Nice that the Bruins ended this awful season with 1 more "perfect day". Seems U$C football is experiencing a higher number of decommits/defections and greater discontent (with Clay Helton 2.0) as well.
Reflecting back before the start of the season when the schedule was announced, the consensus win record by posters here was three wins. Inexperienced head coach and a lack of talent--thank you Chip the loser--along with the defection of the DC and the best of our secondary players was painfully evident. After the string of five losses post the Hawaii game, that consensus had dropped to 2 wins and some, like myself, predicted one win. The final tally is five wins. Many of the wins were ugly with poor coaching and ridiculous penalties but the team did not quit and surpassed everyone's win predictions with the 5 wins.
Very well stated. The big focus this off-season is obviously recruiting and the (hated) NIL funding. Plus, we have some truly great options for QB and I can't wait to see who rises to the top. I believe we also need a new OC, as EB is not cutting it. As I have shared many times, Coach Fos must then allow this great OC to call the plays and truly lead the offense. But sadly, EB will likely still be on the sideline as OC, but one can hope that Fos fires him.
We could have easily won the Minnesota and suc games and been bowling. Those two losses were inexcusable. Penalties, poor QB and O-line play plus poor play calling equated to disaster in those two games. The blame for lack of discipline must be shared across the coaching staff and the players themselves. Next year, DRE must be ever present, especially because Coach Fos will have his recruits. If it's not, then there is huge reason to be concerned.
For now, I am focusing on our WBB team as they are outstanding in every way. I am way more excited to watch this team than the MBB team. I just wish Josh and Tracy called the women's games as I don't care for the play by play announcer.
Top priority should be given to recruiting some good offensive linemen which has been a problem for UCLA, even before Kelly. The game starts and ends with good line play.
The WBB team is awesome--looking forward to beating U$C and winning the national championship!!
Here's my hope... Foster has a lot of relationships with past players and alums really love him as a person. All he needs is a few who are willing to make an investment to start the ball rolling.
However, the funding may be dependent on making some changes like a new OC. I don't know how NIL donors can influence coaching changes or any other changes but I would imagine those conversations will happen.
The OC was not the problem. This roster has almost no talent whatsoever. The fact that there was discussion about whether Martin should take the job over from Garbers is really the end of that inquiry. Even bad past UCLA teams were peppered with draft picks. Outside of maybe Sturdivant, who on this roster is getting drafted? That's not on the OC....at all.
NIL is a big part of the problem, but that is not going to be fixed so long as Foster is the coach and Jarmond is the AD. Virtually nobody agrees that he is qualified to carry this team forward, and NIL donors are just not going to throw money at a program under those circumstances. Would you contribute $100? Why? So we can make a bid to keep Harden from transferring and maybe win 4-5 games next year? Why?
This program is a massive dumpster fire thanks to our AD. The new president needs to cut bait fast and hire an AD who is actually qualified for the job and competent to address NIL. Then get an actual coach who will motivate players to come and NIL donors to donate. Until then, I'd recommend anyone considering donating to our NIL to save that money until there's a possibility the money might actually make a difference.
Well, they just lost Justyn Martin and TJ Harden as both are entering the Transfer portal, so as I do agree both OL and DL are priorities, now they will need a QB and RB. This program is going nowhere. Best to just end it.
Players on most teams, especially those who are dissatisfied for whatever reason or fear not starting in the next season, enter the portal every year. There will be better QB's than Martin in the Portal such as Moss from USC who has been rumored to be looking at UCLA. That may be the reason Martin entered.
Only a mean intentioned person, not a true fan of UCLA, would say "best to just end it" and I doubt the loss of your support will be missed by the UCLA faithful.
Being someone who is simply being a realist isn't "mean intentioned" or "not a true fan", how ridiculous. So yes, just keep pouring more money, time & effort in and getting even worse results than before, makes sense to me. This program isn't advancing, its regressing and has been for the past ten plus years. UCLA's administration and Athletic director have been telling everyone and anyone who is willing to listen that they'd care less about the football program, but it seems some just don't want to confront the reality or the truth. After another few years and yet another coach and another "Now things will change" mantra and another $10-$20 million wasted, the cycle will simply repeat. If you don't want to end the program, then simply move it down to another level, it doesn't belong with the "big boys" of College football, move them to the FCS. There, they will definitely be more successful and competitive. Get them out of FBS where they have now proven year after year, they don't belong. UCLA finished 12th out of 18 teams in the Big10 this year and some are saying that was a successful season! Huh? Really. Seriously. Their recruiting and portal standings are just as bad as when the Chipster was there, so no advancement there. So, you go ahead and tell us all how great they will be in 2 years or 5 years from now. Always up for more humor.
