Spurning the advances of former Bruin Rick Neuheisel, UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero has narrowed his list of candidates for the football head coaching job to three.
According to both local papers, the next football coach in Westwood will be Boise State's Chris Petersen, Texas Tech's Mike Leach or the NFL Network's Steve Mariucci. Petersen is said to be the favorite, but the notoriously stingy University may opt for Mariucci, as he has no contract that needs to be bought out.
There's only one little problem: Guerrero has yet to dump current head coach Karl Dorrell. In fact, Dorrell is quoted in the University's official press release regarding the Las Vegas Bowl, saying, "UCLA is extremely happy to be playing in the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl." I guess he has a point, because the way this season went, Dorrell should be happy to be in a bowl at all!
Given his 5-1 record against Dorrell, it should come as little surprise that USC coach Pete Carroll is coming across as Karl's greatest fan, imploring fans and the University to, "Give him a friggin' break."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-03-2007 @ 1:49PM
Jim said...
The team was devastated by injuries, especially at the QB position. I am not sure what there record would have been without those injuries , but you have to believe they would have won perhaps two of the games they lost. They have a great recruiting class coming in which might break up if Dorrell is let go. Perhaps UCLA should give him another year.
Reply
12-03-2007 @ 3:25PM
MBulmer said...
UCLA,
Please leave Coach Petersen alone. He is doing fine where he is at and we all know what happened to the last coach from Boise State that went to a Pac 10 school. (Dirk Koetter) It is hard to recruit against Pac 10 bully USC who is in your own back yard. Chris, if you don't win and beat USC in the next three years, I guarantee that UCLA will fire you too. Refuse to sign unless you get a 10 year contract!!!
Reply
12-21-2007 @ 9:34PM
MEL HORST said...
I SINCERELY HOPE THIS NOTE REACHES MR. GUERERRO.
IT IS MY OPINION THAT MR DORRELL SHOULD NOT HAV E BEEN HIRED IN THE FIRST PLACE. HE MAY WELL BE A NICE GUY, BUT HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO WIN FOOTBALL GAMES. LOOK WHAT THE ACQUISITION OF BEN HOWLAND HAS DONE FOR UCLA ATHLETICS. HIS TEAMS WIN!!!!!,
BECAUSE MR HOWLAND IS A WINNER AND SO ARE THE PLAYERS. GO AHEAD AND HIRE RICK NEUHIESEL. LOOK WHAT HIS RECORD HAS BEEN. AT UCLA HE WAS NOT EVEN THE STARTING Q.B. HIS ONLY CLAIM TO FAME
CAME WHEN WEARING THE BLUE & GOLD, WHEN THE STARTING QB GOT INJURED IN A ROSE BOWL GAME. NEUHEISEL STEPPED IN AND THREW A HAIL MARY, WHICH WAS CAUGHT FOR A T.D. BID DEAL!!!
IT IS MY OPINION THAT THE PURPOSE OF ANY ATHLETIC ENDEAVOR IS TO "WIN"!!!!!!!
JUDGING NFROM HIS PERFORMANCE AT WASHINGTON WE WOULD BE JUMPING FROM THE FRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE! TAKE SOME MORE TIME AND FIND A WINNER. THERE ARE MANY Q,B"S IN THE WAC AND MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERNCES. IF BOISE STATE CAN DO IT, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO ALSO!
THANK YOU, MEL HORST
Reply