Dorrell Who? (Interim) Coach Brings New “Vibe”
Editor's Note: We will have a new poll out tomorrow taking into account the recent changes in potential candidates.
How many Save Dorrell reporters and Dorrellistas were there that said what the players think is most important … and that the players wanted to keep Karl Dorrell? Even though that argument didn't work the first time, it sounded good enough to use now with DeWayne Walker. Chris Foster, LAT, writes up a piece with the same mumbo-jumbo touchy feely bs that we heard from the Dorrellistas: players love him, there's a new vibe, the players are going to win for him, and oh who can forget this one … they had a great practice!
Things were different for UCLA's football team Saturday. Defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker's first practice as interim head coach was dotted with subtle changes cast against a backdrop of vocal exhibitionism from Bruins players.
The only player Chris Foster quotes as being behind Walker of course is none other than Bruce Davis. Great player, great Bruin, but hardly the guy you want to point to when making long term decisions about the future of the program. Bruce Davis predictably throws his considerable weight behind Walker:
"There was a different vibe, a different energy," senior Bruce Davis said. "That's what Coach Walker brings to the table. We're ready to go out there and show everybody that this guy should have an opportunity to be a head coach," Davis said.
Not so fast with the "Win one for the Gipper" speeches. ESPN analysts, among others, have pegged our bowl game against BYU as the "lock" of the bowl season. Analysts are predicting a "blowout loss" for our Bruins. What is most insane is what one ESPN analyst said is the reason we will lose in a blowout: No Karl Dorrell! This is true, they said it. The point must have been that this team is leaderless … meaning DeWayne "Look at me I sound like a coach" Walker does not have the goods to rally this team. Hey, even Ed K. won a bowl game!!!
The main take-away from this article is clear … the players get emotional in support of their doomed coach but they have short memories. They will play for whichever coach is put in front of them. Any new coach will have some players not like or respond to him, and there have been reports that some players don't want Walker as head coach. But long term, the players should not decide who is our new head coach … least of all recruits from one single class. Just for kicks, here is the almost required "great practice" quote:
Walker held a team meeting before the first practice in preparation to play Brigham Young in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 22. That was followed by an energy-charged practice.
December 9th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
DeWayne Walker for head coach
December 9th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
LOL
December 9th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
No one should ever listen to players’ opinions on who they want as coach. Players always like the person that’s already there, because they bond with him. Remember how mad David Ball got in defense of Bob Toledo? Earl Watson defended Lavin at every turn.
I will say that it was a terrible idea to make Walker the interim coach, for just this reason. Kezerian should have gotten it. No reason to allow this kind of thing to go on. Didn’t Guerrero realize this, or is he trying to set it up for Walker?
December 9th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
What happens when Guerreros executive seach team comes up with one name, Neuheisel. I believe Dan Guerrero should not have the final say in choosing a head football coach. He’s already done that. If Neuheisel is not interviewed then I feel a change in the athletic department is mandated. And as a former teamate of Terry Donahue I strongly suggest he not be part of a committee in choosing a coach that can bring about a successful program in its first year. It is absurd to think that you have to wait until your first recruiting class are seniors to have a winning program. Bob Stiles
December 9th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Can’t fault your thinking, Bob Stiles. However, we have guys on this site touting the credibility of a whole host of prospects. Norm Chow has cultivated a fan base even though he has never been a head coach. Pat Hill has his following, even though he probably has less credibility than Dick Tomey at San Jose St.
For some reason, Neuheisel isn’t resonating on this site. I’m with you. I think he is the guy that can win right now and challenge Carroll’s program for supremacy in LA for years to come.
December 9th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
Hello Bob,not to change the subject, I am trying to petition the athletic department to have one game next year where the Team wears throwback uniforms resembling the ones your teamates wore against Michigan State in the Rose Bowl. I have written Adidas, but have not heard from their representative yet. I am going to start a website with this goal in mind. The Huskies wore their’s from the 1960 team this year as well as Cal with their 1975 replicas. I think it would be a great way to honor the 1966 Rose Bowl Champs. Go Bruins!!!
December 9th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
Before you guys flame-out on my comment about Tomey and Hill, keep in mind….Pat Hill worked for Dick Tomey as an assistant at Arizona many years ago.
December 9th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
I would love to see Rick Neuheisel as UCLA’s next head coach.
December 9th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
A lot of people like to trash him claiming he has not done anything as a coach when his record prove other wise.