I think you are right. It's been obvious for awhile that UCLA's 2025 QB is not currently on the roster and that we will be going after the best available on the transfer portal. The chances that the best available will not be an improvement over Martin are pretty slim, at least when you consider that he has almost no game experience and would be indisputably a wild card next season. I would expect us to get a low ceiling high floor guy who started a few years at a mid major, or perhaps a former 4 star type guy who started at a power 5, performed ok, but lost his job (i.e. Moss).
Harden obviously just wanted out of the dumpster fire. The guy has NFL aspirations and cannot be playing out his senior year on a squad with no o-line to speak of.
Harden was not very productive and we have many other QBs in the room who are very good. We gave Chipster a multi year multi gazillion $$$ contract and his first few seasons were a disaster and his recruiting was non existent. Coach Fos was left with a bare cupboard and on a terrible timeline for recruiting.
I think Fos did pretty well considering all of the circumstances. There is a lot to resolve to be truly successful but UCLA Football should never ever end - that doesn't sound like you BB. I hope you really didn't mean it.
Losing Harden and Justin is not that big of deal. They are not the greatest players by any means, Give Fos a chance to right the ship. I know he is not giving up and despite the frustrating season, the team did not give up.
Harden was very productive in 2023, and Foster was hired in part to keep him from transferring last time. I'd say the fact that he is deciding to transfer after one year of Foster and Bieniemy says more about their ability to get the most out of their players than anything. Same with Martin, who got to see a full season of the Bieniemy offense up-close and is deciding to transfer rather than slide into the starting role.
I think this is a crucial offseason for Foster's long-term prospects. If he puts together a worse roster than the one we got this year (which is more and more possible by the day) then that won't bode well for next year, especially if they lose Malloe like I'm expecting will happen. NIL is non-competitive at the moment, and that's not something that Foster is going to be able to fix thanks to a useless athletic director and a poor season. He's likely on his way out alongside Jarmond after a year, which makes the hiring of Demetrice Martin understandable; get your friends paid while you can.
Jarmond Jelly 2.0 unfortunately got an extension until 2029 so I am not sure anything will change in the AD dept.
I do think EB should be fired. And I also agree that next season will reveal a lot and is very important in terms of seeing great recruiting, DRE, coaching - pretty much everything. We need to see improvement on all fronts.
I cannot blame any incoming senior running back with NFL aspirations for not wanting to play at a program that does not have at least an average o-line. It could be the difference of several million dollars for him.
No, tired of the losing, Tired of, well things will improve next year and the next year and on and on. This program wasn't even a decent Pac-12 program, then you move them to the Big-10 where they will be relegated to the bottom 7 or 8 teams. That's not where I want to see my school performing year after year. DeShaun Foster is not head coaching material, perhaps someday he will be, but not now and not for a Big-10 team. Just listen to Jarmond Jelly 2.0 and the rest of the UCLA higher ups... THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR SPORTS PROGRAM AND NEVER REALLY HAVE, so why should anyone else.
I have little to no respect for Jelly 2.0. I have a lot of doubts that Frenk will give support to Football either - to me he is a relic who will bury himself in the UCLA healthcare bureaucracy where he will schmooze with the establishment for their deep pockets and relate to their shallow souls. I digress.
So you are correct in stating that our Football program has little to no support and we have been awful for a long time. However, I do believe that over time Foster can be a very good coach... but I also understand that he is up against a losing culture and he is simply inexperienced. I would like to see him shake things up and garner a great recruiting class, replace EB, and make good on his promise for DRE.
Foster will have another season to show what he can do. I think it's fair to say we must see significant improvement in all areas.
UCLA sitting with the #50 recruiting class in the country near the end of NSD.
We gotta break this notion that Foster is a good recruiter because the results have not been there, and given how poor the NIL fundraising for football has been (where Foster has a role in selling the program) it seems from the outside that this continues to be doomed.
