Pullard...

Well thats a bummer if true, but maybe we can pick up Di Poala from SC.

Still think tomorrow is going to be a great day for Bruin Football.

bummer. Owa, Zumwalt and Heimuli will make this sting a little less though.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who's thinking it...$$$$. This guys was a lock, then 2 days before the announcement, with SC facing their worst LB class in 10 years, Pullard changes his mind? Give me a break!

Lame sent his hostesses to see him last night.

looks like we are just trading them Pullard for Zumwalt. Its a wash

We all know what type of "recruiting magic" $c used!

Could signify Zumwalt heading to Westwood.

I am with Anonymous, brown paper bag filled with green. Maybe a new whip. Maybe Reggie Carter needs to give him a call...

That being said, if we can pull D4 and Di Paolo, I'd say we are for the better. Still would have been nice to have him...

Hmm... I wonder what kind of vehicle he requested to use for his Freshman year at SC.

Can't wait to find out!

Thanks for stealing my thunder, Mr. Gold. All I wanted was one day to make my announcement on TV...but no, you felt it necessary to be the guy to break the story.

I'm not sure why Bruins fans are surprised by this. Even with potential sanctions in the near future (the heaviness of which are completely uncertain), there is one big reason why Pullard or any other national linebacker recruit will committ to USC now. They have a huge current need with no recruits already signed. USC is probably offering up huge early playing time and spending an enormous amount of attention on these young players. Even without any violations, I can see a young recruit being pursuaded to go the USC route.

UCLA has a long term need at the same position but cannot offer the same early playing time and attention because our greater short-term needs are elsewhere.

So, I can't fault him defecting to USC with those pressures.

That said, I do not agree that is the right decision for him. If he wants NFL skills and exposure to national TV, UCLA is a safer move. The potential for sanctions and an 'SC decline even without sanctions will take the spotlight off of him at 'SC. 'SC may also provide the college training that the 'SC staff has plenty of, but not the positive attention and NFL level training the UCLA staff has. Yes, Kiffin was with the Raiders for one year. But, that is not the same as the years of service our staff had and the position and coordinator level.

Too bad, I guess Pullard didn't want to compete

Stop the sour grapes. Pullard is really good and we want him at UCLA. Let's hope he comes to UCLA which is head and shoulders better than SUC as a university.

In more important news...

Jon can finally get a girlfriend!

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/02/01/sex.robot/index.html

Slow Lame promised to name his son after him. Wait, he already gave that promise to Knoxville. Only other possibility I see is a shoebox full of money. No recruit in their right mind would want to play for that daddy's boy.

maybe the signing of Barr had something to do with it? maybe he thinks he could get more immediate playing time in south central? or maybe like my dad used to say - CASH IS KING!!!

I hope he is just messing with the media to keep everyone honest and in the dark. Wild rumors always swirl on the last day before NSD.

I still think he's smart enough to choose UCLA over SUC just like fellow Crenshaw alum Brian Price.

come on, since r. bush, we know the game - if suc is still playing pay-the-parents, it is simple. just take a look at the suc commits now, or after tomorrow, then look at their families' homes, or their vehicles in the next couple of years ... note the changes, then call them on the carpet for the inevitable and otherwise inexplicable upgrades.

Jon

Was he one of the "few recruits UCLA sealed the deal on"?

Perhaps folks will stop mouthing off that USC is "ghetto." I've been waiting for that pipeline to be broken.

C'mon Pullard, its Bruin time!

Pullard starts as a freshman at USC.

Trojans have put more linebacker's into the NFL in the last ten years than just about any school.

Turn down Neuhei$el's immediate bag of cash right now to make a bigger payday in the NFL.

End of story.

Since you can let the cat out of the bag about UCLA losing a recruiting battle to USC, why don't you tell Scott Wolf to let us know which prospects Neuheisel sealed the deal with yesterday that won't be signing with USC. It's only fair, right?

"Trojans have put more linebacker's into the NFL in the last ten years than just about any school."

Comical at best. Aside from Clay Mathews who walked-on at USC, Keith Rivers, Brian Cushing, and Rey Maualuga would have been drafted to the NFL no matter where they went to college. It's not like USC developed them into NFL-level talent. They came to USC prepackaged for the NFL.

Yeah, this reminds me of the crazy rumor that claimed I was wearing an ND cap on signing day two years ago!!

i think pullard is all UCLA i think he is messing with the media as welll .... THIS BREW IT TO PULLARD TO UCLA !!!!

Thanks Ventura Josh for some thoughful reflection on the current and forthcoming decision-making by 19 year olds.

We have a strong crop of LBs, mostly middle classmen. Lots of competition, so SC is theoretically a better option at that position.

These guys want to play now and have fantasy of playing as early as possible.

