Answer Monday! (Part 7)

It's easy to say USC didn't recruit someone very hard that they lost, but thats a cop out. USC would have loved to have both XSF and Hasiak. I guarantee you Petey and staff told XSF that they were very supportive of his desire to go on a mission. If USC would have said no, they wouldn't have made his top 3.

Bruingold82, you are just so adorable.

Scout ranks based on a cumulative total - the more players you take, the better you score. That is obviously a flawed system. Here's much better insight into the USC/UCLA recruiting classes from Tom Lemming at MaxPreps, whose business is to sell his info to coaches. COACHES USE MaxPreps. This should be a definitive USC vs UCLA 2009 class comparison:

USC Top 20 @ position players - #1 QB, Barkley; #13 WR, Flournoy; #5 OT, Graf; #2 Athlete, Hall; #13 CB, Harris; #1 ILB, Jones; #1 DE, Kennard; #4, IOL Martinez; #5 OLB, Telfort; #6 OLB, Simmons; #6 Safety, McDonald; #7 safety, Starling; #17 safety, Moore

UCLA - #16 OLB, Bowens; #15 WR, Carroll; #16 ILB, Golper; #6 DE, Graham; #12 OT, Hasiak; #6 CB, Pollard; #5 TE, Pressley; #5 DT, Filo

USC signed 10 TOP 100 overall players! Lemming has Jarvis Jones as the #1 ILB, ahead of Vontaze Burfict! USC has 13 top 20 players at position, 10 top 10 players at position, 6 top 5 players at position, and 3 #1 players at position. USC still has 3 top 20 players at position that are being recruited (Brown, Charles, and Metcalf).

UCLA signed 2 Top 100 overall players, 8 top 20 players at position, 4 top 10 players at position, 2 top 5 players at position, and 0 #1 players at position.

MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, USC's class is much, much better than UCLA's class on paper. Don't believe the hype from Westwood!!!

Thanks DFW! Great info.

In all fairness to our Bruin friends, remember that back in the Dorrell era, signing Terrence Austin was considered a big deal.

This is a good UCLA class. Let them celebrate.

This class is a big deal for them. It makes them better, which will make the Pac-10 better.

Just the fact that there's a posting on the USC blog shows the significance of UCLA's recruiting class. And, expect UCLA recruiting to improve. Because of the turnover in the coaching staff, UCLA got off to a late start. According to the UCLA blog, Coach Rick already feels that he's way ahead of the curve for 2010. And make no mistake that Rick isn't Karl: He's not afraid of USC. He may not win every game, or any game, against USC, but he'll go down swinging...which is something Karl never did.

According to rivals USC finished 4th, UCLA 14th per:
http://rivals100.rivals.com/teamrank,asp?SID=880
Make your own interpretations.

my interpretation is that I wouldn't want to play ucla in woman's softball.

Rankings, Schmankings.

Let's see...USC gets nation's top qb; USC gets nation's top de; USC gets nation's top ranked DL; USC gets nation's top ranked center; USC gets 2 LB's ranked in nation's top 10; USC gets 2 top 10 safeties; USC gets 2 top 10 athletes.

USC coach Pete Carroll says this is the fastest group of athletes he has ever recruited to USC.

How's that version of rankings compare to the one that says that UCLA's good class is better than USC's great class?

UCLA got a good class and got better.
USC got a great class, maintains their level and actually improved their team speed.

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM...

The more important questions when it comes to ucla football are how many years will RN be given to turn things around and how well RN, Chow and company will be able to are able to develop the players they are recruiting.

RN's player development track record is not good. He wasn't able to improve his teams at Colorado and Washington.

For example, in each of his first two years as Colorado head coach, he went 10-2. Then, 5-6 and 8-4 in seasons three and four, respectively. He left that program in shambles, with various ncaa violations resulting in scholarship losses. At Washington, he was 7-5 his first year. His second year, his team, led by senior Tuiasosopo, beat Purdue in the Rose Bowl and had a great 11-1 record. But years 3 and 4 were very disappointing with a combined record of 15-10. Apparently, both school admiinstrators and his players at UW hated him. The gambling incident was simply an excuse to get rid of him.

Maybe things will work out differently for Ricky at ucla, but I'm one usc fan who is very glad ucla hired him. I'm especially glad that loser Chow accepted the oc job (immediately after being rejected for the head coaching job). Otherwise, Carroll may have already left for the nfl.