Has our "big ten money" kicked in yet? Weren't we supposed to get 60 mil per year from the big 10 less $10 mil per year to Cal for 3 years? Why can't we throw 15 mil a year at top 10 coach?
How true. I wonder if myself and my family can declare ourselves as a "government entity" so we can also run up huge deficits, never having to repay! LOL
UCLA doesn't have a highly competitive team led by a proven coaching staff yet, so that NIL money seems vital to attracting more talented recruits and transfers. And it's all thanks to AD Martin Guerrero and his predecessor, and also their former HC Chip Alford, that the UCLA football program faces such a long road to recovery to get beyond the perennially-mediocre teams that are painful to watch and root for. The 5 (mostly ugly) wins (actually, it should have been 6 or 7) that Coach DSF achieved in his Year-1 effort were more than I had predicted, but a victory over U$C and attaining bowl eligibility (and helping to knock U$C from a bowl invitation) would have given much more meaning to this season.
I think my fellow alumnus DSF also needs to exhibit stronger leadership and instill more focus and discipline in his players and staff. I thought DC Malloe did an admirable job with the defense and hope he stays, but OC Bieniemy failed miserably with his playcalling/lack of adjustments and utilization/development of his players over the course of the entire season, and I hope he gets replaced (I didn't like the hire to begin with). Seems a lot of turnover is occurring this offseason with seniors graduating and others transferring or going pro. Next season's motto may once again to be "plan for the worst and hope for the best".
Go Bruins & Happy Holidays!
P.S. -- I'm unable to comment on the posting for the mens' BB game vs, Washington, but was wondering whether Coach Cronin might be sticking with certain (underperforming) players because of the NIL money they're receiving and justify that by not cutting down on their minutes or benching them (i.e., not admitting a mistake was made)...
Yes, but unfortunately, Lamaleava and his friend flipped to Arkansas when EB was rumored fired according to Lamaleava's father 's comments. That means it was a no win situation. Sad that Coach Foster could not convince these players to stay as it was known that they were drawn by EB..
Although unfortunate. UCLA & Foster did the right thing here. They got rid of a KNOWN at the expense of two UNKNOWNS. Yes, they didn't want to lose those two recruits, but as good as they may have been (50%), they could also have been busts (50%). EB was a 100% bust and he proved it throughout this season, hence they got rid of someone they actually should have gotten rid of. Yes, this is not the norm for UCLA football, normally they hang on to these anchors for far too long. I would sacrifice the two players to get a potentially better OC and perhaps a couple of really good Offensive lineman from the transfer portal. This is how Foster can build back to at least a decent team.
And, in the "new world" of college football - one goes, another arrives... not only are we hiring Tino Sunseri, Indiana's QB coach and co-offensive coordinator as OC but that hiring led to us flipping 4* QB Robert McDaniel from UofA to UCLA, beating out Florida who was reportedly also trying to flip him. Not a bad get on both counts...
Not to be a downer, but McDaniel will never play at UCLA in this era of transfers. He's a borderline 4 star (3 star by some services). Someone else will be entrenched as the starter and he'll be at a mid major looking to start by his junior year. Gone are the days when a 3/4 star just came in and sat for a few years, developed, and became the starter junior or senior year.
I suppose it'll depend on the quality of the retread QB we get out of the portal... which might be better now given how successful Sunseri has been with Roarke at IU - makes him attractive to play for, which is why McDaniel flipped, right... Still, if we end up with a DJU or Graham Mertz scenario, the Freshman might start earlier than one might think...
💯And I am refreshingly surprised that EB is gone. You are right about UCLA Football hanging onto anchors... how many years to Chipster Alfraud hang on to his BFF on defense. This move says to me that Coach Fos has the courage to do what's best for the team. And you know I have said it a zilloon times... Coach Fos must hire a great OC and then let that great OC be in total charge of the O.
The sinking UCLA football program also needs to stop hiring these bad anchors in the first place. Seems Martin Guerrero hung onto the Chip Alford HC anchor for way too long, and now has apparently wasted $1.2M to let go of a Chip Bieniemy OC anchor. Anchors away!
