Alford out at UCLA

[nets on nets on nets]

I read on Twitter that UCLA doesn’t do chartered planes for away games???? You kidding me, this is supposed to be big time sports.

 

[nets on nets on nets]

Remember when Shaka Smart was the rage of young up and becoming coaches. He's sort of struggled at Texas although he done the unc cheating u in. Could UCLA go after him. OFC

I’m fine with Shaka staying at Texas and beating UNC every year like he’s been doing.

 

[Kingbluedevil]

I don't want any of Duke's former guys to take the UCLA job. Frankly, it has become a place where coaching careers go to die. UCLA'a AD and fans have unrealistic expectations, and are delusional about their attractiveness as a program.
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Frankly, I doubt any college program can succeed in one of the major metropolitan areas of the nation. Miami is probably the most successful program in a major city in the US over the last 1-2 decades.
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LA is a great town to live in, if you are rich and famous. And I mean movie/tv famous, not athlete famous. For many college hoops players, LA is a town full of cool places that the athlete cannot afford to go to, and beautiful people who have no interest in the athletes.
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At Duke, or UK, or KU, or MSU, college athletes are the kings of the town. They don't wait in line, and rarely pick up the check. They are just tall dudes in NYC, LA, etc.
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Further, given the nature and importance of TV coverage, going east is a smart play for college athletes.
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But UCLA fans don't understand why they can't play in the FF ever other year. And they aren't happy unless they are a dominant program, which I'm not sure is achievable at this moment in time.

I stayed in the area for two weeks thirty years ago and it was expensive then. There is a lot to do with the beaches close by.

 

[PatrickYates]

Remember when Shaka Smart was the rage of young up and becoming coaches. He's sort of struggled at Texas although he done the unc cheating u in. Could UCLA go after him. OFC

Smart was hurt by rule changes (or rather when they started to actually enforce extant rules) on defense that severely limited his teams' ability to play physical defense. Couple that with some early entries, and he hasn't had the success he expected.
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It turns out that what k does by retooling with new players every year is really hard.

 

[PatrickYates]

I stayed in the area for two weeks thirty years ago and it was expensive then. There is a lot to do with the beaches close by.

IDK how much beach access matters to college athletes who spend a ton of time working on their games in the gym. For 3-4 year guys, sure. But the elite kids who probably won't be in college for more than 2 seasons? And, again, all the cool stuff in LA costs big money, which they don't have.

 

[Devilinside]

I think Jay's too smart for that. He's the best in his field right now so why all the headaches. OFC

What field? Biased commentary? Condescension?

 

[skysdad]

Are any of you guys interested in the UCLA job?

 

[QC Dukie]

OT, but flipping through channels and stopped to check score on unx vs Harvard. It’s a one point game with about 8 to go in first half. They just showed a shot of the stands.....looks half full and that crowd is rowdy I tell ya.........

 

[Arlene]

How about Bill Walton so we do't have to hear him anymore?

I’d love to hear his recruiting pitch to any kid when he starts rambling about the Grateful Dead & acid trips, astronomy, and trying to link it all to the offense & defense that he will run. I’d pay money to see a mom’s reaction to his pitch.

 

[Willcampbell]

Did y'all see who Bill Walton wants to take the UCLA job? Barack Obama! Can't make this **** up.
OFC

 

[jnastasi]

UCLA is still and will always be a great program with great traditions but it’s definitely not the job it used to be. The UC system with their lack of funding/apathy towards sports, along with their weak student body and crappy AD really hurt the program. The only real appeal is the tradition and the fact it’s in Westwood. I still think Earl Watson is the best choice for them. I know the name hasn’t been thrown out there but maybe Greg Marshall at Wichita State?