Editor’s Note: Let us make something clear. We are NOT chasing this story. It keeps coming to us. First with Svoboda’s mother-in-law’s comment here, then Svoboda’s emails, then an email from a well-known sports blogger alerting us to a coach who would verify the story (and he did). We are not seeking to discredit Dorrell. It is what it is.
Right. We were ready to drop this story once we got confirmation from Marc Dellins, UCLA football SID, and from Jim Svoboda himself that he was NOT fired by text message. But 2 things have happened since we broke this story.
- We personally spoke to a second, well-placed source (an NCAA football coach that knows Svoboda well), that confirmed that Svoboda was fired by text message.
- Jim Svoboda himself did not deny that his mother-in-law sent us that email, although in 2 emails he had the opportunity when asked. As Woodward and Berstein would say, “He did not deny.”
Furthermore, the second source (who again is an NCAA football coach who knows Jim Svoboda well) added something more interesting. Svoboda, according to this source, approached Dorrell 3 times and asked him point blank if he wanted to go in a different direction. In all 3 cases, Dorrell said “no” that everything was “going to be alright.” When told that Svoboda denied in writing that he was fired by text message this source replied, “Of course he would. That is the business we’re in. He can’t say that publicly.” He continued, “It was wrong of Dorrell to do that. You just don’t do that.” It also happens to be against California employment law, which states that if you terminate an employee it must be done in person.
Now, one crazy email from a supposed mother-in-law against the denials of UCLA and Svoboda himself put this issue to bed. But an NCAA coach confirming it makes it more likely that it went down this way. We know that there will be nothing made of this in the press. But you can know that we are getting to the bottom of this. If this is how he is conducting himself representing UCLA and UCLA football it is disgraceful. Moreover, if he is lying about it, given the total lack of transparency regarding the Scott hiring, we are now, for the first time ever, beginning to question his integrity. The one thing we liked about him is now seriously in doubt. Shameful.
UPDATE 2: Jim Svoboda has now confirmed via email that he was NOT fired via text as his mother-in-law stated. Thanks to Menalaus at BruinsNation for the confirmation. Svoboda did not answer why his mother-in-law emailed us with a different story.
UPDATE: One of our editors just got off the phone with Marc Dellins, UCLA Sports Information Director. We asked Marc if what Jim Svoboda’s mother-in-law said was true. He denied the story and said Svoboda was informed of his dismissal in an face to face meeting with Dorrell. We have not heard back from Svoboda’s mother-in-law. We also asked about Eric Scott, if he was ever asked about his past record. Marc said he could not tell us do to privacy laws. Marc also said Eric Scott did not fill out any application as no coaches do at UCLA. He also could not tell us what the results of the background check by the UCLA PD were due to privacy laws. A big thanks to Marc for answering our questions.
Jim Svoboda is our son-in-law and we are proud of him. Seems like he should have been given a chance but - chances are not what Dump Dorrell hands out.Jim is hard working dedicated and reliable and gives 100% of himself even when he is not appreciated. Too bad he wasted his time at UCLA because he certainly will make a come back - and he hasnt fallen - he was pushed! Too bad for Dorrell because it seems that he is a racist - Jim is not black - and evidently that is a no no where Dorrell is concerned. Thank goodness he is somewhere where he is valued - eventually I guess Dorrell has done him a favor - although he did not intend to. Jim deserved more than a TEXT MESSAGE TO let him know he was out. We have more guts than that in Texas - we can look a man in the eye. Fairness is not something Dorrell is long on - this coming season I hope the team does well - at least they dont have to worry about job security. Good luck UCLA you are going to need it. Elizabeth
This comment was left this morning on our site by someone posting as Elizabeth Merworth on our Dec. 8 post last year that discussed the expected firing of Jim Svoboda. We did not edit this comment, except to add bold highlights. The one point about this comment that we would like to comment on is the way “Elizabeth Merworth” says Svoboda was told he was fired … by text message. We obviously have to question the comments of someone who claims Dorrell is racist which we will take as absurd, but the firing by text message seems to us to be a simple case of being either factually correct or not.
If this is the way read more
We sometimes follow the great Dorrell hires after he unceremoniously dumps them. Today’s scapegoat discovery comes to you courtesy of the Montana State University Bobcats of Bozeman, Montana. The div 1AA football team has hired former OC, and former glorified Dorrell hire and more recent Dorrell chump, Jim Svoboda as their … QB coach. Yes, how the mighty have fallen. We somehow don’t think we will see a PR from Morgan Center on this one.