Yesterday's ESPN.com article reporting on the Bieniemy firing mentions that "Bieniemy's buyout is worth more than $1.2 million" and that "his agent, Jason Fletcher, told ESPN in a statement that Bieniemy's exit was 'previously planned' and that 'the plan was always to return to the NFL in 2025'." Does "previously planned" mean that he had already been canned prior to the end of this season? The $1.2M buyout combined with the desire to return to the NFL next year sounds like he wasn't truly devoted to UCLA to begin with (does "Chip Bieniemy" sound appropriate?). Anyway, good riddance and don't bother coming back to UCLA for a 3rd time!
His agent is trying to cover for EB's ambition in the NFL. His statement implies that he thinks we are stupid. EB had a two year contract. There was no 'this was planned all along' BS. You are 💯correct. EB was indeed Chipster 2.0. Good riddance is right! It was one of those 'looks good on paper' hires but this flimsy paper went up in dumpster fire flames. Ditto for Castillo.
Coach Fos is learning, which may not be optimal short term, but a Coach who is willing to take decisive action in this manner shows me he has integrity and the courage to do the right thing for his players and school.
Agree with the decisiveness being displayed in the announcing of both the firing of Chip Bieniemy and hiring of Indiana's OC Sunseri to replace him, Wonder if it was the loss to U$C that triggered this change. Hope donors like this!
I was thinking the same regarding donors. The EB and Castillo fire, and the Tino hire may just be the spark needed to inspire donors to open their pocket books. Then recruiting can start to turn around. Foster is willing to fire at will if things are not right and we have been missing that kind of strong character for a long long time! 💙💛
Amazing day in college football, Syracuse upset, ucla w and UNLV is up early. Sucks Ohio state lost but Chip deserves it.
In the final sentence, I think you misspelled "hilarious"!
Don’t forget ND beating USC
Thanks for reminding me, makes today even better!
🫡
Nice that the Bruins ended this awful season with 1 more "perfect day". Seems U$C football is experiencing a higher number of decommits/defections and greater discontent (with Clay Helton 2.0) as well.
I'm looking forward to spring ball, the new QB competition, and Foster returning as head coach. 8 clap ❤️
why?
Another difficult season to suffer through, but then... Dorrell, Neuheisel, Mora, Kelly. Ugh. Thank-you Wolverines!
Reflecting back before the start of the season when the schedule was announced, the consensus win record by posters here was three wins. Inexperienced head coach and a lack of talent--thank you Chip the loser--along with the defection of the DC and the best of our secondary players was painfully evident. After the string of five losses post the Hawaii game, that consensus had dropped to 2 wins and some, like myself, predicted one win. The final tally is five wins. Many of the wins were ugly with poor coaching and ridiculous penalties but the team did not quit and surpassed everyone's win predictions with the 5 wins.
Very well stated. The big focus this off-season is obviously recruiting and the (hated) NIL funding. Plus, we have some truly great options for QB and I can't wait to see who rises to the top. I believe we also need a new OC, as EB is not cutting it. As I have shared many times, Coach Fos must then allow this great OC to call the plays and truly lead the offense. But sadly, EB will likely still be on the sideline as OC, but one can hope that Fos fires him.
We could have easily won the Minnesota and suc games and been bowling. Those two losses were inexcusable. Penalties, poor QB and O-line play plus poor play calling equated to disaster in those two games. The blame for lack of discipline must be shared across the coaching staff and the players themselves. Next year, DRE must be ever present, especially because Coach Fos will have his recruits. If it's not, then there is huge reason to be concerned.
For now, I am focusing on our WBB team as they are outstanding in every way. I am way more excited to watch this team than the MBB team. I just wish Josh and Tracy called the women's games as I don't care for the play by play announcer.
Go Bruins! 💙💛
Top priority should be given to recruiting some good offensive linemen which has been a problem for UCLA, even before Kelly. The game starts and ends with good line play.
The WBB team is awesome--looking forward to beating U$C and winning the national championship!!
💯 agree! 💙💛
must focus on transfer portal. I don't think donors are going to tolerate a rebuild.
They need to cough up dough if they want a rebuild then
Here's my hope... Foster has a lot of relationships with past players and alums really love him as a person. All he needs is a few who are willing to make an investment to start the ball rolling.
However, the funding may be dependent on making some changes like a new OC. I don't know how NIL donors can influence coaching changes or any other changes but I would imagine those conversations will happen.
The OC was not the problem. This roster has almost no talent whatsoever. The fact that there was discussion about whether Martin should take the job over from Garbers is really the end of that inquiry. Even bad past UCLA teams were peppered with draft picks. Outside of maybe Sturdivant, who on this roster is getting drafted? That's not on the OC....at all.