Well said Bruin Blue. The fact that some SUC fans are inquiring about UCLA's rersurgent recruiting shows the significance of this class. Neuheisal will not back down to anyone and on at least some level, that makes trOJies nervous.

Some UCLA fans had a similar sense of nervousness with SUC getting the new Galen Center and a "NBA" coach in Timmey Floyd. Having paid closer attention it appears as though Timmey Floyd isn't quite the threat we once hypothesized. Mike Montgomery at SUC, now that would make me nervous. Montgomery would have told Lil Romeo to take a hike. He runs a serious and respectable team without all the shenanigans while coaching. Do you think Montgomery is going to put up with me (RodneyGuillory) hanging out in the locker room after his hand was already slapped?

blue ruin- Slick Rick, before he had any idea what SC can do to his team, posted a full page newspaper ad (using our tax $$)claiming that the football monopoly in la is officially over. So we know SR isn't Karl. He isn't afraid of SC or anybody. That's how he screwed up Colorado and Washington and soon his alma mater. He can say he's way ahead of recruiting for 2010. I rather want my coach to do the talking on the field and keep beating the "rival", not running his mouth and keep losing.

------------------------------------------------------
"The football monopoly in Los Angeles is officially over (THERE AT SC)." Slick Rick

Let's clear one thing up...nothing at UCLA, especially the athletic department, has anything to do with taxpayer money.

Blue Bruin I must disagree! Where does the money that runs everything about the University of Calif...including that little extension over there in Westwood come from if it is not from the STATE COFFERS? Duh!

toejams once again need to get their facts straight. The UCLA Ath Dept is a self supporting entity...it other words they don't get any tax payer $. Also, the Marketing Department took the advertisement about the Monopoloy being over without speaking with Neuheisal.

Now, if someone needs a wire transfer then they should let me know...we can confirm where you'd like it to go when I'm in the locker room for the post game talk with Timmey.

rodneyguillory-Hmmm....so you are saying that the marketing dept without speaking with Slick Rick put an ad on a major LA newspaper with Slick Rick's full shot???? That's just dumb (and so are you for believing it) and shows how inefficiently and unprofessionally your Ath Dept is run even if that's true. The fact of the matter is that it was ucla who paid for the false advertisement. Another dumb statement you made was that your athletic dept is a self supporting entity. You mean they exist on their own without any $$ coming in?? There's a reason why they say that Slick Rick is one the highest paid State employees.

Actually, I believe Cal's Tedford is the highest paid employee working for the University of California system. Again, this is highly nuanced. Football and basketball coaches may earn a base salary paid by UC that is in line with what other coaches make. Let's say a standard UC coach makes around $100k. The extra money that gets football/basketball coaches earn up to $1 or $2 million is from boosters, revenues, etc...no way the state is paying for it!

THE MOST IMPORTANT thing to remember in recruiting rankings is that they are affected by the number of players signed. UCLA signed 27, USC signed 18. NOBODY in the country had a higher "quality" ranking per player than USC.

It's really not much of a rivalry when USC only offered a scholarship to 5 of UCLA's 27 signees.

Reality is that Trojan Nation would be freaking out if Pete had signed UCLA's class.

Gosh I wish spring football would get here. Reading this ruin drivel about their 'big recruiting class' is torture. who cares? the New Weasel and his lap dog chow-chow will ceertainly coach those deluded high schoolers down the the usual ruin level.

I said it last year that DW would leave and I will say it now Chow will leave because he will not take that big of a pay cut.

"High up in the hills of Westwood...sprawled offensive to the eye...lies a Cal extension campus known as Westwood High.."

No seriously, I'm sure your monster recruiting class will dominate the Trojans for years to come, Slick Rick will run Pete out of L.A., Traveller will be killed by a bear, 13-9, etc. Good luck with that.

I think UCLA had a great class, but I can also think that U$C had a better recruiting class. I also do agree with scott for once, about Carroll being the wildcard. We will see what happens with him, and with the rest of both schools classes.

UCLA is trying to build a foundation...that's all I take from the recruiting class. Getting to an elite level requires trying to be the best at everything, and it includes recruiting, player development, game planning, in-game coaching, nutrition, weight training...everything.

