Jim Mora on UCLA going over the wall Pt. 2

On traditions:
“When I talked to Dan at the beginning of the interview process, we talked about things like traditions. There are some traditions we certainly want to honor, but skipping out on practice is not one of those proud traditions. …
Dan Guerrero gave these kids an opportunity to compete one last time for UCLA and it really bothers me, personally, knowing Dan how I do, that they disrespected that gesture. It’s a great thing for these kids to go play one last time for UCLA, these seniors going out and these coaches that may or may not be here to come together one last time to compete together, and it should not be taken lightly. No matter what the record is, whether it’s the national championship game or not. That’s what’s disappointing.”

On this happening at other places:
“I’ve never heard of anything like it in college football…and I don’t ever want to hear about it again here.”

On the Wall happening in the pros:
“Happen in the pros? No. No. Something like that happens in the pros and those guys would be on the street in a heartbeat, or they’d be $25,000 taken out of paychecks. Absolutely not. It would never have even been a question. And it won’t be a question here.”

On accountability:
“It’s accountability. It’s responsibility. That’s what it is. To your university, to your team, to your teammates, to the AD to the coaches, to yourself. It’s unacceptable.”

On disrespect:
“I don’t think it was necessarily pointed at Dan as a sign of disrespect. It’s a tradition that these guys have grown up with, and it’s just a tradition that needs to end. I hope they had fun going over the wall, or whatever you call it, because it’s the last time they’re going over the wall.”

On certain players being upset at the Wall:
“They should all be pissed off about it. The kinds of players who are going to fill this roster from now on are guys who would be pissed off about it. Who wouldn’t let it happen. Who would put a stop to it before it happened. Those are the kinds of guys we want at UCLA.”