I know it is basketball season, but I sometimes take pause to look ahead to 2008. I am excited about the offense, as I think we have talent and depth at all of the skill positions. Lanis and Kia give us great anchors at the tackles, but I am curious to see how we rebuild the interior of the O-Line. Keane, Dean, Sheller, Bennett, young Tevaga - there is some potential there.
On defense, my concerns are defensive end and linebacker. I know we lose a lot in the secondary, but I really like the look of Verner, Viney, Lockett, Ware, and hopefully some help from the freshman class. The D-tackles should be very good with Harwell coming back and Price.
What do you all think about D-end and linebacker? Bosworth looked pretty good at D-end and Reg Carter has been a stud. I hope to see names like Umodu, Sloane, and Oatis at linebacker and names like Miller, Stokes, and Ayers at D-end.
I'll wait and see until February 6th. There are a few recruits that could play as freshmen. Today is the first day coaches can go on the road. CRN needs to secure those recruits that are "soft verbals". Unfortunately, most of those "soft verbal" are impact type players that can contribute immediately without having to redshirt. After February 6th then we'll know what kind of 2008 roster we'll have for Spring Practice.
Can you confirm about Shawn Oatis? I thought he had major injury (fracture vertebrae in neck) back in October that ended his football career?
We lost a backup QB and we gained a JUCO QB player of the year transfer, Kevin Craft. Kevin Craft should be a solid backup after Bethel-Thompson transferred to Sacramento State. He may even compete for starting QB. Bethel-Thompson was a walk-on player with us and now he'll be a scholarship player with a chance of playing time or as a starter at his new school. He wasn't recruited by any schools after his HS year and he knows that he won't get any chance for playing time with the current or future QB roster. I wish him the best at Sacramento State.
Farewell, MBT! Now that he is out of the program, can we officially blame him for the ND loss? J/K!
Anyway, Craft may just come in and blow the doors off of everyone??? You never know. If nothing else, he will be an option in '09 if Forcier or Crissman aren't quite ready for prime time.
Exciting times for the Bruins. I can't wait for Signing Day when we lock these guys in. I think that we have some surprises around the corner before 2-6!
CRN and his staff are really cooking with recruiting and keeping those verbals stay committed. Aundre Dean is back to our verbal list of committed recruits. He's just been named in Parade All-America team along with Milton Knox. Other Bruins' recruit on the list is Jeff Locke (PK).
Do any of you actually see the 2008 UCLA team doing better than the 2007 version? They're going to start the year with a loss at home to a WAC team. When a high profile team starts the year with a loss like that, they rarely recover. You're going to be able to count UCLA's wins this year on one hand. I'm just hoping that beating UCLA will help our RPI as the season winds down.
Come on, Dennis. If you are going to come with the UCLA is going to lose to Fresno St. smack, at least back it up with something other than the because I said so argument. The answer is yes, I do see next year's team being better. There is a new energy resulting from the coaching staff, and there should be more depth. Remember, this year's team (a bowl team, mind you) had walk-ons logging valuable minutes at quarterback and wide receiver. Next year's team will have more talent on the field, and that talent will be well-coached. To me, that betokens success.
Fresno State? LOL ... there is a reason why the team is not part of the PAC-10. Fresno State should be honored to play at the Rose Bowl. Enjoy it... you might never play there again.
UCLA and Tennessee has been moved to Labor Day
For our part this is great move. National TV audience on a long weekend against an SEC team on ESPN. We can't ask for anything better than that. This is a great exposure for future recruiting. Coach Neuheisel has said that he wanted to recruit at national level just like the Bruins in the past. This Labor Day game will be that first chance. I can't comment anything else as we are only on the 2nd week of Spring practice but things looking good on some of the positions that replacing the outgoing Senior.
I'm looking forward to this game. I've been down here in Georgia (only 3 hours away from Knoxville), and all I ever hear about is that damn SEC. I am tired of them, and can't wait for UCLA to perform in front of a national audience.
I think Chow will do some really good things, and we will see some stuff that most just aren't used to seeing UCLA do. I can't wait - I plan to be at the Rosebowl!!! I'm telling you, these fans down here live and breath college sports, especially football. And they all hate UCLA.
I can't wait to get back to Cali (where I belong), this summer!!!
I've been down here in Georgia (only 3 hours away from Knoxville), and all I ever hear about is that damn SEC.
I supposed when you live in SEC country , you'd feel weary if you're from West Coast. As far as Tennessee fans are concerned, they're actually not bad compare to others. I've been to both Tennessee and Alabama road games during Toledo era and their fans were actually down right respectful. Ohio State on the hands were practically the same level as those SCUM across town.
I've had season tickets since 75 and over the years made many road trips. The fans in Eugene are the worst in the Pac Ten. Of course it migh have something to do with our chants of "Long live the spotted Owl". Trips to Corvallis and Palo Alto have always been enjoyable. I traved to Columbus way back in 1980 and saw the the Bruins beat Ohio st. 17-0. Things weren't too bad during the game but the Buckeye fans were some of the worst losers I've ever encountered. Had some problems leaving Ohio Stadium that day. In 82 I traveled to Ann Arbor and witnessed one of UCLA's best games under Terry Donahue a 31-27 win over Bo and whe Wolverines. The Michigan fans seemed indifferent to the Bruins fans and saved their anger for their coach. It's funny to hear them talk about Saint Bo today. My first trip to the SEC was a trip to Athens Georgia in 83. The Bruins had some QB named Neuheisel that day. Georgia fans were obnoxious but not confrontational. They enjoyed calling us " Yankee Boys" and "Surfer Boys" The one thing I learned form the 8-19 loss was that there are football rules and there are SEC football rules. In 85 I went down to Knoxville and meet some of the friendliest football fans in America. A whole lot of drinken going on. 26-26 final score. In 87 I made the trip to Linclon and again came across some of the best fans in the Country. Bruins lost that day 33-42. I can't say much about the fans in Austin. Went there in 97 and they had all gone home by half time. Bruins won that day 66-3. Not sure if I'm headed to Berkeley or Provo this season. Wanted to go to the game in Seattle but I don't feel Like sitting in the rain in November.
