August 12, 2007
Dorrell: “We Feel This Is The Right Thing”
UPDATE: From Chris Foster, new UCLA beat reporter for the LAT: “Guerrero was not made available to address how UCLA’s background check on Scott was mishandled or whether changes would be made in the process.” Shame, just as we have been saying. Foster also had this report: “The arrest brought to light Scott’s criminal history, which Guerrero said he had no knowledge of despite a standard background check. Dorrell has said he was aware of some of Scott’s troubles but said he was not aware of his arrests.” That differed from Dorrell’s statement given earlier to the LAT: “Coach Karl Dorrell also acknowledged in a statement that the school knew about the former Crenshaw High player and coach’s criminal background when it hired him.” Regardless of the glaring inconsistencies and omissions, this will finally most likely be put to bed. Character and Integrity have long since left the building anyway.
Dorrell has drawn the line in the sand. He has put his hat in the ring with Eric Scott and all the issues surrounding his hiring and arrest. We have no problem with Dorrell taking a stand, if that is what he really believes in. We can’t fault him for his beliefs. But now he has the added responsibility of accepting everything that comes with Eric Scott being on the sidelines. That he cannot avoid or dismiss ever. Dorrell could have declined to reinstate Scott to send a very clear message about Character and Integrity. Dorrell chose not to, and Dan Guerrero let Dorrell make his bed and sleep in it.
There is no question that Dorrell lost wiggle room, and that his relationship with Guerrero must be affected. Dorrell made his decision, the consequences are his to bear now. No amount of scapegoating can shield him from responsibility should anything go wrong. And he certainly can’t waive the Character and Integrity flag around in his own defense anymore. Dorrell (Perelman, LA Times):
“We feel this is the right thing,” said Dorrell, “and the best thing for our program is to get him back in the fold and keep ourselves moving forward.”
Best thing for the program? Or best thing for your career (getting prized inner city recruits that Scott brings)? It sounds like this is Dorrell’s Faustian bargain. As we have said earlier this Summer, it appears that the pressure is getting to Dorrell … this may be more evidence of that.
“We had talks with Eric yesterday, two hours actually, and went through the process very, very thoroughly about all the matters involved.”
The buzzword at the AD now is “thorough” … like its part and parcel of the way things are done at the AD. No, it’s not. The so-called “breakdown” in Scott’s hiring created a huge embarrassment for the University and athletic program, and it obviously wasn’t thorough enough to uncover a routine conviction report. Now, suddenly, there is a thorough process. How are we to believe that when no one from the AD has said they are going to re-do all background checks for every AD staff member and coach just in case the breakdown failed to uncover other coaches and staff with convictions?!! What a joke.
For his part, Scott is happy to be back. But we wonder if he really gets it. On his meeting with Dorrell (Perelman, LAT):
“We pretty much discussed what all employees of the university are expected to be, and I just fall in those same guidelines.”
If this was a revelation to him now all we can say is we hope he has learned from it. But if it took this for him to realize that he falls under some guidelines then we have to wonder if he really gets it. Scott cannot just divorce himself overnight from his past. There is no doubt in our minds that he will see another concealed weapon (or bag of drugs) … will have it on his person or with his unreformed posse. The question really for us is will he be unlucky and get caught. There is trouble ahead if Scott is unlucky, and that is a bad risk for UCLA. But hey Dorrell thinks this is “the right thing” for our program. Sad.
6 Comments on Dorrell: “We Feel This Is The Right Thing”
August 13, 2007
UCLAN @ 11:42 am:
I do not think Dorrell is a racist, because few coaches are, despite what some might say. However, it would be interesting for someone to make a study of the coaches he has hired and fired during his regime. Unless I am very wrong, Dorrell has hired about as many Black coaches as Caucasian, and fired far less. So is it surprising that some people might think there is a double standard?
DumpDorrell @ 12:13 pm:
UCLAN … we made it clear that the racist comment is absurd. It never even occurred to us to look into Dorrell’s hiring and firing practices and we will not go down that path. It just carries no weight or have any ring of truth. We have seen Dorrell work with his coaches many times in person and cannot at all ever believe this to be true.
colonybruin @ 10:10 pm:
get real Dump dorrell __ you have obviously never spent any time within the “black” culture __ if you had , you would know. that ‘blacks’ are completely racial in mentality __that is why they call themselves “black” __ notice they don’t use the word ‘african’ __ they use the word “black” __ the only people they call ‘brother’ are those with ‘black’ skin __ anyone who’s identity, refers to only something superficial , as skin color, is racist __ dorrell is completely concerned about getting ‘black’ coaches , because dorrell is not color blind , anymore than all the others who call themselves ‘black’ __ so go and spend time within the ‘black’ culture , it will be obvious , that skin color is #1 on their list __ go down to south los angeles , and see what happens __ why is everyone afraid to be honest ?
August 14, 2007
DumpDorrell @ 6:54 am:
Colony .. all we said was that Dorrell is not racist. Racism exists everywhere, in every community. But we do not believe Dorrell to be racist … at all.
colonybruin @ 11:49 am:
meaning no dis -respect, to Dump dorrell , but you are insane, if you think that dorrell is not rasist ___ you are insane if you think he or anybody else in color-blind ___ just what do you base your declaration that dorrell is not rasist ? . . . . well ? ___ have you ever heard any member of his ‘race’ say they “love white folk” ? ___ have you ever heard dorrell make any statement ___ just what has dorrell ever said, that makes you think he loves us white supressors ___ is he some perfect -perspective entity ___ do you expect him to be honest by making statements about this white-run civilization ___ ever heard any ‘black’ say they only have themselves to blame for all their problems , like their failure to assimilate ____ does he refer to himself as an american or a black ? ___ in any case he sure ain’t goin’ to open his mouth about it . . . just like he did not come forword and meet the press about Eric’s criminal check that ” sorta didn’t make it from U.C.L.A. cop dept. to the rest of the school “___ he has never come forward and told the truth , about how much he knew and why he did-not tell the school officials __ he did-not come forward and tell the truth about why no other action was taken against Eric ___ explain state law and policy regarding this situation ___ did dorrell tell the truth , that short of Murder, dorrell had to keep Eric , dorrell can’t recruit . . the kids don’t like him ___ stop being a wack-o liberal, and start being honest
DumpDorrell @ 4:19 pm:
colony no disrespect taken. But leveling charges of racism is very strong .. it requires very strong and clear evidence to back it up. We dont see that evidence. If you are merely saying that no one is free from some discriminating bias then philosophically we would agree, no one is perfectly bias-free. But we are talking about a degree of racism that although can’t be quantified everyone can agree would label the person a racist. And we absolutely do not think Dorrell is racist. So lets just disagree and leave it at that.