NIL is a big part of the problem, but that is not going to be fixed so long as Foster is the coach and Jarmond is the AD. Virtually nobody agrees that he is qualified to carry this team forward, and NIL donors are just not going to throw money at a program under those circumstances. Would you contribute $100? Why? So we can make a bid to keep Harden from transferring and maybe win 4-5 games next year? Why?
This program is a massive dumpster fire thanks to our AD. The new president needs to cut bait fast and hire an AD who is actually qualified for the job and competent to address NIL. Then get an actual coach who will motivate players to come and NIL donors to donate. Until then, I'd recommend anyone considering donating to our NIL to save that money until there's a possibility the money might actually make a difference.
Well, they just lost Justyn Martin and TJ Harden as both are entering the Transfer portal, so as I do agree both OL and DL are priorities, now they will need a QB and RB. This program is going nowhere. Best to just end it.
Players on most teams, especially those who are dissatisfied for whatever reason or fear not starting in the next season, enter the portal every year. There will be better QB's than Martin in the Portal such as Moss from USC who has been rumored to be looking at UCLA. That may be the reason Martin entered.
Only a mean intentioned person, not a true fan of UCLA, would say "best to just end it" and I doubt the loss of your support will be missed by the UCLA faithful.
Being someone who is simply being a realist isn't "mean intentioned" or "not a true fan", how ridiculous. So yes, just keep pouring more money, time & effort in and getting even worse results than before, makes sense to me. This program isn't advancing, its regressing and has been for the past ten plus years. UCLA's administration and Athletic director have been telling everyone and anyone who is willing to listen that they'd care less about the football program, but it seems some just don't want to confront the reality or the truth. After another few years and yet another coach and another "Now things will change" mantra and another $10-$20 million wasted, the cycle will simply repeat. If you don't want to end the program, then simply move it down to another level, it doesn't belong with the "big boys" of College football, move them to the FCS. There, they will definitely be more successful and competitive. Get them out of FBS where they have now proven year after year, they don't belong. UCLA finished 12th out of 18 teams in the Big10 this year and some are saying that was a successful season! Huh? Really. Seriously. Their recruiting and portal standings are just as bad as when the Chipster was there, so no advancement there. So, you go ahead and tell us all how great they will be in 2 years or 5 years from now. Always up for more humor.
I think you are right. It's been obvious for awhile that UCLA's 2025 QB is not currently on the roster and that we will be going after the best available on the transfer portal. The chances that the best available will not be an improvement over Martin are pretty slim, at least when you consider that he has almost no game experience and would be indisputably a wild card next season. I would expect us to get a low ceiling high floor guy who started a few years at a mid major, or perhaps a former 4 star type guy who started at a power 5, performed ok, but lost his job (i.e. Moss).
Harden obviously just wanted out of the dumpster fire. The guy has NFL aspirations and cannot be playing out his senior year on a squad with no o-line to speak of.
Harden was not very productive and we have many other QBs in the room who are very good. We gave Chipster a multi year multi gazillion $$$ contract and his first few seasons were a disaster and his recruiting was non existent. Coach Fos was left with a bare cupboard and on a terrible timeline for recruiting.
I think Fos did pretty well considering all of the circumstances. There is a lot to resolve to be truly successful but UCLA Football should never ever end - that doesn't sound like you BB. I hope you really didn't mean it.
Losing Harden and Justin is not that big of deal. They are not the greatest players by any means, Give Fos a chance to right the ship. I know he is not giving up and despite the frustrating season, the team did not give up.
One season should not define any Coach.
Harden was very productive in 2023, and Foster was hired in part to keep him from transferring last time. I'd say the fact that he is deciding to transfer after one year of Foster and Bieniemy says more about their ability to get the most out of their players than anything. Same with Martin, who got to see a full season of the Bieniemy offense up-close and is deciding to transfer rather than slide into the starting role.
I think this is a crucial offseason for Foster's long-term prospects. If he puts together a worse roster than the one we got this year (which is more and more possible by the day) then that won't bode well for next year, especially if they lose Malloe like I'm expecting will happen. NIL is non-competitive at the moment, and that's not something that Foster is going to be able to fix thanks to a useless athletic director and a poor season. He's likely on his way out alongside Jarmond after a year, which makes the hiring of Demetrice Martin understandable; get your friends paid while you can.
