Inside UCLA with Brian Dohn

More on Stepheson

2008-05-16T22:28:48Z

Alex Stepheson, who has announced he'll transfer from North Carolina, could be headed to UCLA. He was recruited by UCLA out of Harvard Westlake and ultimately chose the Tar Heels. He'll transfer to be closer to his family, and his dad has an undisclosed health condition.
He was long rumored to transfer to be closer to his family, and that became official Friday.
"My family is dealing with some health challenges at this time and as a result I have made the decision to transfer to be closer to home," Stepheson said in a UNC press release. "The two years I have spent as a Tar Heel have been great. My teammates, Coach Williams and his staff and the whole Carolina family are the best. I wish to thank the UNC fans for all their support and encouragement. I am grateful for the opportunity I had to be a Tar Heel, and I wish the program the best in the future."

Could Stepheson be UCLA-bound?

2008-05-16T22:14:36Z

Alex Stepheson, who prepped at Harvard-Westlake, is officially transferring from North Carolina, the Associated Press reported. He was granted a release so that he can transfer to another school.

Stepheson leaving UNC for family reasons
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. North Carolina forward Alex
Stepheson is transferring because
he wants to be closer to his family in California.
Stepheson said Friday in a statement that his family is facing
unspecified health concerns.
Stepheson is a Los Angeles native who was the backup to Deon Thompson
at power forward. In two
years he averaged 3.16 points and 3.36 rebounds.
Coach Roy Williams said he is disappointed but understands
Stepheson's decision because "by
being closer to home, he will be able to provide the necessary
support and help his family
needs."
School officials said they have granted Stepheson's request for a
release, a move that permits
him to contact other programs.

Help for the offensive line?

2008-05-16T19:58:17Z

Kai Maiava is coming to UCLA as an offensive lineman, he said. He played left guard his freshman season at left guard at Colorado but was asked to move to fullback. He lost 25 pounds to do so but was buried on CU's depth chart at fullback. He said he's already gained the weight back and is at 300 pounds again.

Kai Maiava transferring to UCLA

2008-05-16T18:41:12Z

Offensive lineman Kai Maiava is transferring from Colorado to UCLA, scout.com reported today. I just talked to Maiava, and he confirmed he'll become a Bruin. Maiava must sit out one year due to transfer rules.
``It was a whole bunch of things that added up,'' Maiava said. ``It was a little football, a little this, a little that. It started to crumble on me. It was weird towards the end of the year. I found it better to be closer to home and surrounding myself with family.''

Neuheisel on Houston series

2008-05-16T17:26:45Z

Here's what Rick Neuheisel said on the benefits of playing the series against Houston:
"Houston is one of the top programs in Conference USA. In addition, the state of Texas and the Houston area are important recruiting targets for us," Neuheisel said. "This series will enable us maintain a presence in the area and guarantees us at least one game in Texas in each of those years."
The full release from UCLA follows:

]]> UCLA ADDS HOUSTON TO FUTURE FOOTBALL SCHEDULES

UCLA and the University of Houston have agreed to a three-game football series, beginning in 2010, the UCLA Athletic Department announced today.

UCLA will host the Cougars in the Rose Bowl on Sept. 11, 2010 and Sept. 15, 2012. The Bruins will open the 2011 season on Sept. 3 at Houston's Robertson Stadium.

"Houston is one of the top programs in Conference USA. In addition, the state of Texas and the Houston area are important recruiting targets for us," said head coach Rick Neuheisel. "This series will enable us maintain a presence in the area and guarantees us at least one game in Texas in each of those years."

The two schools have met on four previous occasions with Houston winning the first two (1977 at the Astrodome and 1979 at the Coliseum) and UCLA winning the last two (1997 at the Rose Bowl and 1998 at Robertson Stadium).

UCLA's future non-conference schedules include San Diego State (Sept. 5 at home), Tennessee (Sept. 12) and Kansas State (Sept. 19 at home) in 2009; Kansas State (Sept. 4), Houston (Sept. 11 at home) and Texas (Sept. 18) in 2010; Houston (Sept. 3), San Jose State (Sept. 10 at home) and Texas (Sept. 17 at home) in 2011; Rice (Sept. 1), Nebraska (Sept. 8 at home) and Houston (Sept. 15 at home) in 2012; and Nebraska (Sept. 14) in 2013.

UCLA, Houston to play in football

2008-05-16T16:54:31Z

UCLA will play Houston in a three game-series beginning in 2010, the Houston Chronicle has reported. Click here to read the story.

Beefing up the schedule

2008-05-16T16:00:10Z

The UCLA men's soccer team announced its schedule for 2008, and the Bruins are looking to impress with strength of schedule. UCLA plays five of the seven schools to win NCAA championships over the last 10 years.

Hale surgery update

2008-05-15T23:48:09Z

John Hale had surgery on his knee last week and is currently going through rehab. The linebacker had a scope done. He had irritated tissue from a hyperextended knee but there wasn't any torn cartilage.