I think we should stop worrying about the 'stars' and be more concerned about the character of the young men coming into the Bruin program.

The star system is one baromter, but who would have projected a Scout's 5-star player's success in that 6 left early for the pros, while 8 dropped out of the sport entirely for either academic or criminal reasons?

The remainder of that class in 2009?
21 Played D1 First String
10 Played D1 Second String
3 Played D1 Third Sting
2 Played Division 2
12 Didn't Play in 2009 (injured, sitting out due to transfer)

I enjoy the prognostications, but the name calling and crazy reasoning is too much. Let's enjoy the next few days and see what's what when the dust settles.

Go Bruins!

I think this is a huge commit for USC b/c it does two things, first it fills an immediate need and second, it finally opens the door for USC to recruit players from Crenshaw.
I am a big time USC fan and I must admit I am surprised that Pullard is heading to my alma mater. On the flip side of things, I'll believe it when I see it b/c last year Teo was supposed to sign with USC and that didn't happen.

"Keith Rivers, Brian Cushing, and Rey Maualuga would have been drafted to the NFL no matter where they went to college"

Except UCLA.

You guys do realize that Pullard's DC will be Monte Kiffin, who will prepare him for an NFL scheme, and John Barry, who coached LBs at the TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS!?!?

And you're talking like USC can't prepare its linebackers?

Sour grapes, completely. Only thing missing from this reaction is the "academics" excuse you always use when you lose a recruit.

He wants to WIN - hence he is choosing USC.

I don't know who that poster is saying he knows Pullard, but he is heading to USC. Heard from a reliable source very very very close to him that he felt UCLA took him for granted and didn't recruit him hard. USC acted like they wanted him more. He is also pissed at UCLA now for leaking the Pullard to USC information. Look for DeAnthony Thomas to follow him to USC now (Snoop Pop Warner connection anyway).

Ventura Josh I agree with you 100% on the first part of your assessment of Pullard's decision to go to USC (if true) but I respectfully disagree about USC's lack of knowledge of the NFL. The entire defensive staff has coached in the NFL for various teams and unless I am wrong with the exception of Orgeron all of them were previous defensive coordinators during their NFL tenure.

I forgot to write in my earlier post that Boston Bruin wrote a good comment about the recruiting grade system. I recall Willie Williams was suppose to be the next Ray Lewis and last I heard he was out of football. Good luck to your team except when they play my alma mater.

Congrats Trojans, that's a big pickup. He's making a mistake as he'll soon learn, but can't fault a kid who desires to play for USC w/dreams of the NFL.

But seriously, if true that he felt "UCLA was taking him for granted"...well son, enjoy yourself.

I really thought he was a lock for UCLA, and maybe that's the reason why he decided to go 'SC. To 'Are you kidding me?' I trust guys like Huffman, Crabtree and Gold 1000 times more than you because they're reputations as journalists are on the line and they would not both be reporting this unless it was true. I really think this was a big loss for UCLA and I think he'll have a fantastic career at 'SC, unfortunately.

Personal opinion though, I think that 'SC was desperate and decided to focus all of their attention on Pullard to really recruit him while UCLA was focusing on Riley, Zumwalt and Owa. UCLA did take him for granted, hell, I took him for granted. I really do hope you're right 'Kidding me,' but every bone in my body is telling me to trust the facts and not some random guy commenting on a blog.

Anon at 2:41 pm- You have a great point. I didn't see the release announcing Barry as the LB coach last week. That hire and announcement, considering the timing, likely has a direct correlation to who 'SC is targetting and trying to get in the door- Pullard and other LBs. They have some great offensive recruits. Therefore, they didn't need to concentrate on OC or the offensive coordinators.

This would give Pullard greater reason to commit to 'SC. But, I still think the sanctions baggage is a bit hard to handle. Any sanctiosn would be announced in the next couple months and would have a direct impact on the current recruiting class for years to come (if they are heavy sanctions-which is not necessarily likely, but a possiblity). My belief is that these kids should commit based on what they know, and avoid the unknown as best as possible. That can go both ways between UCLA and USC.

For USC- the unknowns, as we have previously discussed, are the possiblity of sanctions; the severity of those sanctions; and whether Kiffin & Co. can hold the other recruits together and continue 'SC's tradition of success.

For UCLA- the unknowns are whether Neu & Co. can continue the growth that we have seen in the past year plus and whether UCLA football will be viewed as a national player during their tenure at UCLA.

We can all make educated guesses on each issue, but no one, except the NCAA infactions committe, can say for sure where any of these uncertaintiess will lead.

Since the 'SC sanctions issue hits a head earlier, I would tend to avoid that baggage. the other uncertainties can all be fixed if they go one way or the other. A change of coaches, better recruiting the next year, etc. Sanctions are final and painful.