Speaking of Morgan Center and Dorrell scapegoats, we have word that former TE and ST coach John Wristen has been seen hanging outside the AD’s office of Div 2 Colorado State - Pueblo “waiting for the chance” to be hired as the head coach of their recently re-installed football program (non-existent for 20+ years). Wristen has apparently been camping out in a sleeping bag 24/7 for the last week or so to “show his commitment” to the program and to make it clear that he wants the job. Oddly, the AD’s office is right next to Pueblo’s only cinema and locals think Wristen is forming a line for the upcoming Transformers movie and some students have joined him in line. At least he has some company. Big thanks to Morgan Center and Karl Dorrell for tipping us off to that evolving story. We will keep you posted … waiting for pictures.
There are times when you just have to sit back and marvel at the madness. Today is one of those times. We predicted in early January that Dorrell would scapegoat 4 coaches for the abysmal performance of the team last year, and we named them all: OC Jim Svoboda, OL coach Jim Colletto, WR coach DJ McCarthy and TE/ST coach John Wristen. You might think that we have someone deep in the program because before today, 3 of the 4 we said would be gone have left the program … fired, took a “step up to the NFL,” or took off to “better opportunities.” We all knew what the real story was, despite the tripe Morgan Center was pushing. They were gone before the season ended, scapegoats for Dorrell’s anemic offense and horrible coaching.
The hammer came down today on the 4th and final scapegoat: TE and Special teams coach John Wristen has resigned. And get this … just when you think you heard it all … Morgan Center wants you to believe that Wristen left “to pursue” a head coaching job at his alma mater. Wha?? What the heck does that mean?? “Pursue??” It doesn’t say he left to “take” the head coaching job, which of course would be a step up. No, it’s now Summer and Wristen is “pursuing” a head coaching job. Do they seriously think we are supposed to believe that is the story here?? Too funny, if it weren’t about OUR football program.
Just weeks before the season gets under way, a season on which so much is riding, Dorrell loses yet another coach. Even for the most loyal Dorrell fan, the timing has to be considered very odd and bad for the team. Who is going to be available now to coach the important special teams lineup? With all that went wrong with Special Teams and our OL last year, and with yet another offensive coordinator with new plays coming on board in the Spring, and with a stumbling offense coming out of Spring practices, how can Dorrell make this right?? Who is going to be able to step into an underperforming, fluid situation like Dorrell’s football program and bring stability, focus, and execution??
Dorrell, now in his 5th year, has shown again and again that he is incapable of getting this right (DC Walker’s record is far from blemish free). Dorrell now has to rely on the maturity, poise, talent, and intelligence of his heavily experienced and mostly senior starting team. For most decent coaches, there would be no problem. For Dorrell, his players may be his only hope. Think back to 2005 and all those miracle wins. When Dorrell let our guys loose and dumped his game-plan only AFTER he was about to lose, our immensely talented seniors took over and won … barely. They snatched for Dorrell his only winning season from another .500 season. This is what Dorrell will have to rely on this year because its obvious at this late date that his coaching is not “turning the corner.” What Wristen leaving tells us is that Dorrell has not fixed the problems with his program. Something is rotten in Westwood.
Spring football has been grinding along apparently … with the usual suspects of weaknesses getting the attention of the press. Here is our Monday post:
- As we said would happen, Dorrell is pushing back the QB decision from “the end of Spring Practice,” as he originally stated, to now June. Why is it that we at DD can predict KD’s moves you ask?? Do you we have an insider in the program?? We’re not going to answer that, but it’s easy to predict his moves because this guy is that bad. It would not be at all surprising for Dorrell to push that decision back even more to Summer practices. Actually, it would make sense that he would, since both QBs are still learning the new plays, formations, etc., and these 4 weeks are simply not enough for either to be evaluated in the new system. But thats the problem … we shouldn’t be in this predicament and BO should be named starter. More reps ensures that at least one QB gets the offense. We see many mistakes happening offensively to start the season. Hopefully, we won’t stumble against an inexperienced BYU or more seasoned Utah.
- As many of you have been reporting to us, beat reporters are saying the offense is stalling in the red zone again and again (only 2 TDs in 10 trips on Saturday according to the Daily News, the OC Register and the LA Times). Training Jay Norvell’s new offense is doing no better than the offense of quickly scapegoated Jim Svoboda, his predecessor. Obviously, it will take time to learn his plays so we will give the guy some slack .. but seriously, this is about what we expect. If the offense chokes in the red zone like last year, Training Jay will get the blame .. but it will Dorrell that will have to finally fall on the sword.
