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Sep 24, 2023
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WarPlanner's avatar

Tamara,

The wizards here can probably answer this better than I as they are long time vets from the old Bruins Nation blog but here goes...

(1) There was some speculation that he *inherited* the Oregon program from the two previous coaches, Rich Brooks and Mike Bellotti. I commend to you the Wiki entry for "Oregon Ducks Football" as the back story on these two folks reads like a Raymond Chandler novel. The two dragged the DUX up from the dumpster fire that they were -- but not without recruiting violations, "a pay-for-credit scandal, disclosure of an illegal travel fund, misuse of phone cards and criminal sexual abuse charges against Oregon football players". Brooks actually offered to resign but WAS REFUSED by the DUX prez.

(2) By the time The Chipster took over, there was a lot of slime on the DUX program but those two left the cupboard full for El Chippo. He stumbled a bit but managed to glue all the parts together for the phenomenal three seasons you saw.

(3) Chippie was then lured -- with the help of the NCAA hounding him for recruiting violations -- to the pros where he stunk up the barn with the Philadelphia Eagles and then the Flailing 49ers. Not enough Air Wick(tm) to dispel the aroma when he left those two places. As I recall, it was a pitchforks and torches mob that ran him out of The City of Brotherly Love.

(4) Then the siren call of the broadcaster's booth saw Kelly sit out coaching and do color for ESPN. It was then that Donut Dan and The Aiksterman globbed together a deal that landed him in Westwood where he apparently cultivated a catering biz* to go along with his part time FB coaching gig.

So there you have it! It's a sordid tale told with a ton of literary license but that's my story and I am sticking to it. As to your other questions, I dunno. I think UCLA is like one of those wives who refuse to leave an abusive husband. Again, Joe and The Greek Guy are the experts here and steeped in the contract lore. But I share your opinion as to our success in the "BO10". We're in for two years of being pasted from pillar to post. We're going to be the Washington State of that conference.

Ciao and kisses.

*The catering reference was the L.A.T.'s long ago article on Chip feeding the football team free range buffalo steaks, sauteed salmon eggs, mango frappes, and other exotic cuisine while he went 3-and-something in his first seasons. Also a wonderful read on a dark and stormy night.

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Sep 24, 2023
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WarPlanner's avatar

You're very sweet. Thank you.

I was a software developer who believed in making the documentation to my work "interesting to read" and the impishness rubbed off.

Also glad for the tip. Will have to go back and read up more on the background of the DUX football history on the 2000s. When I was a yute (not "Ute"), I grew up in the Bay Area and ended up going to a private boy's boarding school - Menlo - on the peninsula. As a shut-in, I was paroled on the weekend and would scrounge Stanford INDIAN FB tickets. (Am not a very PC/Woke person) and would spend my Fall Saturday afternoons down on the "Pharm".

One game I went to see was UCLA v. Da Injuns in 1961 and remember the great great powder blue uniforms and the single wing. It was from that point on I took a liking to UCLA.

Four years later, my scholastic grades were not that great and I was turned down by Stanford (thank God!) but wormed my way into the school by passing the SAT and a trifecta of achievement tests. I remember riding around Westwood on my Spring vacation listening to J. R. Wooden and Walt Hazzard and crew win their first title. I have been in love with UCLA -- good times and bad -- ever since.

Oops! I am rambling and here comes the nurse with my Zwieback and warm milk again! All the best to you!

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