OK... and that doesn't even factor in the Rumsfeldian known unknowns versus unkown unknowns argument of... can either Neu or Kiffin keep within the rulebooks. However, Neu hasn't been slapped for even secondary violations (can someone confirm that) in his two years at UCLA while Kiffin has at Tenn. and looks like at 'SC in the last month.

this may be a stretch, but i was just thinking about this yesterday when i read Jon's post about great potential commits while withholding their names.

if someone at USC or other competing schools picked up this tip, it only serves to get them nervous and up their butt and start calling anyone they think might be wavering. what if Jon's poorly timed & premature announcement may have led to some last minute push by the enemies who without Jon's post could have been sitting pretty and thinking its in the bag already? one can only wonder....

but personally to protect the interests of ucla, i would still hold off on announcing that type of info before signing day. but i'm not saying its Jon's fault, it's the ravenous readers here who encourage that type of premature release IMHO

"...because they're reputations as journalists are on the line and they would not both be reporting this unless it was true."

ESPN?

I can't handle all the speculation. It's too stressful.

Awesome. Come where you're wanted, Pullard. To that "school over in the ghetto."

If Pullard signs with u$c it will be because his dad always wanted him to go to $c and his dad passed away so he is honoring his fathers wishes. That is the story.

Maybe the kid NEVER was going to UCLA but made it seem so to get the Crenshaw mafia off his back. The kid has a mind of his own and wants to play for LBU and be coached by one of the best in Berry. The bad news? I guess the Mamba will be all SC too.

Didn't someone say its a quiet period or whatever right now? Can Coaches even talk to recruits this week? Or was Sunday the deadline? Maybe just visits are not allowed?

Cushing would not have made it to the NFL starting for any school. Not every school had a Dr. Ting to supply athletes with Steroids.

I don't know Pullard, and I don't know anyone who knows Pullard, and I don't know anyone who thinks they might know a source familiar with what Pullard might be thinking.

What I do know is this: Tomorrow is going to be fun

Bruingold82:

It's not the quiet period. It's the Dead Period, which means coaches CAN call recruits, but NOT meet with them or their parents in person.

Maybe he heard all the borderline racist "University of South Central" remarks Bruins seem so proud of and figured anyone from a low income neighborhood would be looked down upon in Westwood.

I REALLY REALLY hope this isn't true. I don't understand the logic in "UCLA didn't show him enough LOVE". So you would take some BS token short lived "LOVE" over playing at your "Dream" school, or one that WON'T have any sanctions? Doesn't make sense.

However, we already have Barr and Olaniyan coming, and most likely Zumwalt too. Remember, Zumwalt left his official at SUC Sunday and immediately came to UCLA. I think a little negative recruiting might have been more likely. Maybe SUC coaches shared the Zumwalt information with him. Although I hope it's not true, and I NEVER like to lose a recruit to SUC, we will be fine at LB.

GO BRUINS!!!! FINISH STRONG!!!!

It seems like every year we get burned by one or two recruits as signing day approaches.

Great to see USC build a good reputation at Crenshaw High and get some solid recruits.

Pullard is taking a BIG GAMBLE if he really chooses to attend SUC. When the santions, loss of a lot of media exposure, loss of scholies, SUC will fall into indefinite mediocrity. Hayes, is that what you really want?

Mr. Pullard - please have a lawyer review your LOI to make sure you have an "out" should you decide to go elsewhere after NCAA's Committee on Infractions's enforcement of their sanctions which will be placed on USC subsequent to their Feb 19-21 meeting in Arizona.

Make your decision WISELY.

First with ucla's very own Ken Norton Jr., now Tampa Bay's Joe Barry, the Trojans continue to restock and upgrade both their players...and coaches. KN, having been spurned by his own alma mater to coach LBs, instead churned out 4 LBs--Malauga, Cushing, Matthews and Maiava who all started their rookie year on their NFL teams. And while the country knows these names, most if not all cannot name one LB ('what's his name?') from the gutty little bruins team, much lest its LB coach. Let's face it, the bruins will continue to be an inferior football team because it has neither the coaching quality nor the financial resources to pay for quality coaches. It is a school governed by penny pinchers (by the way, looks like they've denied Norm Chow's pay raise--they can't raise enough money through tuition increases--ouch!), whose UC system is under economic duress--translation: discount quality coaching from discount quality coaches parading eagle bank bowl trophies delivering 'the monopoly is over' half-time speeches while their football recruits witness their pride and joy basketball team get eviscerated by a patchwork Trojan team. Now comes Joe Barry. Say this about Kiffin--he knows how to recruit.