December 9th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
You are right Bob Stiles. A good coach can turn things around usually by their second year. By the way, I remember the 1966 Rose Bowl game against the Michigan State Spartans and the tackle you made against Bob Apisa on the 2 point conversion try that preserved that huge upset. I was watching the game with my father and brother. You were knocked out but you made the play of the game. UCLA was a great team to follow back then, during the Tommy Prothro era. I’ll never forget your Rose Bowl champion team.
December 9th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
LAeagle, You either work for the NAACP or you are the dumbest jerk off who has ever been on this site. Maybe you are an SC fan, either way shut the heck up you moron. We don’t want another 5 years of 6-6 finishes. You are probably related to Walker.
December 9th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
If Guerrero hires Walker he should be the target of every Bruin fan for screwing up the football team with 2 stupid hires.
December 9th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
I would be thrilled to see Neuheisel selected as the next coach and I agree that he should definitely at least be interviewed. Walker, in my opinion, would be a disastrous mistake. Fortunately I really don’t see DG going with him as the head coach next year.
Tustin Bob: Great idea about the throwback jerseys. In fact, I think the old powder blue uniforms are much nicer than the current ones and should be made the standard uniforms again. What do other people think?
December 9th, 2007 at 2:28 pm
D Walker is the best since Rock Long but he still can solve a spead offence (WSA, FSU, etc.). No KR Clones! Neuheisel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 9th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
I’m sure this has been said elsewhere, but I think the reason why Walker was named interim head coach was to keep this year’s recruiting class from going elsewhere. This is probably the same reason why it was announced early that he would be interviewed for the HC job, although I really think DG’s goal is to keep him as DC. I think another screw up on DG’s part could put his job on the line, so he has to go with someone with HC experience. I LIKE NEUHEISEL!!! It is just plain weird how Neuheisel has been vilified by the press–what has he done to deserve the reputation of having baggage? He deserves a chance, and at least we know this is his dream job, so he won’t be lured elsewhere if he is successful. I ALSO AGREE ABOUT THE POWDER BLUE JERSEYS!!
December 9th, 2007 at 4:34 pm
I believe our current home uniforms look amazing on and off tv. The Darker powder blue makes the team look very classy with gold helmets and the light blue we had before feels like an inferior blue when playing other teams. However our away uniforms are so plain and make us look like a generic football team. I would really like to see a better variation of our away uniforms. I would also love to see a throwback uniform for a game. The 49ers did the same at the beginning of the season for Bill Walsh and it looked really good.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:25 am
DG is not moving quickly enough. How is it that Slick Rick was already interviewed by Georgia Tech, a job that eventually went to Navy’’s coach? DG better get serious real quick about Slick Rick, June Jones, Fassel, Leach, Mendenhall and…Bill Cowher, not Mooch.
December 10th, 2007 at 8:38 am
Is it me, or is it a red flag that Guerrero had to hire a search committee? How many months has he known he was going to need a new head football coach at UCLA? You’re telling me he doesn’t know who he should hire? How can Guerrero dismiss Neuheisel out of hand? He was vindicated at Washington. I know there were mixed reviews at Colorado. Bottom line, he’s a proven winner with energy, enthusiasm, UCLA pedigree AND someone who has likely learned from his (youthful) mistakes. A Bill Cowher would bring attitude and toughness to the program. Ditto for Butch Davis. What about Kentucky’s coach? Is he really too old for the UCLA job? He’s another winner. Not crazy about bringing in an assistant coach from another program to be a first time head coach. And definitely not on board with DW getting the gig. Go Bruins!
December 10th, 2007 at 9:04 am
Jeff… I really like what you had to say. Regarding Kentucky’s coach, Rich Brooks, he coached at UCLA many years ago. I know a bit about him, having talked to him when he was at Oregon. He is a helluva good coach. Teaches fundamentals and is a no nonsense kind of guy. He played at Oregon State under Tommy Prothro and had a close relationship with Prothro.
At Oregon, he took over a program that was unable to compete with other Pac-10 schools. They had no depth at all. This was a few years after Dan Fouts and Bobby Moore (Ahmad Rashad). If a starter got hurt, they were in trouble. Gradually, he built the program, but it was a slow process. The turnaround came when Oregon got a QB named Reggie Osborn. Eventually, Bill Musgrave came along and Oregon made it to the Rose Bowl, only to run into a very good Penn State team. Anyway, Brooks became AD and head coach and is largely responsible for building the Oregon program (along with Phil Knight’s money) to where it is.
After 19 years, Brooks left for the NFL.
The knock on Brooks is that he is now almost 70 years old. Also, he is NOT a rah-rah coach. He is very matter-of-fact, to the point in his approach. I doubt if he could match Carroll’s energy and enthusiasm at this stage of his career.
