The Mighty Bruins is a site dedicated to the greatest collegiate athletic program in the country: UCLA. 108 NCAA championships and counting. Cue that fight song: We are the Mighty Bruins The best team in the West! We're marching on to VIC-TO-RY To conquer all the rest. We are the Mighty Bruins, Triumphant ever more, And you can hear From far and near The Mighty Bruins roar!
Everybody has wondered when the traditional "UCLA stripe" will return. Coach Jim Mora shows us that it has to do with the construction of the Adidas techfit jersey that requires a seam at the shoulder. He says the company is working on finding a solution in the future.
Former 5-star recruit Rushel Shell is considering transferring to UCLA, and will visit Westwood this week according to an L.A. Times report. Shell - a 5-11, 215 lb. back - was ranked fourth at his position in the Class of 2012, and announced he was leaving Pittsburgh early in April.
Steve Alford, Dan Guerrero release statement regarding 2002 incident at Iowa
via UCLA
April 11, 2013
UCLA men's basketball head coach Steve Alford and Athletic Director Dan Guerrero today addressed concerns about comments that Alford made in 2002, while he served as coach of the University of Iowa men's basketball team.
Steve Alford:
Over the past week, questions have arisen about my handling of an incident involving a charge of sexual assault made against a student-athlete in 2002, while I was coach of the University of Iowa men's basketball team. At that time, I instinctively and mistakenly came to his defense before knowing all the facts. I wanted to believe he was innocent, and in response to a media question, I publicly proclaimed his innocence before the legal system had run its course. This was inappropriate, insensitive and hurtful, especially to the young female victim involved, and I apologize for that. I have learned and grown from that experience and now understand that such proclamations can contribute to an atmosphere in which similar crimes go unreported and victims are not taken seriously. It's important for me personally and professionally to make sure Chancellor Block, Athletic Director Dan Guerrero, all of my student-athletes and the entire UCLA community, including our fans, understand that today I would handle the situation much differently, with the appropriate regard and respect for the investigative process and those impacted by it. I look forward to being a Bruin and leading a program that everyone will take pride in, both on and off the court.
Dan Guerrero:
I appreciate and respect Steve Alford's statement on this issue. Everyone has regrets in their past, but acknowledging them and learning from them shows true character. I was aware of this situation when we hired Steve and concluded that although he made an error in judgment 11 years ago, he had learned and grown from that experience. Our evaluation was based on his entire career, both on and off the court, and that is what led us to make our decision that he was the right coach for UCLA. Steve came to us with a tremendous reputation and record in New Mexico, and I am excited to see how he can build on and grow our men's basketball program at UCLA. I expect all of our coaches to serve as an example to our student-athletes and the entire Bruin family, displaying true character and strong values. Working with Steve over the last two weeks I am confident that he will demonstrate the leadership we expect of all our coaches.
The moment Russell Westbrook steps off the bus in Denver for the Oklahoma City Thunder's game against the Nuggets, you get the feeling that something insane is going to happen tonight. He's wearing red leather motorcycle pants, a Superdry bomber jacket, black Doc Martens with the laces undone, and his trademark superfluous eyeglasses. A meager runway gallery awaits him—just a few security guards, OKC's team photographer, and me—but he still disembarks with purpose. Even in a league that's warped from "pinstriped spinnaker on draft night" to "pure line cut slim enough to make Beckham look like a slob," Russ is a radical: His style is a punk provocation, a sartorial troll, and most crucially a full-on style, not just a series of outré outfits that no other player has the guts to wear. He's swinging a leather Dopp kit with his right arm in a repetitive motion that could only be described as swag—young, black, and Oi!—and generally looking like he's striding out of Malcolm McLaren's London SEX shop in 1976. Every element of hiscostume is an extension of the identity he projects: part worldly NBA superstar, part suedehead hooligan.
Russell Westbrook might be as well known now as a fashionista as he is for his play on the court. GQ breaks down Westbrook and the new era of style that was swept through the NBA. Read the full story at GQ.com.
LOS ANGELES – UCLA Director of Athletics Dan Guerrero announced today the appointment of Steve Alford as the 13th Head Men’s Basketball Coach in program history.
With 22 years of collegiate head coaching experience, Alford led the University of New Mexico to a 29-6 record this season, winning back-to-back Mountain West Conference regular-season and tournament titles, and a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the third time as the Lobos’ head coach.
“Steve is the perfect fit for UCLA,” said Guerrero. “He is part of the storied history of the game of college basketball and understands the tradition and uniqueness of UCLA. Yet he also connects with a new generation of players and brings an up-tempo and team-oriented brand of basketball to Westwood. We welcome Steve, his wife Tanya, and children Kory, Bryce and Kayla to the Bruin family and look forward to many years of success.”
Alford will be formally introduced to the Los Angeles media at a press conference on Tuesday.
“I have been so fortunate and blessed in my life, and an opportunity to lead the one of the greatest programs in college basketball history is once-in-a-lifetime,” said Alford. “It is an honor to be the Head Coach at UCLA, yet it is also a responsibility to ensure that our former, current and future players and fans are proud to be Bruins. I am grateful to Chancellor Gene Block and Dan Guerrero for this amazing opportunity and I can’t wait to get started.”
Alford guided New Mexico to postseason appearances in all six seasons (2008-13) in Albuquerque, including three trips to the NCAA Tournament (2010, 2012, 2013). His teams at New Mexico won at least 22 games in each of his six seasons, highlighted by a school-record 30-5 mark in 2009-10. Alford was named Mountain West Coach of the Year in three of the past five seasons and helped produce three Mountain West Player of the Year selections.
