Weekly Answers, Pt. 3
1) I heard some rumblings about how some football players secretly didn't want Navy to win and didn't want to go to the bowl game because it effectively eliminates their winter break and will make it difficult for them to spend anytime with their families. Have you heard anything about this or do you believe that all the players are genuinely excited about this opportunity? I'd like to think that they're all very excited about this, but I can see how, especially for the younger guys, this could be hard on them. - anonymous
What people forget too often, and I've tried to remind them, is that a football team is comprised of 24 starters and 118 total players. Say another 20-25 guys rotate in. That's 44-50 out of 118. The other 68, I can understand if a handful of them wish they were home with their families and friends instead of the last of the bowls.
2) How much wood could a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood? - anonymous
A woodchuck would chuck as much wood as a woodchuck could chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood. I just typed that out.
3) How is UCLA standing with Owa, the DE from Oregon? Do you think UCLA has a real chance to land him? - Anonymous
They're doing well with him...but so are other teams. Just as hard as the Bruins are pursuing him.
4) Rumor has it that Hayes Pullard is leaning to UCLA, as is Anthony Barr. On the flip side, Josh Shirley seems to have cooled on UCLA. Does all of this sound accurate? - Anonymous
All of it.
5) You didnt answer my question last time. i asked for a summary of the drew gordon incident. why is he not playing for ucla anymore? thanks. - Anonymous
I'm sorry, I legitimately thought it was a joke, seeing as how much has been written on the subject. Here's a brief recap: Gordon not happy with system/obligations/losing, Howland not happy with Gordon's attitude. Here's a longer version: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4705019
6) Jon, why do you think UCLA has a hard time recruiting east of the mississippi? It seems like Duke,N.C.,Kentucky,etc don't have a problem getting the kids from California! I can't remember the last BIG TIME recruit we got from the Midwest or the East Coast. - bigDbruin
I just don't think it's a major priority right now. It should be.
7) Jon, Do you think the answer to sustaining success in BBall is to avoid the one and dones and hope the 2nd tier players develop like a Westbrook or Collison, Or take the Calipari route and make sure you get a one and done every year? - BigDBruin
It's both. Truly, it's a combination of taking two good point guards, say Holiday and Anderson, and using one now and developing the other one. UCLA's problem this season is the guys they were trying to work on were forced into immediate action.
8) Can any freshman who has played petition for a redshirt? - Anonymous
I don't believe so.
9) You've said several Pac10 teams should still be ahead of us next year in football. If scout.com is to be believed, here are the 4- and 5-star recruits for 07/08/09 and (so far) 10: U$C 51, UCLA 35, Orygun 28, Cal 27, Stanford 22, UW 20, ASU 19, Zona 14, OSU 9, Wazzu 5. Where's the fall down? - tim warren
Because I take recruits with a grain of salt. And the majority of UCLA's major contributors next year will still be sophomores and juniors. Give it one more year.
10) How many seasons is Josh Smith (basketball)expected to play for UCLA?
My guess would be two.
Hey Jon, aren't you the UCLA beat writer? Why did you include a link to ESPN for info on Gordon when I assume you covered it? Do you not have one of your own articles to link to?
Hey GYSC -
I looked on our archaic archive system, and my Gordon story is already gone. Very frustrating, but I'll link to Katz any day of the tweek.
Thanks, though.
Jon
Leave Jon ALONE! He's a HUMAN!!!
Ah, that sucks. I just got fired up because I prefer for people to get info about our program from OUR beat writer!