Check out my brief chat with Alterraun Verner, who is training for the NFL in Arizona after the jump…

JG: Have you spoken to Coach Lake?AV: “No, not really. Since I’m out in Phoenix, it’s hard to get in touch with everybody. I just heard about it today”

JG: What’s your immediate reaction to the news?AV: “Of course, it’s a shock. Nobody expected it, nobody in the Bruin nation. I know it will have to be some good reason. I read its family reason, and that’s the type of guy he is. I just hope everything is OK.”

JG: What do you credit Lake for in relation to your own game?AV: “Oh man, the guy is very knowledgeable. Just the mentality of attacking practice, the mentality of going into the game, the mentality of playing the position. He did it at the highest level and did it really well. He brought that to his coaching, but not only that, he’d listen to you as a player and not just dictate to you.”

JG: Any thoughts on the next coach and what they’ll have to work with in Aaron Hester, Sheldon Price, Courtney Viney and Andrew Abbott?AV: “He’s going to have some tough shoes to fill. I thought (Coach Lake) was doing a great job for us. I have no one particular in mind, but I’d like to it to be someone who played the position, who knows the ins and outs and the struggles. The younger guys are so talented already, just help them technically.”