Through thick, thin, crappy, mediocre, and or legitimately Nationally considered, UCLA has always - ALWAYS - had better than average kicking. Inexcusable given this part of the world, where soccer and the kicking game is stressed down to the Junior High School level - What is WRONG with this institution??!!
It's not the institution, it's one person. And that one person never recruits. It amazes me that people expect "excellence" from someone who hasn't produced even "average" for over 8 years. The head coach of this team has done ZERO to improve the team and ZERO to improve himself.
I'm sorry to have to report, but sadly, Chip has had the talent come in. The failure has been in the play calling - The defensive coordinators have gone past Chip's offensive methodology
No question, the current UCLA roster maintains(ed) the talent to win the losses to Utah, AZ., and ASU. Charbonnet plays, they'd have won last year's Bowl Game - Agua bajo el puente.
But as an giant of aerospace once told me:
"You can have the greatest airplane in the world, which is exactly what we're going to have, but it doesn't mean a damm thing if we can't sell em."
In my observation, the demise leading to the current state of affairs within the UCLA athletics department(s) is indeed, systemic to the very top of the institution, and the downfall commenced with Charles Young's admin. UCLA's once storied, National Championship contending Men's Track & Field program hasn't won a National title in three-and-a-half decades.
1 parent-she and her husband, life-long South Bay/San Pedro residents-of 3 daughters I spoke with has, over the course of the last 4 to 5 years, experienced several recruiting discussions at the highest level of the UCLA's admissions & Softball Program. She articulated that-along with how things stand throughout California; taxes, fees, more taxes-the political atmosphere within the Softball Program at least, "is toxic". Dynamic now, and has been for years, contributing mightily to driving prospects to other State's.
This is a mother whose youngest is a current, National 5 Star prospect. Mom's middle daughter, on the roster of the just-won National Championship OK. Sooners. The eldest, graduated from OK. and was a starter on the Sooners softball National championship team in 2021, and a role player in their runner-up 2019 season, which the Lady Bruins of course, won.
Where recruiting is concerned, it seems pretty obvious, that the university has failed to grasp the fact that near 20,000 businesses have departed CA. since 2009. UCLA athletics either doesn't care or missed the bus in adjusting protocol, they have historically siphoned in local/state talent on all their teams. That pool is much, much smaller of course, so they'd best become more "resourceful" if they want to remain competitive.
I have it on pretty good authority that the Chipster (OG) doesn't do much of anything. He has his assistants do most of the work and even they don't do much. The press is lucky to get The Chipster (OG) into the interview room. He is worthless as a coach of any kind and should have been removed three years ago. Every school has certain issues with recruiting, retaining players and staff, etc. and that goes for ALL sports. Those are no excuses for just not doing the work. The Chipster (OG) has not done his job, it's as simple as that. Coach Cronin doesn't seem to have recruiting issues and Cal doesn't seem to have these issues either, it's a UC school, explain those examples.
Chip Kelly is labeled an offensive "innovator." What the hell has he "innovated on offense for UCLA? Calling for QB sneaks at the 4 yard line is innovative? Running the same dive plays over and over again on 4th and short only to see our RBs get stuffed time and time again by ASU was pathetic! He's no innovator. He's a clown!
Watching the game in the Bowl last Saturday was like being in a bad dream. No matter what happens the next two weeks (and so hard for me to minimize any victory against those cross-town brats), last Saturday had to be Chip's 50-0 surrender whites deciding moment.
Yeah...
We are used to it now.
Through thick, thin, crappy, mediocre, and or legitimately Nationally considered, UCLA has always - ALWAYS - had better than average kicking. Inexcusable given this part of the world, where soccer and the kicking game is stressed down to the Junior High School level - What is WRONG with this institution??!!
It's not the institution, it's one person. And that one person never recruits. It amazes me that people expect "excellence" from someone who hasn't produced even "average" for over 8 years. The head coach of this team has done ZERO to improve the team and ZERO to improve himself.
I'm sorry to have to report, but sadly, Chip has had the talent come in. The failure has been in the play calling - The defensive coordinators have gone past Chip's offensive methodology
No question, the current UCLA roster maintains(ed) the talent to win the losses to Utah, AZ., and ASU. Charbonnet plays, they'd have won last year's Bowl Game - Agua bajo el puente.
But as an giant of aerospace once told me:
"You can have the greatest airplane in the world, which is exactly what we're going to have, but it doesn't mean a damm thing if we can't sell em."
In my observation, the demise leading to the current state of affairs within the UCLA athletics department(s) is indeed, systemic to the very top of the institution, and the downfall commenced with Charles Young's admin. UCLA's once storied, National Championship contending Men's Track & Field program hasn't won a National title in three-and-a-half decades.
1 parent-she and her husband, life-long South Bay/San Pedro residents-of 3 daughters I spoke with has, over the course of the last 4 to 5 years, experienced several recruiting discussions at the highest level of the UCLA's admissions & Softball Program. She articulated that-along with how things stand throughout California; taxes, fees, more taxes-the political atmosphere within the Softball Program at least, "is toxic". Dynamic now, and has been for years, contributing mightily to driving prospects to other State's.
This is a mother whose youngest is a current, National 5 Star prospect. Mom's middle daughter, on the roster of the just-won National Championship OK. Sooners. The eldest, graduated from OK. and was a starter on the Sooners softball National championship team in 2021, and a role player in their runner-up 2019 season, which the Lady Bruins of course, won.
Where recruiting is concerned, it seems pretty obvious, that the university has failed to grasp the fact that near 20,000 businesses have departed CA. since 2009. UCLA athletics either doesn't care or missed the bus in adjusting protocol, they have historically siphoned in local/state talent on all their teams. That pool is much, much smaller of course, so they'd best become more "resourceful" if they want to remain competitive.
I have it on pretty good authority that the Chipster (OG) doesn't do much of anything. He has his assistants do most of the work and even they don't do much. The press is lucky to get The Chipster (OG) into the interview room. He is worthless as a coach of any kind and should have been removed three years ago. Every school has certain issues with recruiting, retaining players and staff, etc. and that goes for ALL sports. Those are no excuses for just not doing the work. The Chipster (OG) has not done his job, it's as simple as that. Coach Cronin doesn't seem to have recruiting issues and Cal doesn't seem to have these issues either, it's a UC school, explain those examples.
Chip Kelly is labeled an offensive "innovator." What the hell has he "innovated on offense for UCLA? Calling for QB sneaks at the 4 yard line is innovative? Running the same dive plays over and over again on 4th and short only to see our RBs get stuffed time and time again by ASU was pathetic! He's no innovator. He's a clown!
Watching the game in the Bowl last Saturday was like being in a bad dream. No matter what happens the next two weeks (and so hard for me to minimize any victory against those cross-town brats), last Saturday had to be Chip's 50-0 surrender whites deciding moment.