He has a background of contacts with people like Bill Walsh, Jim Mora, sr., Terry Donohue and others associated with UCLA over the years. I like Rich Brooks but I just don’t see him as an option.
December 10th, 2007 at 9:21 am
I think we are caught in a Catch-22 here.
There will be no coach selection prior to the Vegas Bowl
because why would DG want to p*ss off DW? There would be less motivation and desire to beat BYU unless he just wanted to make a good impression for some other AD.
Then, on the flip side, say he does an outstanding job coaching the team to an impressive win in the Vegas Bowl.
Will that not give him a leg up in the recruiting process,
especially if all the players get behind him?
December 10th, 2007 at 10:03 am
Buycker,
Yep, good point. I don’t think we’ll hear anything about a hiring until after the 22nd. You know, sometimes you just have to make a decision that is right. Even if, as in this case, some of the returning players are ticked off or some of the guys committed to coming to UCLA next year have second thoughts if Walker isn’t hired.
I cannot, for the life of me, understand why so many people think Walker should be hired as head coach. Every single thing I’ve read and heard points to the fact that he will be overwhelmed as head coach. Somebody help me! What is the attraction?
December 10th, 2007 at 10:23 am
I think the main attraction is the statistic that only 5 black head coaches remain in Division 1, as mentioned by Jay Mohr in one of his recent articles.
Then there were those few defensive gems the Bruins managed to pull off, in spite of the coaching.
Lastly, there’s the recruiting issue.
I think that about covers it.
December 10th, 2007 at 10:36 am
buycker,
What you described is exactly how Bobby Williams got the Michigan State job after Saban bolted for LSU. Williams led the team to a bowl victory and the players rallied around him and he was hired.
I played for Coach Williams (he was an assistant) back in my college days, and the guy is a recruiting monster but unfortunately he wasn’t ready for the head coach position at MSU and he eventually lost control of the team.
December 10th, 2007 at 10:42 am
Yeah, you’re probably right. And, I admire Bruce Davis and some of the other Bruin defensive players for standing behind Walker. But, hey, Walker is the coach they’ve been working with all year. It is understandable that a bond has developed. I think Bruce and other people concerned about the lack of black coaches at Division I schools have to realize most of us don’t give a toot what color the coach is. Are we expected to keep a losing coach just because he is black? Ty Willingham didn’t get it done fast enough for Notre Dame (though, arguably they could have given him a little more time) and they fired him. Caldwell got Wake Forest to some bowl games but then the progress stopped. He was fired. Sylvester Croom is working hard to turn the Mississippi St. program around but who knows how long he will last? Turner Gill is a coach with a bullet by his name just waiting for a shot at the bigtime, but Nebraska’s Tom Osborne, Gill’s coach in college, passed on him in favor of a coach with more experience. The guy I mentioned last night, Kevin Sumlin, an assistant at Oklahoma is waiting for a shot. DeWayne Walker has less experience than all these guys and he wants to jump into the UCLA job before proving he can win as the head guy. I just can’t see it.
I was thinking about some of the good defensive efforts put up this year. We had a senior-laden defense with 10 starters returning. We SHOULD have been great. Oregon State didn’t have as many returning starters as us and they were #1 in the nation vs the run. We had some dynamite athletes in the secondary with Horton and Vernor, etc. and still got shredded by teams with less skilled players. Hard to figure, and as should happen, the coach should be the guy to have to answer for the lapses.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
I’m happy they gave Ty another year at Washington. Doggone it, he should be able to recruit some decent area players.
The problem is and remains, it’s all about the money on every level. The top black athletes end up going to the high profile schools that will provide a path to the NFL.
Do you think their parents are encouraging them to play for a black coach whose teams at best are mediocre because they can’t compete in the recruiting wars? That said, I guess Karl wasn’t doing too badly by landing the #5 class for 2008.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
Bruin Nation is saying there’s somewhat credible rumor that Chow was offerened the job on Saturday with DW as DC. Even the rumor makes me want to puke.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
AGBruin - Now you know why I call myself what I do. LOL
December 10th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
If the rumor at bruinsnation is true, I, too, will use my Saturdays during football season to check out the top teams in the nation and try to ease myself away from Bruin football.
I will certainly wish them well, and I’ll probably be upset when they don’t do well, but how long can someone hang on to mediocrity?
If the rumors are true, I really do hope those Chow and Walker fans are right, in spite of what shapes up to be more “monkey humping a football” seasons in our future.
December 10th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
Regardless of what people think about our current blue uniforms or throwback powder blue, does anyone realize our true color is navy just like Cal? Red Sanders changed the color in the ’50s so they would “look better” on the field and on TV.