Los Angeles, CA – Why is it so hard to find the next Terry Donahue for the UCLA Football team? Who wouldn’t want to coach at a school who holds the most National Championships across all sports – “Champions Are Made Here.”
Over the last 20 years since Donahue left, there have been four different coaches who could not come close to his run in the 80’s of 8 bowl games in row and winning 3 Rose Bowls.
The underlying issue for any coach to come in and be successful is bigger than football.
The north campus Admissions office, Murphy Hall, plays a huge role in any team that takes the field. Every kid you recruit doesn’t have to be a Phi Beta Kappa – but wait they almost do at UCLA.
Make no excuse about it UCLA’s standards are high and football is only allowed a small number exemptions to offer exceptional athletes who may be average students.
Until the two sides can agree, UCLA will not be able to open up their nets to recruit more big names. Who wouldn’t want to play in the Rose Bowl, on real grass, for 6 home games a year?
Athletes win games, when coaches prepare them for success – Keyword “Athletes”
When’s last time UCLA scored a bunch of Five Star lineman, for that matter Four Star?
Where’s the Hometown Heros? They are scattered across the PAC-12 , most who UCLA couldn’t recruit due to grades or were too arrogant to go after.
Why does Utah have the Texas & California State 100mm champion defensive back starting for them as a freshman? Wait who’s father and uncle played for UCLA and we can land that recruit…
So let’s fast forward to UCLA Football coaching search 2017, who has a committee of AD Dan Guerrero, Josh Rebholz, Troy Aikman and booster Casey Wasserman.
We know the front runner is Chip Kelly, that is why Jim Mora was relieved of his duties before the season was over. Kelly will bring a buzz to campus for some and others will say here comes the smoke and mirrors.
So if it’s Scott Frost of UCF, Dan Muller of Illinois State, Kevin Sumlin of Texas A&M, or any other coach who gets call from the committee… will all have to fight with Murphy Hall.
In years past, every coach has had some type of direct link with UCLA, this maybe the first hire in forever who will not.
Most will not have clarity on this matter till the football coaching spot is filled and the product on the field is still good but not GREAT.
Gary Beban UCLA only Heisman trophy winner played here many decades ago….. Let’s Go UCLA, be great again.
