A culture of accountability
I've made my thoughts known on the UCLA "Over the Wall" tradition many times before.
I'm all for it.
Absolutely, the players should have the ability to take their lives into their own hands. If they want to skip a day of practice to go to the movies, so be it.
Let the players have their fun while they still can. And then make them puke for it.
The problem isn't the wall, as I see it. I get the motivations behind it. If this is the Rose Bowl we're talking about here, and not the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, maybe the ringleaders are talked off the ledge.
The problem is, the players aren't made to pay for decisions like this. Even if it's a team-building exercise. Even if it's a reward the seniors who have toiled for years for the program. Even if it's simply a "tradition."
Those 15 bowl practices don't have to come on 15 different days. If a UCLA coach really wants to put an end to this practice, then make them practice for two hours tomorrow, then make them run for an hour more. Make the players never even want to think of it again. That will send a message. That will change the culture.
Amen, Jon!
Here's hoping Coach Mora brings -- in a big way -- a level of true accountability that, as you suggest, changes the culture.
My hope for our football program (and our basketball program, too) is two-fold: 1) that we do quickly see an unprecedented (at least in my lifetime) cultural shift that earns us a reputation of being a university where our high academic standards are met or exceeded by a standard of excellence by way of personal and collective accountability and COMMITTED hard work on the field (and court), and 2) that, as a result, we have teams composed exclusively of young men who confidently accept that challenge and, with a constant fire in their gut, give 100% every day.
Go Bruins!
Maybe 300 up downs and 200 gassers. That outta do it!!! Maybe even 1000 bear crawls for good measure while Mora watches with a wry smile.
Jon,
Though I fully agree with you, who is supposed to make them accountable this year? The lame-duck OC or DC? I'm sure neither of them gives a shit. Or the new coach who probably doesn't even know any of the players' names yet.
I think you're wrong Jon.
The team gets 15 days to practice. Not 15 practices.
When the players suit up and stretch, that day is now gone. You can't just add an additional day unless you only had 14 days of practice previously scheduled.
This is a stupid, loser "tradition" that needs to be eradicated from UCLA football!
It speaks to a team that is satisfied with its mediocrity. I hope Mora can change this mentality permanently.
Perhaps the coaching staff should cancel all remaining practice sessions. That would give the coaches who are not going to be retained time to look into future employment opportunities. It would also ensure that the players are fresh and looking forward to playing an Illinois team that has trained hard for the bowl game. I would simply say to the players, "You don't want to practice? Fine. No more practice allowed. Enjoy the time off."
Agree with you Jon.
I hope Coach Mora makes this a teaching opportunity a la Coach Wooden and Bill Walton with his long hair. The players can make their decisions, but they will also have to live with their consequences.
Jon I'm curious if all of the seniors went over the wall or did some stay and work out?
HAHAHA, thanks for the laughs guys. Yeah, we're losers and settle for mediocrity b/c we go over the wall for one practice. What is confusing about tradition? just so I have it straight, if we were a winning program it would be okay to keep the tradition? Who are we to want or change tradition? I'm interested to know what practice traditions other schools participate in.
In addition, I think everyone is a bit uptight. First and foremost they are COLLEGE kids/men not pro's I think it's great that every school keeps their tradition.
Take a tip from a winning program: pay these guys by the hour; don't put them on salary. That should put an end to it.
sure they are just college kids.... sure let's give them some slacks...sure we don't really need to be top 10 team...what's our next excuse?
some traditions are worthy of keeping but I am not quite sure about this one...maybe when we are a top 10 team and our kids worked really hard to get there...
In the meantime, how about starting a tradition of winning by inserting some discipline into our laid back program?
Jon, if the coach makes them run until they puke at the next practice then he'll get sued by the parents and most likely disciplined by the school and the NCAA.
@anon 3:57Pm
As far as I know Jon's 1st amendment right is well and alive...
and no... our kids will not run until they puke...they will climb over wall and ditch the practice...
This is a lame "tradition." Yes, it would be meaningful to have a "players tradition" like this if they are so good that taking a day off won't matter. But they are so far from that. What, hop the wall and ditch practice so they can say "woohoo, we suck and are Pac-12 also-rans?" No. When they are at an elite level, fine, waste a day of practice. And I realize that they are young men and should be allowed some room. But they are also being given a free ride for 4 years (plus, if they redshirt, maybe 5). They have free time away from the practice field. If they want to jump the wall and skip studying, let them. But until they have established a winning tradition, skip the silly jump over the wall.
Over the wall, and off to the Dunkin' Donuts, no doubt. Fat guys getting fatter.
Good players already are accountable.
Good players already take responsibility.
Good players are so competitive, they do the extra work it takes in practice to win.
We have had so many bad players through the years.
And unfortunately, the coaches went along with it.
Here is to hoping that Jim Mora brings a culture change. I can see it in his personality. He is great for UCLA football.
