UCLA With An Inauspicious Start To B1G Life

bigmatt718

Heisman
Mar 11, 2013
15,033
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If Oregon made a bang with their first B1G impression with the huge inflatable duck in the river, then UCLA did the exact opposite of that with theirs. Oof that was brutal to watch. Made me think of Ben McAdoo with the "Um" quote in his presser after a blowout loss.

 

RUinPinehurst

All-American
Aug 27, 2011
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Terrible look for UCLA. But can we really judge a program based on this? Much TBD....
 

koleszar

Heisman
Jan 1, 2010
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He probably had three or four key points that he wanted to hit, but lost his train of thought on the way to the podium. Then he's like, f-it, ask some questions.
He was unprepared and just winging it, rather than lost his train of thought. He was searching for words to put together from the very start. You are allowed to bring note cards to these things, there's no written rule of no paper products at the podium.
 

koleszar

Heisman
Jan 1, 2010
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Terrible look for UCLA. But can we really judge a program based on this? Much TBD....
Attention to detail was missing from one of the biggest press events of preseason. If this happened during Bob's backyard podcast, fine, who cares. But at B1G media day, prepare a little, because everyone's watching. DeShaun apparently didn't get that memo with his $3mil. check.
 

RUPete

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Feb 5, 2003
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He was unprepared and just winging it, rather than lost his train of thought. He was searching for words to put together from the very start. You are allowed to bring note cards to these things, there's no written rule of no paper products at the podium.
I think he froze, just my opinion. But he probably should have had the bullet points written on something to bail him out when he did freeze. Most folks I work with use their talking points or prepared remarks as a security blanket to avoid that situation.
 

RUPete

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I don’t know. An opening statement is a given with these things isn’t it? He seems wildly unprepared.
Unfortunately, some folks think they are better at public speaking than they are. You don't want to sound too canned, but you should have something to fall back on up there to avoid embarrassing moments like this one.
 

koleszar

Heisman
Jan 1, 2010
35,170
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I think he froze, just my opinion. But he probably should have had the bullet points written on something to bail him out when he did freeze. Most folks I work with use their talking points or prepared remarks as a security blanket to avoid that situation.
Could you imagine if this was our coach? Half the board would be flipping out while the other half would be defending him with a bit of concern in the back of their minds.
 

Knight Shift

Heisman
May 19, 2011
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If anyone was wondering if Matt Rhule would blend in Lincoln Nebraska with the Cornhuskers, not to worry. He's doubling as the mascot.

 

RUinPinehurst

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Aug 27, 2011
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If only he were in an area that had a concentration of production expertise to lend their support. Or better yet if the school itself had such resources, you know a department specializing in media savvy and production know-how.
 

RUPete

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Feb 5, 2003
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Could you imagine if this was our coach? Half the board would be flipping out while the other half would be defending him with a bit of concern in the back of their minds.
Oh definitely. But I think that's one thing we don't have to worry about with GS.
 
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Frustrated World Cup GIF
 
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Scarlet1984

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Jan 28, 2004
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When Anthony Davis was in college, someone worked with his mother (I think that was the connection) and roped him into speaking at our Pop Warner banquet. This reminds me of that.

“I never played Pop Warner because of my size…um…stay in school”. Not really his fault. He was a freshman or sophomore. And clearly no one prepared him but it was brutal. Fortunately it was short.
 
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Brisket and Bourbon

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Let’s face it most CFB coaches are just a bunch of overpaid mouth breathers who an talk a good and fake it until they make it…or get canned
 

TDIrish27

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Aug 2, 2001
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Attention to detail was missing from one of the biggest press events of preseason. If this happened during Bob's backyard podcast, fine, who cares. But at B1G media day, prepare a little, because everyone's watching. DeShaun apparently didn't get that memo with his $3mil. check.

Let's hope he prepares his teams with the same quality that speech was prepared.
 

RUBOB72

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Aug 5, 2004
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When Anthony Davis was in college, someone worked with his mother (I think that was the connection) and roped him into speaking at our Pop Warner banquet. This reminds me of that.

