Neuheisel on the Baca situation
UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel:
"Unfortunately, he got a little over his skis in terms of what he took in his spring quarter and it blew up on him. He's trying to be a (physical) science major - and that's a very difficult major - and he took two upper division classes and he got over his skis. I know there were other factors that led to the poor quarter, but it's unfortunate that quarter schools have a little harder road to hoe in terms of how units you have to pass. There aren't two-unit classes, only four-unit. And we bear the brunt of it. But everybody knows the challenges, and we're not going to cry about it now."
Ok.... Sooo what was the ruling. Not that it sounds good, but this doesnt really say much.
denial of Jeff Baca's appeal
By "skis," do you mean scheduling or is that a technical term in NCAA rules and regulation with regards to compliance?
Being a physiological science major was hard enough as a regular student, I can't imagine trying to factor in football practice as well, even with the free tutoring.
Jon, you mentioned previously that the staff was confident in their appeal; do you have any info on what may have fouled it up?
"...we're not going to cry about it now," says Rick after crying about it.
He just explained the situation. Crying about it would be raving about how "unfair" the NCAA is, how the people supposed to be in charge didn't know anything, and saying the punishment is "too harsh."
Anonymous 2,
Don't know if that is a serious question, but if so, it is neither. It is a metaphor for biting off more than you can chew, which is a metaphor for your eyes being bigger than your stomach, which is a metaphor for trying to do too much.
Good for him being enrolled in one of the hardest majors on campus. Hope he gets it together.
That is too bad for Baca. Guess we will have to just move on without him. (fingers crossed) No more injuries or loses on the O-line please.
Hopefully (barring anymore unforeseen mishaps), the silver lining is that we will have a talented offensive line starting next year with Kai Maiava, Jeff Baca, Mike Harris, Chris Ward, and Stan Hasiak (with Casey Griffiths, Kody Innes, Greg Capella and Wade Yandall for depth), and the return of Xavier Sua-Filo the year after. But this year, we'll have to go with the five fifth-year seniors along with Harris, Ward, Capella and maybe Yandall as back-ups.
"It's unfortunate that quarter schools have a little harder road to hoe in terms of how units you have to pass. There aren't two-unit classes, only four-unit. And we bear the brunt of it. "
Translation: Waaaaahhhh waaaahhhhh!!!
They denied Baca's appeal? They denied it?? The NCAA rules committee denied Baca's appeal? Were we even represented on the committee? Any Bruin alumni on the committee? Any ex-athletes? Any ex-linemen? Anyone bring up how unfair this is, how stupid their rules are and how they obviously are out to get us? Obviously a lot of jealousy on that committee. The country's full of flunking linemen, how come they're singling out Baca? Don't they know we wear powder blue? Fight on for USC...oh wait...sorry.
Jeff Baca released the following statement to reporters after receiving the NCAA ruling:
"As I read the decision by the NCAA," Baca told the reporters, "... I read between the lines and there was nothing but a lot of envy. They wish they all were Jeff Baca.
"Today I got a purpose for really wanting to dominate for another 2 years."
Baca added he "felt invigorated by this stuff" and that "with the appeal ruling I got today I know I am bigger than life."
Enjoyed the anti-$UC sarcasm, but the fact remains we are without one of our only outstanding linemen. This will really hurt us, especially when more linemen go down, which is inevitable. Will Baca be allowed to rejoin the team in the future, or is his UCLA career now finished?
*yawn*
Jeff Baca is a true junior, he will redshirt this year and have 2 years of eligibility left.
Back-to-back-to-back 8th place Pac-10 finishes is UCLA's near future.
Gee Coach Thom (are you really a coach?), lighten up. Baca screwed up, spilled milk, get it? Gnashing of teeth ain't gonna change it. Better to laugh than to...than to...ahhh, what's the opposite of laugh...well you know what I mean. Time for someone to step up and seize the opportunity. Jeff will be back in uniform and we'll be better this year than last.
Dammit! why couldn't he have taken a "Balet" Class instead? oh wait a minute, that's right he plays for UCLA, not USuCk.
BruinRob smackin the bandwagon SUCkers around!!!
Baca has changed his major to Political Science.
The bRUIN players save the balet for game days.
aren't the trojans the ones playing no tackle football? haha.
The kid is on scholarship to play football. If he can't handle doing both he needs to make a decision. Do what he has to do to stay eligible (get an easier major) or give the team it's scholarship back and start paying tuition.