Say what you want about Coach Rick, but he is clearly an upgrade over Coach Karl. The UCLA reporter, Dohn, who is very impartial, has already said as much. This staff works harder at everything, including recruiting. The practice field coaching is much, much better. The in-game element wasn't much to marvel at last season, especially the continued decision to stick with Craft, but there really weren't that many quality cards in UCLA's deck.

desmo is correct. I don't think anyone (at least in their right mind) thinks that this year's Bruin class is better than SC's, nor do I think that two good years of recruits at UCLA will somehow end SC's run as Pac-10 favorite. What's exciting for UCLA is that despite the 4-8 year this year, the program seems to be on an upswing. I think both sides will agree that the rivalry is at its best when you're not quite sure who's gonna win. UCLA had its streak before Carroll and now the Trojans have theirs. It'll be nice if UCLA can just get back to where the outcome of our rivalry game is not a given. Once that happens, it'll be fair to start shooting for loftier goals.

WRSC...let me explain something you to, because you clearly don't get it.

Self Supporting Entity = None of their budget comes from State $. Neuheisal and Chow (you haven't won a National title since having him on yourr staff - for the person that called him a lap dog) are paid by ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, and private donors. In other words, they are NOT paid with tax payer money.

Now, just wait till after the Reggie Bush deposition takes place. NCAA can't ignore the money trail there or with OJ Mayo.

UCLA signed a decent class, which helps stem the bleeding a bit, but you are still well behind USC in player recruitment and player development. UCLA gained on the rest of the conference this year, but not USC.

rodney-

It's clear that we differ in our understanding of "self-supporting." To me self-supporting means that I don't have to ask for $$ from someone else. Ticket sales is supporting yourself. But taking money from someone who's writing off as tax exempt donation is NOT self supporting. Do you really think we need Chow to win the championships?? So with Slick Rick and Chow together you guys will win champtionships year in and year out? Before westwood high will ever come close to winning the NC Slick Rick will be out for violating rules. Just ask Colorado and Wash. A person doesn't change just because he now wears a powder blue t-shirt.

blue ruin-We want ucla to upgrade and make things more interesting for us. No one's taking issues with ucla tryin to take recruits away from us. It's the way they go about doing it. Heard of Manti and his friend? Pressley? Slick Rick is no Karl Dullard for sure. Yes, you may want a coach who's always talking and trying to find things to take a jab at us whether he wins or not but I'd rather have a coach who consistently wins on the field and keeps beating our rivals. It is pure joy singing "u, c, l, a, suuuuuucks!" in the 3rd qt of the game. Check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJb23vvRMIk

WRSC...

Does USC's Athletic Dept. survive without ticket sales? Yeah, that's what I thought!

The Reggie Bush SCandal wasn't a violation of rules? SUC has a laundry list of SCandals since Cheatey Petey took over.

http://www.bruinsnation.com/2008/5/15/508939/pete-carroll-tim-floyd-usc

Funny how trOJies point to the UW issue with Neuheisal but don't seem to remember that Neuheisal used his SUC law degree to WIN a $4 million dollar settlement.

BTW, what happened to Ken Norton's (Petey's poodle) allegations that Neuheisal was lying to recruits. NOTHING surfaced from a single source. All hot air from Norton who lost Pressley to UCLA.

Buy yourself a clue...oh, you probably can't afford it because you're paying off your $40k/yr eduction at South Central Private High.

rodney-

I never said SC AD is a self supporting entity. I see that you finally got my point since you couldn't defend your argument about taking money from someone who's writing it off as tax exempt donation.

Again the differece between a scandal and a violation...I won't even bother to explain. Bottomline is that Slick Rick has a track record of bending and breaking the rules. Washington, who has many lawyers on their side thought SR wasn't worth keeping. They were looking for a reason to fire him. You don't have to buy a clue. I'll buy it for you since I can definitely afford it.

You think Ken would make up stuff like that, eh? Here's another clue I'm buying for you. He was being considered to replace Dewayne Walker. SR tried to hire him away from SC last year. Karl Dullard didn't when Ken went to him for a job. It is understood that he wants to go back to his alma mater to coach one day. Honestly, you think he made that stuff up at the expense of losing his potential job and risking fans' trust? You think about that.

This is the thing. I wouldn't mind Chow back at SC or Dewayne Walker for that matter. But SR....I wouldn't want him even as a waterboy at SC.

http://www.conquestchronicles.com/2008/12/30/704932/neuheisel-responds%E2%80%A6norton

More reading material for our faithful SC blog lovers, rodney and blue ruin.

http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/greenfield007/179235

Is Slick Rick Neuheisel at it again?