Prior to his six seasons at New Mexico, Alford’s head coaching career included successful tenures at Iowa (2000-07), Missouri State (1996-99) and Manchester College (1992-95). Alford helped Iowa engineer a 25-9 record in 2006, leading the Hawkeyes to their second Big Ten Tournament title in six seasons. In his final season at Missouri State (then known as Southwest Missouri State), Alford led the Bears to a Sweet Sixteen appearance in the 1999 NCAA Tournament as the East Region’s No. 13 seed.
A four-year standout at Indiana University (1984-87), Alford served as team captain on the Hoosiers’ 1987 NCAA Championship team under head coach Bob Knight during his senior season. After his freshman campaign, he helped Team USA win the gold medal at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Alford was selected No. 26 overall in the 1987 NBA Draft and enjoyed a four-year NBA career prior to his start as a collegiate head coach in 1992.
If you didn't know a new biopic of perhaps the greatest Bruin and most influential baseball player of all-time, Jackie Robinson, is coming out on April 12. I'm excited about it to say the least. Click the link to find some amazing new stills from the movie, and check out the trailer below.
Should you bet the Bruins to win the BCS this year?
Bruce Feldman of CBS names UCLA as one of the "juiciest" odds to win the BCS title in 2013, and it's easy to understand why. The schedule is manageable outside of the back-to-back with Stanford and Oregon. The team is returning plenty of talent, and played far better in Year 1 of the Mora era than anybody expected.
9. UCLA (50-1): The dismal finish to 2012 notwithstanding, the young Bruins have a lot of reasons for optimism in Year Two under Jim Mora. His offense is led by a dynamic dual-threat QB (Brett Hundley) and the nucleus of a gifted young O-line returns. They do have to replace a good RB in Johnathan Franklin, but the coaches have told me they're really excited about speedy Paul Perkins, saying he's “the real deal.”
Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks are as good a duo on defense as anyone will have. The team also will play eight games in the state of California. They do have to visit Nebraska, but they'll have two weeks to get ready for the Huskers. The reason why the Bruins are not higher on this list is back-to-back road games at Stanford and Oregon, the most physical and then the fastest team in the league.
Stanford at 18-1 also makes the list. See the full article here.
Mora on physical improvements, and lessons learned from Baylor
"We like the excitement we generated last year, but nobody is satisfied with the way the season ended. Nobody is satisfied with only nine wins. There's a real sense of urgency here. I think you'll feel it when you see us out there practicing.
Physically [the players have] transformed their bodies...They've done an amazing job of really digging in and accepting what [strength coach Sal Alosi] has asked of them them do it, and it's made an impact on them. They're bigger, they're faster, they're stronger, they're more flexible. We're a leaner football team, and we have to be that. We have to be more physical. When we played Baylor, quite frankly, they were a more physical football team than us that night. I think that's stuck in everybody's craw around here. All of our players, certainly all of our coaches. It was a bad night, but it was a great lesson."
- Safety Tevin McDonald, a two-year starter, was dismissed from the team after a violation of team rules. He was suspended in December for the bowl game for what was reported to be a drug violation.
- RB Malcolm Jones has returned to the team as a walk-on. "He's a good kid," Mora said. "He's a good football player. Sometimes you get derailed when you're young. I don't think any of us wanted to hold the fact that he left the team against him. We all wanted to give him that second chance because of the type of kid he is."
- WRs Ricky Marvray and Jerry Rice Jr. have graduated, and will try to play football elsewhere. Linebacker Todd Golper decided to graduate as well, and move on from football.
- Simon Goines moved to LT with Torian White flipping to RT. Alberto Cid will start spring at RG.
- Randall Goforth and Dietrich Riley will begin the spring as the starters at safeties.
- DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa will miss all of spring recovering from hip surgery. He will be ready for summer camp.
- DB Marcus Rios had a serious sinus infection, lost "a considerable amount of weight" according to Mora. He will sit out the spring in order to regain his health.
- OL Colby Cyburt (back), OL Will Oliver (shoulder), and RB Damien Thigpen (ACL) are still recovering from injuries and will be out for the spring. OL Lacy Westbrook has still not recovered enough from a brain aneurysm suffered last year.
- Jordon James will start out as the number one running back with Paul Perkins in the mix. Steven Manfro will be limited as he continues to recover from a shoulder injury.
- Taylor Mazzone will coach the quarterbacks with Eric Yarber and Noel Mazzone taking over duties with the Y (inside) receivers.
UCLA Football Spring Practice Schedule
Practice #1 - Tuesday, April 2 (7:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.)
Practice #2 - Thursday, April 4 (7:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.)
Practice #3 - Saturday, April 6 (10:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.)
Practice #4 - Monday, April 8 (6:00 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.)
Practice #5 - Wednesday, April 10 (7:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.)
Practice #6 - Thursday, April 11 (7:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.)
Practice #7 - Saturday, April 13 (10:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.)
Practice #8 - Monday, April 15 (6:00 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.)
Practice #9 - Wednesday, April 17 (7:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.)
Practice #10 - Thursday, April 18 (7:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.)
Practice #11 - Saturday, April 20 (10:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.)
Practice #12 - Monday, April 22 (6:00 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.)
Practice #13 - Wednesday, April 24 (7:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.)
Practice #14 - Thursday, April 25 (7:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.)
Practice #15 - Saturday, April 27 (5:00 p.m. SPRING GAME @ ROSE BOWL)
Whenever somebody asks why an elite coach or player would go to UCLA, I respond with the above. Westwood is a special place.
The head coaching position is not a good job, or even a great one. It is an elite one. The best of the best, the kind of job EVERY coach worth his salt aspires to. There are only 5-7 of these places in the country, and UCLA is on that level.
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