usually translates to....An embarrassed DB who got whiffed by a crafty, sometimes lucky ball carrier. So, James, the passionate analyst that he is, decided to demonstrate the proper form tackle, technique on USC's All-Time Great, Charles White who was off camera at the beginning of the segment. James invited Charles on camera to be his tackling dummy! What ensued was one of Fox Sports West's best highlights. The expression on Charles' face was "priceless" when James popped him and wrapped him up! Everyone on the set was in stitches!
I think James would be an awesome hire!!!!!
Thanks to Fan4Life for the URL. Here is an actual "LINK" to click on: Click Here.
To LAPDBruin'84: Hey, how 'bout some love for our OWN hard hitter??!! Instead of a "Ronnie Lott-type collision," we should refer to a "Kenny Easley-type collision!"
UCLA78 you are so right!!! #5 was AWESOME! I also want to apologize for my mistake on the Lexus Gauntlet story. It was actually Anthony Davis, not Charles White, who was the good sport on the receiving end of James Washington's "clinic!" My apologies to AD and Charles White. That whole Lexus Gauntlet Show crew is great!