Kick those lazy players out of the team. Punish them when they do not take responsibility for the team.
We need a culture change for the UCLA players just as Bruinsnation needs a culture change - badly.
I think this is an outstanding tradition! In fact, I think CJM should add to the "over the wall" tradition by enforcing an "over the wall and back". I think 100 or so pre-season and if the seniors want to do carry on this hallowed tradition during bowl prep, another 200 or they don't play in the bowl game. There, democracy in action...
Geez Louise, how many uptight posters are there on this blog?
One lousy practice is going to be the difference between being a middle of the pack team and a national champion. O.K., if you say so.
ucla has had this tradition for years, and in 1998 it almost won the national championship, even though that team also lost a practice by going over the wall.b
I am an avid reader of this blog, but this yet another example of a sportswriter and his readers taking practice--PRACTICE (said with my personal Iverson in mind)--far too seriously. Dude, it's just one practice. I don't think that a "culture of accountability" is the difference between UCLA going to the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl or the EagleBank Bowl and the Rose Bowl. Talent is. Athletes are. The notion that things like "team culture" are just as relevant to a program's success as NFL-level players is ridiculous. Winning makes that culture. You win when you got talent. When UCLA was a great program in the 1980s and 1990s it was helped by a recruiting pipeline into Texas, a fortunate transfer (NFL Hall of Famer Troy Aikman), and rough parity with USC in terms of attracting top-flight high school talent in Southern California.
@The Ghost
I don't remember UCLA had such "great" program during the 80 and 90... it was more like a roller coaster ride...
It is kind of vicious cycle: winnings bring talents, talents bring winnings... But you need to build a sound foundation in order to be a powerhouse year in year out, to the point that the recruits believe in the program ... and everything starts at the discipline and execution.
we need to relax.
We are talking PRACTICE, not a game. PRACTICE.
signed,
Allen Iverson
Agreed if they do it make them pay. Tradition is fine if part of the tradition is acheivement. Not happening here. Welcome back Jon to your part time job. We're full time fans.
Are you kidding me? People actually like this "tradition"? Many coaches come to watch practice and potential players are coming to watch practice... do you think any real gamers are going to want to come to this school is people are skipping out on practice (on UCLA's dime)? This is a joke and the players who actually did it should be ashamed.
When the Bruins start to convert third down above 15%, then they could entertain such stupid traditions! But, don't even think about it until you're above 60%!
It's as stupid a tradition as the band playing "Movin' On Up" the last 13 years as the program goes downhill.
They are PAC-12 south champions! Get over it.
First, I am a 15-year season ticket holder, and over that time have watched this team gradually decline. Also, I take my username from an earlier post by Jon Gold about the football team ditching practice. And, like him, I understand the tradition--but only when it is appropriate.
Right now, maintaining this "habit" is the worst possible idea. This squad just lost 50-zip to Figueroa Tech, but apparently it doesn't occur to them that every practice counts. Johnathan Franklin's comment in another publication about their behavior, "you go along with it," sums it up--he's supposed to be a team leader. Frankly, they are a bunch of sorry-ass losers who need discipline and accountability.
What do you expect when the team's leadership award winner is the player who had to sit out a whole year because of bad grades, who was suspended because he failed multiple drug tests and who was called for false starts multiple times even though he's the center.
Some of us don't care about you cry babies and how long you've been season holders. If you're not happy don't renew. I personally am tired of whiny azz babies. Add positives or go to the Bruin Nation you will be well received with open arms.
If you guys don't like what I'm saying read your comments. (a bunch of sorry ass losers) and questioning kid's characters. Who are you guys and who put you on your righteous deserving pedestal? a bunch of bitter grown men or I hope you're not grown men.
Movin' on up! Over that wall.
For Bruin 91: First, I apologize for calling this squad a bunch of sorry-ass losers. You're right, that wasn't the correct term. Instead, they are a bunch of whining, sorry-ass losers. This is the same bunch that ran to Twitter crying about their Hungry Bowl money, even though most of them did not meet their responsibilities to earn that stipend.
And, I am indeed questioning their character. I just read Taylor Embree's tweet about the wall climb, "dreams do come true." This is his dream as a Bruin--to lead a ditch day? And to Joseph Fauria, the wall climb is what Bruin tradition is about?
Finally, I am keeping my season seats-see you on the sunny side of the Rose Bowl.
Dude... Really?
It's the mindset like yours that is ultimately to blame for ucla's football mediocrity.
Your writing just lost some a lot of credibility in my book.
Sorry?
I couldn't agree more, with Jon, on this one.
So the school is going to take a loss by going to this pathetic Bowl so these self entitled disinterested
a-holes can skip practice and go watch a movie?
Well, I guess there is no reason to go to practice, since they got their checks. Right?
I was seriously considering going to the game, but since the players obviously don't care, why should I?