Fun dialouge.

So, you make some interesting partial :wink: points. But, yeah, I saw the numbers after I read the ESPN article. I stand by my point, Dorrell, was not making over a $1M. Rick is getting paid good money (not SEC coach money, and Pete money, but good money :hihi: ), but another point made in the news, is that UCLA was focused on getting an established coach WITH head coaching experience. That eliminated some "big names" including Chow and Walker. And, probably UCLA was not going to shell out the $$ for an unproven guy. So, I still believe money was at play here. You claim it wasn't a "desirable" job, but that's sort of relative. UCLA paying $1.25 is not going to get a Urban Meyer, Les Miles, Rich Rodriguez--that's not the tier they're playing in. If that makes them less of a football school, so be it. But, I don't think that makes it a non-desirable job, just a spot where UCLA has to take some risks.

Secondly, for the record I DID live in L.A. for several years. Been to both UCLA games and USC games. Sorry, my friend, but been on 'SC's campus and feel about 10 times less safe than UCLA's campus. Perhaps it's being afraid to walk from the Coliseum to parking that set me off. Or, the facts that friends of mine at 'SC told me about gunfire that they heard at night. I'm sure you're perfectly safe in your world, but please don't start posting about how UCLA is less safe than 'SC. Folks on this board may just believe you. And, I didn't call 'SC the ghetto.

Lastly, I guess I'll say I was a little taken aback at the Rick hire myself. But, when you really look at the guy as a coach, I wonder if you're more worried than you let on. The guy's 66-30 in two college programs which were pretty damn successful--and neither had the pull of UCLA. He's coached in the NFL and now coming back to the college game. Arguably, he sounds a little like Pete C himself and comparing UCLA and Rick to Ole Miss and Eddie O, is kind of a huge stretch. There are plenty of kids in Cali to go around, and I don't think recruiting's going to be a problem for the new Bruin coach. Rick's a name that folks recognize, a guy praised by the NFL and I would guess he can bring a little bit of fire to the ole Bruin football community. Yes, he's been caught in some questionable instances... but when you sue the NCAA and WIN I think there might some downplaying of that in the new Neuheisel era. Besides, don't infractions happen at 'SC every day... or at least they're being ignored or contested in court :wink: .

I'll be anxiously awaiting what Rick can do. The first person he's recruiting is Walker. I have a feeling he'll pick up a few other recruits before it's all said and done.

Dorrell's salary was low compared to prior Bruin coaches. You said 2-3M and Neuheisel is getting that. It is NOT a money issue. More often than not, the ucla coach is the highest paid employee of the state.

Going to a ucla game and being on their campus are two different things. On game day there are thousands of people on USC's campus and strange but in all the years I've been going to games, I've never heard gun fire. :huh: It's more urban myth than fact you're suggesting. My world was the same as any other student. Even during the riots, no USC students were hurt or threatened. What I did say is that ucla's campus is poorly set up to foster security and students there suffer from rape, burglary, and assault just like they do on any college campus. And you're right about the ghetto comment, I apologize.

I have no worries about Rick Neuheisel. Mediocrity is what ucla has always achieved. I'll be surprised if even he can turn that around. But who is Walker? If you're referring to DeWayne, he's already their DC.

Sorry, I'm sure all of the Tiger fans love hearing this debate, but I'll say again. Top tier coaches are paid more than Rick N will be paid. $1.25M, plus $500k in incentive bonuses, is not Pete C. money, nor is it close. Until UCLA starts to win again regularly, I still contend, much like you did that one of the reasons that UCLA is not a "football" school, is b/c it's not the money maker that it is at other football dominated schools. That leads to UCLA not paying top dollar for their coach (much like CJB at LSU, I guess :wink: ). And, no, the UCLA head coach has not been the highest paid
employee of the state. KD was paid less than Cal's coach. And, you're also comparing apples to oranges. USC is a private school so they don't have many of the same issues with the Cal coaches' pay issues.

I will also say, when I was comparing the campuses, I have been on both campuses, not just Pasadena and 'SC. So, comment still stands.

Lastly, when I say Walker, I am talking about their DC. Since he was in the running for the HC job, Rick has already publicly stated that he'd like to retain DeWayne. I don't know if he'd seriously leave, but I understand that he's had an essential hand in a pretty nice recruiting class for UCLA so far. Rick's going to want to retain him, and that's the recruiting job I was referring to.

'SCVball, I couldn't resist... Still think Slick Rick can't get it done?

Well, how do you feel about Norm Chow, Wayne Moses, Bob Palcic, and Mike Linn getting it done? :grin:

http://uclabruins.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/012108aab.html

http://uclabruins.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/012308aaa.html

http://uclabruins.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/012208aaa.html

http://uclabruins.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/010708aaa.html

I guess UCLA got its priorities straight, eh? :yelwink2: The winds of change are blowing to Westwood...

With Norm Chow, Dewayne Walker, and Wayne Moses I think he's trying to get it done the USC way. If Mark Carrier comes on board, that will make it 4 although he had no success in luring former ucla great Ken Norton back. If the real winds were blowing, he'd have gotten rid of Eric Scott.

Don't forget their Press Guide set the tone by saying their goal is to beat USC. :huh: Regardless, a better ucla suits the Pac and makes for a better game when we play.