- Dorrell’s use of cliche’s for non-speak continues. Here is Dorrell on focusing on red zone offense: “It was more just trying to get our team used to playing in this area,” Dorrell said. “Understanding the restrictions this area has offensively, and defensively how those restrictions are to your benefit. Know how you can utilize the field to cover space and make things very hard on the offense.” You think after all these years they would know how to ‘play in this area.’ Ridiculous. We can see it now … early offensive problems will lead to this quote: “The offense is getting used to playing in the red zone and are growing and learning the new plays and formations. We are making progress.” Change the effing channel KD.
- Great new RB recruit from Houston, Texas. Nice commitment from Aundre Dean … comes out for Spring Break … what do you expect is going to happen? That’s going to have an impression on a young man! Nestor at BruinsNation has all the news.
- And from the STFU department, Dorrell lets the cat out of the bag that faking injury is part of our strategy to slow down games at the end to win. Nice. Even if such clock management strategies at the end of games had to be employed this way, why announce it to league officials and opponents??! Way to go Karl. If this guy HAD any coaching skills he wouldn’t need to burn time-outs early and then resort to weak and cheap chicanery to win (HT to BruinEd03 on BruinsNation).
The media’s love affair with Dorrell continues. Sporting News college football analyst Matt Hayes is calling Dorrell’s hire of Training Jay Norvell as OC “the best move of the offseason.” Bigger than, oh, say perennial doormat North Carolina hiring Butch Davis? Or say Arizona State hiring Dennis Erickson? How about Louisvillie picking up Steve Kragthorpe? Miami picking up Cam Cameron for OC? Hard to believe that Training Jay, who has never called one single play himself, whom Nebraska head coach Bill Callahan didn’t trust as OC for 3 years to call a single play, is a better pickup than any of those.
Maybe we are being a little unfair here, maybe Matt Hayes really does know what a great play-caller Training Jay is. Let’s take a look what Hayes says: read more
Who’s the next assistant coach to get the ax from Karl Dorrell?? One scapegoat might not be enough for another 6-loss season for KD. It’s sad and an indictment on the program he runs that Karl has shown no loyalty to his assistants and he has shown he will not fight for them (making Svoboda disappear after only a few games). Worse, recruits can see he is willing to put their coaches under the bus and change them every year they are at UCLA. Doesn’t say much to recruits about continuity.
As we noted earlier, we anticipate that OL coach Jim Colletto might be the next scapegoat. The OL did improve late in the season (not enough in our opinion), but the OL looked awful early on, Southpaw Jesus got beat up and hurt, and even in later games the OL looked horrible at times with so many penalties and with inconsistency. We could be wrong, but we put him at the top of our list.
Second on that list would be read more
The official news today that offensive coordinator Jim Svoboda was fired by Karl Dorrell doesn’t surprise anyone. Dorrell basically fired Svoboda in October and is only now making Svoboda his excuse for another poor season. Dorrell has had itchy fingers since he got here, having fired and lost so many assistants every year Morgan Center has probably had to hire a turnover manager. If only KD (or Dan Guerrero) judged himself as he judges his assistants. As Dorrell seeks a 4th OC in 5 years, every OC prospect will probably ask themselves … what for?? To be Dorrell’s latest scapegoat??
Announcement Not Looking Good For Many Reasons
What about that announcement on AM 570 that Dorrell was going to take over OC duties himself?? Was it a read more
From the No One Saw This Coming Dept: Nestor at BruinsNation is reporting that AM 570 announced that Karl Dorrell has fired OC Jim Svoboda. Shocking news! Svoboda was fired basically back in October. Talk about giving a guy time. Svoboda had something like 5 games before everyone knew he was gone. It was pretty much official after the Cal loss - the only time we can remember the press being so giddy over a coach after a convincing loss - because Dorrell took over 25% of the playcalling from Svoboda. After that game Svoboda disappeared. We called off the search party long ago. Look for more firings or press releases that say something like “so and so coach has decided to pursue other opportunities/wants to spend more time with family in (some far off location where at least one relative lives).”
The second part of AM 570’s report is ridiculous and troubling: read more
It’s another January and it’s that time again for Dorrell to look for scapegoats. He usually fires assistants at this point in the year, usually in the next couple of weeks. It’s obvious where the firings are going to come from this year … the offensive side of the ball.
Jim Svoboda has basically given up his job already, having to read more