Wooden to receive plaque from Coliseum officials

2008-05-15T23:33:22Z

John Wooden will be on hand at the Coliseum on Tuesday. He'll be honored by Coliseum officials with a plaque. Looks like Wooden is doing better and better. This is the third appearance I know of that he's scheduled to participate in over the next month.
The press release follows:

]]> TAKE PLACE AT COLISEUM PERISTYLE ON MAY 20TH
WHAT: A ceremony for the unveiling of a commemorative bronze plaque for John Wooden in the Coliseum Memorial Court of Honor.
WHERE: At the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Peristyle, immediately adjacent to the Coliseum Peristyle's center arch. Enter at Gate 31.
Parking will be available on South Coliseum Drive and can be accessed either at 39th and Figueroa Street, or at Hoover Blvd. and Martin Luther King, jr. Blvd.
WHEN: Tuesday, May 20th at 2:45pm. Reception to follow.
OVERVIEW: During his 27 year tenure as UCLA Head Basketball Coach, which included six seasons in the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena (1959-65), Coach Wooden's teams compiled a winning percentage of 81%, won ten NCAA championships in a twelve-year span (1964-75), recorded four undefeated seasons and set the all-time NCAA consecutive game winning streak of 88, as well as the all-time-NCAA tournament winning streak of 38.
In the six seasons that the Sports Arena served as UCLA's home, Coach Wooden's teams went to the NCAA Final Four three times, and won the NCAA Championship in '64 and '65. His teams also returned to the Sports Arena to win NCAA Championships in '68 and '72.
Continued
After a welcome by Coliseum Commission President David Israel,
the ceremony will be emceed by Zev Yaroslavsky, Coliseum Commission Vice President and Los Angeles County Supervisor.
On hand to speak at the event will be:
Chancellor Gene Block, UCLA
Daniel Guerrero, UCLA Athletic Director
Ben Howland, UCLA basketball coach
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, former UCLA basketball player
Coach John Wooden

Prime time

2008-05-15T22:42:33Z

UCLA track coach Jeanette Bolden will be featured on FSN Prime Tickets ''In my own words'' on May 22. The release from Fox is below:

]]> FSN PRIME TICKET, the destination for the most comprehensive local coverage of UCLA Bruins Athletics, debuts "In My Own Words: Jeanette Bolden" on Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 7:30 PM. The half-hour original program airs just prior to the regional sports networks' coverage of the 2008 Pac-10 Men's and Women's Track and Field Championships at 8 PM.

Jeanette Bolden has been the Head Coach of UCLA Women's Track and Field for 14 years. This summer, she will parlay her experience as a coach and insight as an Olympic Gold Medalist into the role of a lifetime: the 2008 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Women's Head Coach.

Bolden is the first Olympic Track and Field Head Coach to have ever won an Olympic gold medal as an athlete. She brings perspective, gratitude and experience to the role. A member of the 1984 Olympic Gold Medal-winning 4X100 meter relay team, Bolden shared the 1984 victory in Los Angeles with teammates Alice Brown, Chandra Cheeseborough and Evelyn Ashford just days after a devastating fourth-place finish in the individual 100 meter event.

Hailing from Compton, Calif., Bolden was a track star at Centennial High School, despite, and perhaps because of, her struggle with asthma, she has made a career out of running fast. In the half-hour "In My Own Words", she shares her experience as an athlete who did not compete in 1980 because of the U.S. Olympic boycott. Bolden also talks about the unique challenges of coaching the "Internet Generation" and hastens to make any pre-Olympic trials decisions on who will be selected - Allyson Felix, Sanya Richards, or both? - to the 2008 U.S. Women's 4X100 meter relay team.

Awards roll in for Bruins

2008-05-15T17:30:00Z

Senior Anjelica Selden, sophomore Megan Langenfeld and freshman GiOnna DiSalvatore were all named to the all-Pacific region softball first team. Senior Krista Colburn, junior Amanda Kamekona and freshman Samantha Camuso were named to the second team.
Selden and Kamekona were also first-team Pac-10 selections. Camuso, Colburn, DiSalvatore and Langenfeld were named to the Pac-10 second team.

Farmar a hit with Lakers fans

2008-05-15T16:35:34Z

I wrote a story for today's paper about former UCLA point guard Jordan Farmar. Click here to read.

More on mum

2008-05-15T02:32:00Z

It should be noted, again, that the only things UCLA could comment on regarding J'Mison Morgan are whether it has received the official release form and whether he is an athlete the school is recruiting. UCLA doesn't have to do either, of course. The school issued a statement earlier today that it wouldn't comment on student athletes who had not signed a letter of intent or offer of financial aid.

UCLA mum on Morgan

2008-05-15T00:43:45Z

UCLA officials won't confirm whether or not they've received the official release form from J'Mison Morgan, who was just released by LSU yesterday.

UCLA sent this release to reporters:
UCLA does not comment on prospective student-athletes until such time as he or she has signed a National Letter of Intent or written offer of financial aid.

Moline, Rasshan to have surgery

2008-05-15T00:17:29Z

UCLA just released information on Chane Moline and Osaar Rasshan, who are both scheduled to have surgery:

UCLA junior tailback Chane Moline is scheduled for surgery on his left wrist on Thursday (the same one he injured last season). He will have a screw placed in the wrist and is expected to be out eight weeks.

Junior quarterback Osaar Rasshan is scheduled to have patellar tendon surgery on his left knee on Friday. He has been bothered by tendonitis and has opted for surgery. He is expected to be back for the start of camp.