October 21, 2007
That Lavin Feeling … The Upside Of Inconsistency
If you are looking for a quote that sums it all up, here it is (Chris Foster, LAT):
“The sky’s the limit for us now,” defensive end Bruce Davis said. “The way college football works this season, if we win out, you might still see us in the national championship game.”
National championship game?! Bruce Davis, love the player, love the fight, love the smack. Not this smack though. This is the same player that talked smack after losing to the worst Notre Dame team in history. Why does this quote some everything up nicely? Because this is not a winning attitude, in fact, it’s the opposite. Winners don’t win championships with their mouths. Winners don’t shine with arrogance after they lose embarrassingly. Winners aren’t considered underdogs to overrated perennial losers like Cal. Winners don’t look at one game and determine that the rest of the season will go exactly the same way. Winners aren’t this manic and inconsistent. We could go on, but you get the picture.
And it’s not just Bruce Davis, obviously. Just one game after that epic Notre Dame humiliation - just one game - and the Dorrell cult is out there wiping everything from the history books and proclaiming that Dorrell is our savior. That Dorrell is a great coach and that his critics are not real Bruin fans. This manic behavior is simply the upside of inconsistency. There is always the downside. The Dorrell cult were nowhere to be found after Utah … but they showed up after Washington (along with Dorrell who strangely noted “I answered the bell!). They were nowhere to be found after Notre Dame .. but they show up now after another collapse by Tedford and the Bears probably saved Dorrell’s job (for now). One single play, a play gifted to Dorrell, was the difference between the cult staying in the closet and the cult and Bruce Davis talking “national championship.” One single play, an inexplicable goof by Tedford, was the difference between serious replacement talk and the cult and Bruce Davis talking “national championship.”
What is maddening is how Bruin Nation doesn’t all collectively see what is obviously happening here. We lived through it for 7 long torturous years just 4 years ago with Lavin!! Deja Vu. We’ve got that Lavin feeling … and the manic Dorrell cult is mad with ludicrous national championship talk. WTF?! That is why Davis’ quote above is so appropriate. A national championship is so far from the realm of even plausibility and yet there seems to be no natural reasoning stopping him and the Dorrell cult from vocalizing their lunacy publicly. It is a key indicator that this program is ready for it’s next fall. Just like the talk after Stanford, just like the talk after Washington and OSU. We point it out every year and yet people still repeat the manic lunacy, hoping for a different outcome every time. Lets not forget that with this talent, experience and schedule we should be 7-0, #1 in the country, and playing for a national championship. Any decent coach would have us in that spot.
Obviously, Dorrell did not learn to be a great coach overnight. 4 and a half years proves Dorrell’s ability more than one game. This game gives Dorrell and his cult the temporary, episodic and fragile upside of inconsistency. Without that one brain freeze by Tedford the media would be talking about Dorrell’s final games. Dorrell will lose again. We have not moved, we have not strayed from our opinions and analysis, and Dorrell hasn’t proved us wrong. We have no reason to think that he will finally now. So the Dorrell cult is out there with their manic love for mediocrity … let them have their day … again. Congrats to the boys. They won despite Dorrell. Go Bruins!!!
8 Comments on That Lavin Feeling … The Upside Of Inconsistency
October 21, 2007
Scott @ 11:46 am:
Mixed emotions. Glad UCLA won, especially with the loser $c fan in front of me wearing all their $c crap! Never understood an $c fan that goes a UCLA home game where the opponent is not $c???
Anyway, as I said mixed emotions. This victory does not help getting duhrell fired…If duhrell manages to win a few more games DG will be thrilled and keep him around, probably extend his contract again…
Also, P. Cowan needs to continue to be the starter…
Andy @ 11:51 am:
Who wants to bet the team gets 3-4 days off this week and gets blown out 54-7 by Wazzu?
Ric @ 2:44 pm:
Scott, I know what you mean about those supposedly SC fans that show up at Bruin games especially when “their” team is playing Notre Dame at the same time on tv. I believe these fans really support the team we’re playing against and just wear that SC crap to draw attention to themselves. As for Dorrell, the team needs to go at least 9-4 this season with a bowl victory. If not, and Dorrell is still coach, I will seriously think about not renewing my season tickets next year.
dana @ 3:32 pm:
I didn’t like it either when Davis was talking smack about ND’s O-line before the game. Sure, he was right about ND’s performance in its prior games but it also fired up ND and ND ended winning a game it should have lost. There were a lot of reasons why UCLA lost that game, including Dorrell’s performance. But, if you take a look at ND’s O-line peformance the whole season, that was probably their best performance against UCLA.
I think there’s a time and place to gurantee a win, but I thought Davis crossed the line with his smack talk about ND before the game.
whp '68 @ 4:44 pm:
“..As for Dorrell, the team needs to go at least 9-4 this season with a bowl victory. If not, and Dorrell is still coach, I will seriously think about not renewing my season tickets next year.”
Now Ric, what kind of attitude is that? I mean you’d stop paying several hundred dollars to support an athletic program intent on putting out a mediocre product. You’d actually take that money and put it towards something frivolous like..oh..beer, or the rent, or a nice vacation somewhere?
Hmmmm? Makes sense to me! And I’ll bet that if a few more of our brethren do the same, Dorrell will find his ass out on the bricks.
Like others, I rejoice in the players victory over Cal; I am inclined to agree with Andy that Washington State ambushes us up there.
October 22, 2007
Bob Crittendon @ 9:28 am:
I continue to be amazed that the masses haven’t risen up and tossed Karl Dullard out on his ear. He continues to take top talent, assemble a team, and then convert it into an overrated, underperforming machine. His excuses and “we are beginning to head in the right direction” party line are growing stale. How would he know what is the right direction since he’s spent years trying to make up his mind on who’s playing QB on any given Saturday?
e40wadw @ 9:51 am:
I would like to start by stating I’m a Black man who supports his culture and community 100% of the time. With that being said Mr. Dullard must go! Now! He is gutless(4th and 1, least amount of ypr 4.3 up to that point of game. PUNT?) and too mellow(exception: last year SC start of 4thqtr.). Two characteristics that dont belong in football. So, Bruin fans be prepared for our team to lose at either WSU or UofA(maybe both), only to have Dullard save his backside again by winning 2 of the final three(can he beat SC again? HELL NO! Petey has gonads and passion!).Our squad will then, again, lose to another undermanned team in some second-tier bowl(is Northwestern bowl eligible?). DG I hope you have RICK NEUHIESEL’S number on speed dial. Or make DW head coach and bring in Rick as OC with the intent to have him take over if DW performs like DULLARD! And for those RN nay sayers he left both Colorado and Washington with full cuberts bearing much fruit with no NCAA probation violations.
e40wadw @ 10:05 am:
And dont forget that this squad has 25 seniors who won’t be here next year to help cover up all of Dullards short comings on offense. Next year UCLA could be the Notre Dame of this year. Hey how can Ucla put Ucla on its schedule for next year?
If Dullard is still in control it will be ugly….DG, you should have known bad things were going to happen when Dullard shunned one of the greastest LB’s in UCLA & NFL history and he gets a job with the enemy, in which he makes a huge difference in recruiting and inspiration during practice and games! So who was so importart to keep that you had no room for this guy, DULLARD?!! You are sorely missed KEN NORTON JR!!!!! We know you still bleed BLUE and GOLD. That SC thing is just a job(one you should have had at UCLA!!) thanks again Dullard!