Check out the latest batch of weekly answers…
1) happy holidays playboy…My question is, what are the advantages AND disadvantages between having an official visit during the season (on a game week) and after the season? I know UCLA is having another group of kids coming in Jan, and i’m wondering why do it after the season and with no kids on campus? thanks playa – 909Bruin
First off, winter quarter will have already started by then, so there will be students on campus. One advantage is scheduling, as a post-season visit allows real flexibility. Beyond that, and the players being able to watch a game, I don’t know that there are real advantages/disadvantages. Well, maybe after that football season, you wouldn’t exactly have wanted recruits watching on game day. And happy holidays to you as well…playboy.
2)Isn’t it time that Howland had a word with his guys regarding their…um…beards (and I use that term loosely). Seriously, either find a usable razor or grow a man’s beard. This scraggly, just-rolled-out-of-bed look is driving me nuts! – Anonymous
I’m not really one to talk; I’m more like Teddy Bear Adams than Grizzly Adams. Alas, this is not the days of John Wooden, when a trip to the barber was a requirement. That was my favorite part of the Wooden HBO documentary, when Bill Walton said he told Wooden he would not get a haircut, Wooden said he wouldn’t play, an Walton raced down to get everything chopped off.
3) Fox’s coverage of UCLA and the Pac 10 is less than complete national coverage. I’ve been having to watch a lot of the Fox games on the Internet even though I live in San Diego. Any idea what UCLA and the conference think about this contract? Plus, do you know when the contract is up for renewal? – tim warren
No one in the Pac-10/12 seems to really like the TV contract, which ends in 2012. Just a second-rate deal for a first-rate conference, and Larry Scott knows that. A Pac-10 channel, though, is not a good idea. I remember covering the mtn. fiasco when I was at San Diego State, and that hasn’t exactly exploded like Bravo.
4) What is the status of Darius Bell? Is he still in the mix or did he fall out after his brief stint against Washington? Is Prince planning on returning in the spring? – Football Fan
With Brett Hundley coming in, Bell will probably slide down to third string, and it would be very tough for him to beat out Richard Brehaut AND Hundley, who I assume will slide into the backup slot to start his career and have a chance to compete for the starting nod. Prince is hopeful for a spring return, but also knows knee surgery recovery is unpredictable.
5) Whoever becomes the new defensive coordinator will inherit an incredible group of talented defensive lineman. They are as talented as any young group in the country. Regardless of position, how would you rate the UCLA defensive lineman (Willis, Marsh, Graham, Owa, D. Jones, Bryant, Chandler, Edison, Epenesa, Flowers, Holmes, and Tepa) in terms of pure talent, ability, and the impact they will make in the program in the next few years. – Doug
I really do agree with the assessment that, based on pure, raw talent, this group could turn into one of the best in the country. I was a little surprised that after getting Brian Price in ’07, UCLA couldn’t get a top-tier guy to come in and play beside him immediately. There is no issue with that now. But this is a core unit long on talent and short on technique, and that will be a very important issue moving forward. I’ve preached the maturation process for a long time; at no position does that mean more than defensive line. Fourth- and fifth-year offensive linemen have years to bulk up and have just that natural advantage over a talented, but weaker, freshman defensive lineman. Once they catch up a little, that’ll be scary.