Jarmond Jelly 2.0 unfortunately got an extension until 2029 so I am not sure anything will change in the AD dept.
I do think EB should be fired. And I also agree that next season will reveal a lot and is very important in terms of seeing great recruiting, DRE, coaching - pretty much everything. We need to see improvement on all fronts.
I cannot blame any incoming senior running back with NFL aspirations for not wanting to play at a program that does not have at least an average o-line. It could be the difference of several million dollars for him.
No, tired of the losing, Tired of, well things will improve next year and the next year and on and on. This program wasn't even a decent Pac-12 program, then you move them to the Big-10 where they will be relegated to the bottom 7 or 8 teams. That's not where I want to see my school performing year after year. DeShaun Foster is not head coaching material, perhaps someday he will be, but not now and not for a Big-10 team. Just listen to Jarmond Jelly 2.0 and the rest of the UCLA higher ups... THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR SPORTS PROGRAM AND NEVER REALLY HAVE, so why should anyone else.
I have little to no respect for Jelly 2.0. I have a lot of doubts that Frenk will give support to Football either - to me he is a relic who will bury himself in the UCLA healthcare bureaucracy where he will schmooze with the establishment for their deep pockets and relate to their shallow souls. I digress.
So you are correct in stating that our Football program has little to no support and we have been awful for a long time. However, I do believe that over time Foster can be a very good coach... but I also understand that he is up against a losing culture and he is simply inexperienced. I would like to see him shake things up and garner a great recruiting class, replace EB, and make good on his promise for DRE.
Foster will have another season to show what he can do. I think it's fair to say we must see significant improvement in all areas.
All excellent points!
UCLA sitting with the #50 recruiting class in the country near the end of NSD.
We gotta break this notion that Foster is a good recruiter because the results have not been there, and given how poor the NIL fundraising for football has been (where Foster has a role in selling the program) it seems from the outside that this continues to be doomed.
Has our "big ten money" kicked in yet? Weren't we supposed to get 60 mil per year from the big 10 less $10 mil per year to Cal for 3 years? Why can't we throw 15 mil a year at top 10 coach?
The AD needs to pay off all their debt accumulated by him and Donut Dan.
but we are a government entity. we don't need to pay down debt ever lol.
How true. I wonder if myself and my family can declare ourselves as a "government entity" so we can also run up huge deficits, never having to repay! LOL
UCLA doesn't have a highly competitive team led by a proven coaching staff yet, so that NIL money seems vital to attracting more talented recruits and transfers. And it's all thanks to AD Martin Guerrero and his predecessor, and also their former HC Chip Alford, that the UCLA football program faces such a long road to recovery to get beyond the perennially-mediocre teams that are painful to watch and root for. The 5 (mostly ugly) wins (actually, it should have been 6 or 7) that Coach DSF achieved in his Year-1 effort were more than I had predicted, but a victory over U$C and attaining bowl eligibility (and helping to knock U$C from a bowl invitation) would have given much more meaning to this season.
I think my fellow alumnus DSF also needs to exhibit stronger leadership and instill more focus and discipline in his players and staff. I thought DC Malloe did an admirable job with the defense and hope he stays, but OC Bieniemy failed miserably with his playcalling/lack of adjustments and utilization/development of his players over the course of the entire season, and I hope he gets replaced (I didn't like the hire to begin with). Seems a lot of turnover is occurring this offseason with seniors graduating and others transferring or going pro. Next season's motto may once again to be "plan for the worst and hope for the best".
Go Bruins & Happy Holidays!
P.S. -- I'm unable to comment on the posting for the mens' BB game vs, Washington, but was wondering whether Coach Cronin might be sticking with certain (underperforming) players because of the NIL money they're receiving and justify that by not cutting down on their minutes or benching them (i.e., not admitting a mistake was made)...
EB is gone! Fired! Thank you Coach Foster.
Yes, but unfortunately, Lamaleava and his friend flipped to Arkansas when EB was rumored fired according to Lamaleava's father 's comments. That means it was a no win situation. Sad that Coach Foster could not convince these players to stay as it was known that they were drawn by EB..