“I never played Pop Warner because of my size…um…stay in school”. Not really his fault. He was a freshman or sophomore. And clearly no one prepared him but it was brutal. Fortunately it was short.
Big difference in the fact that AD was still 19 at the time . This coach and former stud player at all levels failed in public speaking. Isn’t UCLA a bastion for the arts, media etc.?
 
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RUBOB72

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Terrible look for UCLA. But can we really judge a program based on this? Much TBD....
Just like the world we live in it is an example of a failed hiring system. I realize he only makes 3 million per year but my under 2 grandson speaks better.
 

RUBOB72

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We probably shouldn’t call attention to this as it could have happened to any B1G head coach . At least the defenders will note this as a “ bad day.”
 

Brisket and Bourbon

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We probably shouldn’t call attention to this as it could have happened to any B1G head coach . At least the defenders will note this as a “ bad day.”
Or he did not practice or even thought about a word he’d say and face planted publicly. Someone in his position should frankly know better.

His AD: 🤮🤮🤮
 
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RUBOB72

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Do you honestly think he gave 2 shats until he realized , “ oh crap I’m on BTN…
 

Brisket and Bourbon

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Do you honestly think he gave 2 shats until he realized , “ oh crap I’m on BTN…
He was a featured speaker at the biggest non sport event the biggest conference in the country holds all year. Probably just your typical, not very bright mouthbreather🤭
 

GoodOl'Rutgers

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Sep 11, 2006
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Coach Foster is a product of UCLA as well as its coach.

.. [awkward pause] ..

I have nothing more to say. Any questions?

oh.. wait.. with teh time zone difference this was probably way past his usual bedtime...

what's that?

oh, yeah, right.. it would be EARLIER in LA.

well maybe the nightlife in Indianapolis was just not something to be missed.... but the most likely scenario might be he is spending time on Xs and Os and Jimmys and Joes and not on speechmaking practice.
 

Scarlet Jerry

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Jul 30, 2001
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I can’t imagine that he doesn’t have at least three talking points that he could have shared about his team, along with the obligatory thanking of people and talking about the excitement of the challenging season ahead. It’s not that hard to do.

The only explanation that I could think of is that he looked at the crowd and the cameras and became paralyzed by stage fright. I’m a confident public speaker, but I always have a few bullet points on a piece of paper in my pocket whenever I give a speech. I can speak extemporaneously, but I know if I ever got stuck, I can just reach in my pocket for some inspiration. That’s public speaking 101.
 
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Brisket and Bourbon

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…but the most likely scenario might be he is spending time on Xs and Os and Jimmys and Joes and not on speechmaking practice.
Yeah except it’s late July, the are no Xs and Os being “drawn” by any coach, and Jimmys and Joes aren’t, for the most part, on campus. Sounds like the excuses when Biden sounded like his normal incoherent mess during his disastrous “debate” and it was defended as “too prepared” or “jet lag” 🤭😆😎
 

GoodOl'Rutgers

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Yeah except it’s late July, the are no Xs and Os being “drawn” by any coach, and Jimmys and Joes aren’t, for the most part, on campus. Sounds like the excuses when Biden sounded like his normal incoherent mess during his disastrous “debate” and it was defended as “too prepared” or “jet lag” 🤭😆😎
He's had the head gig less than 6 months. You don't think he has a ton of work to do before preseason practice begins?

yeah.. he should have done some homework for this and he clearly did not. This is also his very first head coach gig.. which is rare at this level. If he survives the year.. lets see how he does next year.

And.. oh.. do you really think there is an offseason for Xs and Os and Jimmys and Joes?
 
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RUPete

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Yeah except it’s late July, the are no Xs and Os being “drawn” by any coach, and Jimmys and Joes aren’t, for the most part, on campus. Sounds like the excuses when Biden sounded like his normal incoherent mess during his disastrous “debate” and it was defended as “too prepared” or “jet lag” 🤭😆😎
C’mon man. You’re reaching too hard to make this a political thread. Love your little emojis though. Give it a rest. The guy messed up with public speaking- it happens. If he’s completely overwhelmed in his new job, then it benefits us. Oh that’s right, you’re not us. 😎