Lotta silliness in this thread. We'll see what tomorrow brings. So far Kiffin hasn't shown he can coach his way out of a paper bag. Pullard may end up at SC, that's fine, we all make mistakes and have to live with the consequences of our decisions. If insufficient love is what swayed him in their direction, then I think there may be a little maturity problem there and we're better off without him. In any event, we will have a fine recruiting class. Go Bruins.

Are you Bruins still trying to push the sanctions nonsense?

Nothing that the NCAA is even rumored to do will affect current or future players.

At the MOST some past wins may be vacated, big deal. And there's nothing the NCAA can do that will keep USC-Norte Dame from having a bigger television audience than all but a handful of bowl games - and that handful of bowl games doesn't include whatever bank bowl the Bruins were so giddy to make.

If a player wants to learn a pro-style defense he goes to Monte Kiffin and USC.

There is no "gamble" to speak of. Give up the tall tales.

Getting DE and DT are priority for this recruiting class. Todd Golpher from last year recruiting class will fit nicely to replace Reggie Carter.

He is leaving UCLA because Zumwalt, Olaniyan and Barr (all 4-star LB's) are going to be Bruins. He changed his mind Sunday night, after hearing all the reports that Zumwalt was on the UCLA campus after his visit to USC. It's a numbers game. UCLA technically has 4 LB's coming in without Pullard (Kendricks is coming as well). Biggins says that Zumwalt is head-and-shoulders the best LB on the West Coast this year.

To Anonymous @ 4:30:

How long do you really think Monte Kiffin is going to be at U$C? He is going to be 70 years old this month. He would have never come back to CFB if it weren't for helping his son land jobs that we all know he isn't qualified for. Now that Lane has the job, I bet Monte is there 1 more, 2 more years tops.

The fact that you Condom trolls are even on here, shows your obvious concern and paranoia over what Neu and Co. are building in Westwood. You guys come on here and spew as much non sense and garbage as Lame during a press conference or ESPN "Outside the Lines" feature.

Lame Kiffin, the only coach stupid enough to commit an NCAA violation on TV while discussing previous NCAA violations. The only coach stupid and hypocritical enough to wrongfully and classlessly accuse another coach of NCAA violations, while he is committing them himself. I'm glad we have Lame to police the rest of the NCAA. The coach who was a stellar 5-15 at Oakland and 7-6 at Tennessee, including a loss at home to UCLA. Here is the laughable link, showing another NCAA violation.

http://www.rockytoptalk.com/2009/6/7/901729/lane-kiffin-on-espns-outside-the

Here is the commentary on the violation, taping a recruiting session by the media.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4241484

Remember what he says on the video, "everything we do is by design." Apparently, so is the cheating. I'm also glad that he's smart enough to know that gas is Self Serve now. WTF? What a moron!!!! Nice defense.

Anyway, I just hope you Condoms have the stones to come back on here and eat your crow and humble pie, when you are proven wrong. I'm still waiting for USCFORLIFE and Dodgers5555 to return for their garbage 2 weeks ago regarding us not being able to get Cassius Marsh. Maybe they are already here, posting as anon? Reveal yourselves charlatans!!!!

Pullard, you honestly want to be coached by Lane Kiffin? That guy is a complete moron. It was nepotism that got him all of his jobs. Absolutely no merit involved. I mean he lost to a young UCLA team in Knoxville last year with a senior quarterback. That's embarrassing.

Of course Monte won't be around forever. That's why Barry was hired.

Condom trolls? I'm pretty certain more Bruins comment on Wolf's blog than Trojans.

-Are you Kidding Me-

You realize your gunna have NO credibility if this doesnt go down tomorrow

I could see this either way; Hayes could be having fun with $UC fans who have been bashing him as being "not good enough" or maybe he just decided he wants to play there, especially given that it's a position of need. IIRC, he was leaning ever so slightly to USC before Pete left, then the rumors came out that he was all UCLA's after Lane Violation was signed on to coach. Perhaps he and the Ogre were able to pitch him the story he needed to reverse gears.

And, undoubtedly, $UC has been the best conduit to the NFL the last 10 years. Can Lame continue the trend? We'll see, but he has at least 4 years worth of NFL talent to work with. I'd love to have Hayes, but he needs to make the best decision for him, not us. Not certain I would choose a school rumored to get slammed with NCAA sanctions, but those are just rumors until something comes out.

you trojans are such clowns. Pullard is mad that UCLA leaked the news of him going to usc? WRONG! That would be your pal Scott. Nice try. You guys don't know anything you bunch of bandwaggon water cooler warrior dolts. GFY!

John Barry, who coached LBs at the TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS!?!?

John Barry really? 3 - 29 rec. in his last two years in the NFL okay

It is official. Pullard is a Trojan. "Are you kidding me" you obviously know nothing. Which makes you a perfect fit in Westwood. Enjoy mediocrity losers. You are all pathetic.