Although unfortunate. UCLA & Foster did the right thing here. They got rid of a KNOWN at the expense of two UNKNOWNS. Yes, they didn't want to lose those two recruits, but as good as they may have been (50%), they could also have been busts (50%). EB was a 100% bust and he proved it throughout this season, hence they got rid of someone they actually should have gotten rid of. Yes, this is not the norm for UCLA football, normally they hang on to these anchors for far too long. I would sacrifice the two players to get a potentially better OC and perhaps a couple of really good Offensive lineman from the transfer portal. This is how Foster can build back to at least a decent team.
And, in the "new world" of college football - one goes, another arrives... not only are we hiring Tino Sunseri, Indiana's QB coach and co-offensive coordinator as OC but that hiring led to us flipping 4* QB Robert McDaniel from UofA to UCLA, beating out Florida who was reportedly also trying to flip him. Not a bad get on both counts...
Outstanding. I have been out of the loop today as my mom was discharged from hospital and the day got away from me 💙💛
Not to be a downer, but McDaniel will never play at UCLA in this era of transfers. He's a borderline 4 star (3 star by some services). Someone else will be entrenched as the starter and he'll be at a mid major looking to start by his junior year. Gone are the days when a 3/4 star just came in and sat for a few years, developed, and became the starter junior or senior year.
I suppose it'll depend on the quality of the retread QB we get out of the portal... which might be better now given how successful Sunseri has been with Roarke at IU - makes him attractive to play for, which is why McDaniel flipped, right... Still, if we end up with a DJU or Graham Mertz scenario, the Freshman might start earlier than one might think...
wow, Sunseri is a hot name right now! Good on Coach Foster on nabbing him for UCLA. Hope he works out for us :-)
💯And I am refreshingly surprised that EB is gone. You are right about UCLA Football hanging onto anchors... how many years to Chipster Alfraud hang on to his BFF on defense. This move says to me that Coach Fos has the courage to do what's best for the team. And you know I have said it a zilloon times... Coach Fos must hire a great OC and then let that great OC be in total charge of the O.
The sinking UCLA football program also needs to stop hiring these bad anchors in the first place. Seems Martin Guerrero hung onto the Chip Alford HC anchor for way too long, and now has apparently wasted $1.2M to let go of a Chip Bieniemy OC anchor. Anchors away!
Hope springs eternal!!! You see, they wanted to win more than 2 games next year. LOL
They also need to retain DC Malloe to establish some continuity and hopefully assist Coach DSF in their recruiting efforts.
I agree. I like DC Malloe and with some key recruits I believe the D could be truly great. They were good this year but were inconsistent at times.
About time that a good offseason decision has been made--also got rid of the lousy OL coach as well. So long, Chief!
And we need a few great OL recruits as well. OL absolutely killed us this year.
Yesterday's ESPN.com article reporting on the Bieniemy firing mentions that "Bieniemy's buyout is worth more than $1.2 million" and that "his agent, Jason Fletcher, told ESPN in a statement that Bieniemy's exit was 'previously planned' and that 'the plan was always to return to the NFL in 2025'." Does "previously planned" mean that he had already been canned prior to the end of this season? The $1.2M buyout combined with the desire to return to the NFL next year sounds like he wasn't truly devoted to UCLA to begin with (does "Chip Bieniemy" sound appropriate?). Anyway, good riddance and don't bother coming back to UCLA for a 3rd time!
His agent is trying to cover for EB's ambition in the NFL. His statement implies that he thinks we are stupid. EB had a two year contract. There was no 'this was planned all along' BS. You are 💯correct. EB was indeed Chipster 2.0. Good riddance is right! It was one of those 'looks good on paper' hires but this flimsy paper went up in dumpster fire flames. Ditto for Castillo.
Coach Fos is learning, which may not be optimal short term, but a Coach who is willing to take decisive action in this manner shows me he has integrity and the courage to do the right thing for his players and school.
Agree with the decisiveness being displayed in the announcing of both the firing of Chip Bieniemy and hiring of Indiana's OC Sunseri to replace him, Wonder if it was the loss to U$C that triggered this change. Hope donors like this!
I was thinking the same regarding donors. The EB and Castillo fire, and the Tino hire may just be the spark needed to inspire donors to open their pocket books. Then recruiting can start to turn around. Foster is willing to fire at will if things are not right and we have been missing that kind of strong character for a long long time! 💙💛