December 5, 2006
Bombshell?!? Mariucci Contacted About UCLA’s Head Coaching Position Prior To SC Game
Scott Wolf, the Southern Cal beat reporter for the Daily News, is reporting on his blog that Steve Mariucci was contacted by UCLA about Karl Dorrell’s job prior to the big game. We of course have to question the credibility of this ‘report,’ particularly since Wolf gives no details of his source. Apparently reporters can throw out their journalistic code of ethics when they report on a blog. UCLA officials are denying the report (also from Wolf).
If USC defeated UCLA on Saturday, the Bruins already made contact with former Cal/San Francisco 49ers/Detroit Lions coach Steve Mariucci regarding the head-coaching position. But the 13-9 upset rendered such discussions irrelevant.
UPDATED: UCLA officials deny any contact was made with Mariucci.
We, of course, have to report this and so in a sense we are taking the bait. But we are calling Wolf out for it as well.
Report, If True, Not Surprising
The report is not surprising, if this is true, as readers of DumpDorrell know well. We have done close readings of many recent public statements made by Dan Guerrero regarding Karl Dorrell’s job, including a transcript of a 12 minute interview he had on the radio, and his comments AFTER the big win against SC. DG has left his options open. This is not over, although as we have said, Karl Dorrell will most likely be here next year. Until there is an absolute answer we will stay on the possibility. Which obviously makes the Florida State game more interesting.
The other interesting point about this possible story is that, as one BruinsNation poster pointed out, if we did in fact approach Mariucci we must be willing, at long last, to put up money for a real coach! We can hold out hope folks. HT to Nestor at BruinsNation for the heads up.
Update: Daily News UCLA Reporter Prints The Official Denial
UCLA beat reporter Brian Dohn is now getting in on the blog civil war at the Daily News.
Guerrero statement
UCLA is ticked off about an entry on the Daily News blog about the school contacting Steve Mariucci prior to the Bruins win against USC. Bruins athletic director Dan Guerrero issued this statement: “I categorically deny the inaccurate report on the Daily News USC blog.”
Can we get an editor at the Daily News to do their job over there? Someone get this story right. As far as Dan Guerrero’s response, as Nestor points out, it is right on the money. Deny, deny, deny. Immediately leave no doubt, deny the report. Well done Dan!
5 Comments on Bombshell?!? Mariucci Contacted About UCLA’s Head Coaching Position Prior To SC Game
December 6, 2006
Bruin84 @ 9:09 am:
Now just because DG is issuing a blanket denial from UCLA doesn’t mean that Mooch wasn’t contacted directly or indirectly by someone representing UCLA’s interests. Seems strange that Mooch wouldn’t consider the Michigan State gig even with the encouragement of his best friend, Tom Izzo. Apparently Mooch is looking for a return to the NFL and if you had a choice between MSU & UCLA to use as a springboard, which is the more attractive option? LA or East Lansing?
I hope the KD afterglow hasn’t blinded DG or the UCLA fanbase that we’ve invested over $4M dollars into this “growing & learning” thing and our ROI has been minimal at best. I’m happy we beat USC and it’s great to see UCLA gear all over LA again, but let’s be realistic…13 points beats the 2nd ranked team in the country almost never. Say what you want about the Pom Pom Man, but his players seem to be “growing & learning” AND playing in BCS games…and at our house for the third time in four years.
DumpDorrell @ 10:53 am:
absolutely correct on all counts, except if LA were to have a pro team in the future, UCLA would be an excellent springboard. As far as Mooch, we said that Dan did the right thing in denying immediately. That doesn’t change the possibility that Mooch was contacted, as you point out. Whether we like Mooch for the job or not, if he was contacted so were others. And that would be good news indeed, if it’s true.
Ihope2BaBruin1day @ 1:04 pm:
I know we want Dorrell gone but is Mariucci really the answer? What has he done in the NFL to make him look like such a great candidate for the job?
F**K_SuC @ 3:22 pm:
What coaches are out there that would fit the needs of the program?
DumpDorrell @ 4:07 pm:
IHope .. we don’t think Mooch is the right person for the job at all. There are many potentially good candidates that we have discussed here before. But here is a great discussion of candidates:
http://www.bruinsnation.com/story/2006/10/30/171134/22