The Wall
UCLA interim head coach Mike Johnson thought the Bruins were going to get some extra third-down preparation for the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl on Tuesday morning.
The players called an audible.
UCLA upheld the tradition of going "over the wall" on Tuesday, taking off just after stretching.
"It's a tradition, so I'm OK with it," Johnson said. "Last week prepared them. We were going to do third down, and last week, we had two days where we did third down, so we're good."
Johnson, who played in two bowls himself including the XX Rose Bowl, understands the time commitment demanded of the players during bowl preparation, so he didn't sound too upset
"This is another spring ball for them, so you have a lot of time, a lot of practices. We were ready to go today, but it's not the end all. We'll have everything ready for Illinois."
Two years ago, the Bruins appeared to show few effects from one less day of preparation for the EagleBank Bowl. The Bruins defeated Temple, 31-20, on Dec. 29, 2009, at Washington D.C.'s RFK Stadium.
"I do know that its something that has been a tradition," Johnson said. "It's a lot of extra work, but as it gets closer to the game, focus becomes a little more narrow, and you can hone in. We were getting three extra practices on Illinois. Instead of having six days, we'll have five. We'll still have two extra days to prepare for them."
Worst tradition ever.
stupidest tradition ever.
Why would Mike Johnson care? He's a duck. What does CJM think about this?
Sounds like a loser accepting mediocrity from a low achieving team; real programs are mature, hold up to extra practice and don't continue stupid lazy player driven and coach accepted traditions
Mora needs to put an end to that shit stat...
Replace "tradition" in the above article with "loser mentality."
Can't wait for Coach Mora to set these guys straight.
What does it mean to go over the wall? I do not understand the tradition?
Hey they won the south (kinda) who needs practice.
I don't have a problem with it. If the team was winning I don't think you guys would either. Traditions hold up through thick and thin. One practice isn't going to make that big of a difference. Did any of you participate in Senior Skip Day?
anon 12:36 it is a UCLA football team tradition to ditch the last practice of the year. The stretch then get up and jump over a wall and run off the practice field.
LO said:
"Sounds like a loser ...; real programs are mature,..."
Calling people losers is a sure sign of maturity.
Man, we talking about PRACTICE! It's not a GAME! NOT A GAME! We talking about PRACTICE, man!
You're welcome,
AI
This is stupid, but if ur on the team....u better do it, or get ur teeth kicked in for being a wuss.
Mike Johnson said: "understands the time commitment demanded of the players during bowl preparation"
They'll get no sympathy from those of us that work 60 hours a week.
Few effects? I remember us struggling in that game to squeak by Temple. After we had to beg to play in the game.
No wonder fucla hasn't won anything in 25 years with such loser traditions.
Once again, this is the stupidest tradition in the bleeping world! Maybe that will be Sandusky's latest defense!
These guys need all the work that they can get on 3rd down conversions! What are you guys thinking? Hopefully, Mora walks in and ends the dumb "traditions".
Given the lackluster efforts put forth for nine years I would like to think that the "leaders" on the team would put an end to a horrible tradition. It comes down to a "winning" mind set that is currently lacking in UCLA football. What other winning division one programs have a such stupid tradition. This is a team that can ill afford to lose practice time given their history of motion penalties, mis timed passes, not running the right patterns ect, ect, ect..... I hate to say it but I agree with marvgoux
BILL, I AM SHOCKED AT YOUR STUPIDITY. I FAIL TO SEE HOW SANDUSKY HAS ABSOLUTLEY ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS? HIS LATEST DEFENCE? HOW SO? DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT THAT GUY DID IS BIGGER THAN SPORTS, HE RUINED LIVES AND DESTROYED PEOPLE? HOW DOES THIS CORRELATE?
Tradition is good for morale.And the coaches have a tradition of working their asses off the next day because they are rested.GO BLUE!
My ode to The Wall:
"We don't need no football practice,
We don't need no discipline.
No hustle and grit on Spaulding Field
Coaches leave us kids alone.
(insert guitar lick)
Hey, coaches! Leave us kids alone.
All in all it's just another fumble of the ball
All in all you're just another fumbler of the ball"
Take their scholarships away so we can give them to the skillful players UCLA is pursuing.
Not to buck tradition generally, but in this instance I am all for a complete overhaul of all things Football and this tradition is part of it.
Maybe you can with hold their meal money if they go over the wall. I'm sure that would have stopped it. Or maybe they would go on strike w/out the meal money and they can just kick those players off the team!!
Stupid tradtion, I have a feeling that this tradition will soon be coming to an end. The new recruits coming in are not for it, and I know Jim Mora and his new staff will squash any thought of this tradition continuing.
Tradition is important - how about after winning a national championship the team can then go over the wall? It seems like until then, the team needs every opportunity to get better, and that is especially true of our team today. Go Bruins!
I was talking to one of the former players last night that graduated about 6 years ago, about this tradition.
He explained things from a player's perpective and after hearing him out, I see no problem with the tradition continuing. The players that leap the wall are in fact severely punished the next practice through some hard core onditioning, with many of them puking.
What it does do is create team unity, as they bond closer as a team for the day hanging out, movies, etc...and by the same token they bond together as they get severely punished the next day.
Let the tradition continue.
Go Bruins!!
Sorry BruinRob, but I disagree with you, no matter how it is justified.
If they want to create a bonding experience, let them go bond on an off day and do the same hard core conditioning with puking and everything else. But NOT at the expense of an actual practice day, that is simply counterproductive to the product on the field no matter how you slice it.
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?