August 31, 2007
LA Times: Karl Dorrell Tries To Diffuse Expectations
Just when nearly everyone on the planet is finally giving UCLA a shot at having a special season for the first time in 10 years, including Karl Dorrell and the players themselves, Dorrell is starting to backtrack on his earlier rosy assessments for the season. Before we show you how he is backtracking, let us show you what Dorrell was saying before the expectations obviously started to get to him:
"Inside and out, this is the best team I've had," Dorrell said. "Inside as people, and outside as performance. Our expectations are so high. The pressure we put on ourselves is greater than any outside pressure."
That was just last week. Now, the Chris Foster of the LA Times reports in an article titled "Dorrell tries to diffuse expectations" Dorrell is changing his tune:
The Heaven-Can't-Wait preseason predictions shoveled on the UCLA football team have certainly been noted, though Coach Karl Dorrell has tried to blunt the affect effect.
"I told the team when I was [coaching] at Colorado, we were ranked No. 1 in one poll and top five in most polls and that team finished 5-6," said Dorrell said, a Buffaloes assistant from 1995 to '98. "What happened? You can get a little caught up in what you're reading. You've still got to go out there and play and perform and get yourself ready to defend those expectations."
Whatever Karl … this is the year no matter how he tries to spin it. There are no excuses. As Foster notes, even the players AFTER hearing Dorrell backtrack would not let up:
Defensive end Bruce Davis was adamant in saying, "I don't want to make any predictions," but he did offer some repetitive commentary judging regarding how he stressing his hopes the season plays out.
A 6-6 record this season would be "disappointing," Davis said.
How about 7-5? "Disappointing."
Or 8-4? "Disappointing."
Or 9-3? "Disappointing."
Or 10-2? "Disappointing."
Or 11-1? "Disappointing."
Then 12-0? "That wouldn't be disappointing, but I'm not making any predictions," Davis said.
We, of course, love this talk … but it all comes down to what happens on the field. And the responsibility this year lies squarely on Karl Dorrell.
