October 16, 2007
Meanwhile ESPN’s Pat Forde: Karl Dorrell On Hot Seat, It’s A Coin Flip
More and more the MSM is getting it right … who says all our efforts are for naught! ESPN’s Pat Forde has a column that discusses, among other things, the coaches on the hottest seats. #4 on his list, the hapless Karl Dorrell (behind foot-out-the-door Callahan - Nebraska, Franchione - Texas A&M, and Nutt - Arkansas). Here is what Forde had to say:
Karl Dorrell (14), UCLA Year: 5th.
Record: 4-2 this year, with no-show upset losses to two teams that were winless at the time: Utah and Notre Dame. Dorrell is 33-23 overall.
Breaking point: Being blown out by wounded Utah was not in the game plan for a team that began the season with more experience than any in the country: 20 returning starters, 25 seniors. Following that up with a home loss to the Fighting Irish only further underscored the erratic nature of Dorrell’s tenure. Quarterback injuries can only explain so much.
Sticking point: The Bruins are 3-0 in the Pac-10. What if they win the league? Can you fire a guy when he goes to a BCS bowl?
Bad stat: Of Dorrell’s 23 losses, 11 have come when his team was favored.
Chances of survival: Four of UCLA’s final six games are against ranked teams, so there is an opportunity to salvage the season. But past Bruins history shows that road games against bottom-tier teams Washington State and Arizona will be just as difficult. A coin flip by AD Dan Guerrero would almost be fitting.
A coin flip fitting?! If it takes a coin flip then any AD should know what the answer already is. But we get Pat’s point, it really is a toss up what Dorrell team shows up for the rest of the season. He is on point there. Nice job Pat.