Neuheisel is not new to recruiting violations nor he is new to other NCAA violations.

In 2002 the Colorado Buffaloes were placed on two years probation due to 53 NCAA violations. 51 of them were occurred while Neuheisel was their head coach [1995-1998] and many of them were recruiting violations.

In 1999, while head coach at Washington, Neuheisel was investigated for improper recruiting tactics, improper contact with his former Colorado players (trying to talk them into transfer to Washington), and engaging a Washington recruit in a basketball shooting contest, which the NCAA deemed an improper tryout. The Pac-10 accepts self-imposed penalties by Washington for two of the violations.

In 2003 Neuheisel was fired as Washington head coach after the NCAA investigates his involvement with NCAA basketball betting. He confirms he bet on the NCAA tournament by entering a tournament pool the past two years with friends.

With this latest accusation by Ken Norton, you can be sure it has perked the NCAA’s interest and they’ll be keeping an eye on the situation.

Great teams always land under the heaviset of scrutiny, I think its great that Ucla is getting some players. We need the Pac-10 a bit stronger, and in the process Ucla football fans cant argue that the reason they lose to USC is because they lack better athletes. Going back to the athletic program getting paid, how about all of the BCS money that gets split by the conference when our Pac-10 teams get to the big money games... Thats right... its USC helping out the Pac-10 with its 7 consecutive BCS bowl nods... How about the Pac-10 revenue from the big media and nationally televised games... Thats right...USC is a BIG reason why the other Pac-10 schools have the money to pay their coaches and their athletic dept. Not all schools have Nike behind them like Oregon, but USC has definitely helped its conference out with big games agains Notre Dame, OSU, and SEC schools because of USC's name and quality program and history, just like UCLA basketball.

WRSC:

Did you not hear that Neuheisal won $4 for wrongful termination at Washington? You can go head and wipe those off your list. The violations from 1995-1998 were indeed valid.

Care you take a look at the laundry list on:
http://www.bruinsnation.com/2008/5/15/508939/pete-carroll-tim-floyd-usc

Want something that a Bruin didn't write up (see how fair I am):
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3389049

BTW, how do you explain the Reggie Bush and OJ Mayo SCandals? Don't answer with lame jokes here...address the scandals as I did with your list.

We, and the rest of the nation that's tired of bandwagon SUC fans, are ready to hear it!!!!

Geez, a pissing contest has broken out. Both schools, like most schools, have had their share of problems (real or perceived) with the draconian NCAA. "No one knows what goes on behind closed doors...."

UCLA had a nice recruiting class, and will no doubt be more competitive in RN's second year. After all, USC went 6-6 in Carroll's first year.

USC had an excellent recruiting class, even though a few recruits went elsewhere. The unprecedented domination of the Pac-10 continues for another year.

It would be nice to have a competitive game against UCLA or ND, but I'd much rather enjoy watching USC blow out UCLA and ND year-after-year, after suffering through the bad losing streaks from the 1980's to 1990's.

rodney, rodney....you with short-term memory loss. Scroll up a little more and read what I wrote. I said that Washington didn't think Slick Rick was worthing keeping. They were eager to fire him for whatever reason. I've no doubt you would be exhilarated with money whether people hate you or always attribute you to ruining something that's so dear to some people. Just b/c SR won the wrongful termination suit his wrongdoings don't get wiped out. Get the facts straight I believe he won $4 mil, not $4. That means he only got paid $1.33 after paying his lawyers.

You can't answer any of my questions and yet, you want me to explain some scandals?? You posted something from bruinations blog so I responded with an article from our blog. But the article that lists all the violations 53 NCAA, the sanction, etc. came from SportingNews. I credited them you should check again.

Bottomline is that it is the head coach with all the baggages still practices sly stuff we're talking about as opposed to some athletes who are being scrutinized b/c the leechers didn't get their share of the fortune. Remember, Michael Michaels and Rodney Guillory?

So typical WRSC...

$4 million vs $4 dollars? Please tell me your kidding. I did answer your question. I'm saying that the $4 MILLION payment showed he was wrongfully terminated. That's why its called a "wrongful terminiation suit".

Read the first paragraph:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/huskies/2002199496_webneuheisel07.html

Now are you ever going to even try to answer the accusations against SUC? You keep avoid it? Quit stalling trOJie. I know why you'r stalling...because you have no answer.

Things must be pretty slow for Murshed Zaheed and his "nation" of idiots.