UCLA week press conferences (Updated Wednesday 09/10, Vance Bedford)

[Aaron Carrara]

Quandre Diggs

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[Juan]

Maybe Charlie is sending mixed signals to his team? If so, that's not good.

Add this from MB

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[Marian Hinton]

The quote machine that is Diggs

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Well Diggs. I understand. After that game, I just wanted to go to Pluckers too, but I didn't get my five free wings coupon!!!

^_^

 

[Matt Cotcher]

Checking in from Bellmont....any questions from today's media availability?

 

[North Texas Golfer]

Quandre Diggs

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— Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011


— Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011


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The first and third comments are disturbing especially the third.

 

[Juan]

Checking in from Bellmont....any questions from today's media availability?

Is it hard to eat Pluckers and type at same time?

 

[PeteA422]

LOL

— Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011

Here's the way I see it, we need a leader who is willing to stand up and, if need be, go to the pit.  Sometimes as a leader you have to have the fortitude to make a statement, in this case ripping down the reminders of something that happened in the past, and say this is not who we are.  We are not the team we were, and if that means I have to go to the pit, so be it.  IMHO, I think that is what CFS is looking for.  He is looking for someone who is going to do the right thing, but also have the fortitude to come to the coaches and say, "I don't think this is going to help the team, I think we should do this."

From everything I've read about CFS, it is his team, but he is not going to punish someone for standing up for what they feel is best for the team.  Especially when they are doing whatever action for the benefit of the team and not themselves.  Just my opinion.

 

[Aaron Carrara]

Quick wire post with presser video & a few more tidbits here - http://www.hornsports.com/forums/blog/1/entry-33-charlie-strongs-monday-press-conference/

 

[Bevostuntdouble]

so far, this team has bought in to all the suspensions and discipline, but if he keeps throwing them under the bus, he's going to lose this locker room.

tough love is fine, but there's a limit to it, i think.

EXACTLY!!!

 

[Bevostuntdouble]

Add this from MB

— Twitter API (@twitterapi) https://twitter.com/mikefinger/status/509026033354285057" data-datetime="2011-11-07T20:21:07+00:00">November 7, 2011

IMHO... This tearing down pictures nonsense is absolute bs... Why would KIDS tear down something that the coaches put up as motivation?! Why?! I wouldn't... It's more impactful to see it every single day and have it burn in and fire you up! Tearing it down is the easy way out! So tired of hearing this nonsense... It's a stupid game and now you're just playing psychological games with kids.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Pete nailed it.

 

[Bevostuntdouble]

i really don't get this either. 'i knew we weren't ready to play' but i thought they fought hard in the first half. the beatdwon didn't commence until the 3rd quarter. weird comment if you ask me.

To me is sounds like some sideways copout... It's completely contradictory.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

IMHO... This tearing down pictures nonsense is absolute bs... Why would KIDS tear down something that the coaches put up as motivation?! Why?! I wouldn't... It's more impactful to see it every single day and have it burn in and fire you up! Tearing it down is the easy way out! So tired of hearing this nonsense... It's a stupid game and now you're just playing psychological games with kids.

Disagree. I would have been the one who tore it down. I would have wadded it up and thrown it at the trash can across the room. I would have stopped everyone and made them watch me do it, then tell them why.

Then let coach Strong call me in if he thinks he needs to. If I have to go to the Pit over that, fine.

If Charlie Strong is the one who put it up, then there's nothing "easy" about tearing it down. But sometimes, you have to sacrifice for the good of all and make a statement all can understand.

It's not a game. You're looking for that spark. That sense of ownership in this team. Where's it going to come from? I love Diggs, but I'm sick of him being the only voice in that crowd.

In Strong's career, I've never seen him pull a "cop out." If he says the team wasn't ready, then I'm thinking the team wasn't ready. The defense was certainly more ready than the offense, but to what degree necessary is something Charlie must determine. If he expects more than what he saw, I'm totally ok with that.

 

[Bevostuntdouble]

so far, this team has bought in to all the suspensions and discipline, but if he keeps throwing them under the bus, he's going to lose this locker room.

tough love is fine, but there's a limit to it, i think.

Couldn't agree more... You're not gonna unite the locker room for the long term if you keep saying wholly derogatory things about the team... IMO, keep them to yourself and voice them to the team... There is a time for public embarrassment as a tool, week 2 is not it.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Couldn't agree more... You're not gonna unite the locker room for the long term if you keep saying wholly derogatory things about the team... IMO, keep them to yourself and voice them to the team... There is a time for public embarrassment as a tool, week 2 is not it.

Going to disagree here, too. When Charlie is asked why the game went the way it did, I expect him to give an honest answer. If the players don't like it, let the players change it. But I don't want Charlie making stuff up on the fly. 

IMO, the monitoring of derogatory things said is something akin to what we just left behind. The days of worrying about feelings and self esteem are over. Let the kids create their own self esteem through hard work and success. If it ain't there, it ain't there. Don't sugarcoat it for their sake. Be honest for their sake.

 

[Bevostuntdouble]

Disagree. I would have been the one who tore it down. I would have wadded it up and thrown it at the trash can across the room. I would have stopped everyone and made them watch me do it, then tell them why.

Then let coach Strong call me in if he thinks he needs to. If I have to go to the Pit over that, fine.

If Charlie Strong is the one who put it up, then there's nothing "easy" about tearing it down. But sometimes, you have to sacrifice for the good of all and make a statement all can understand.

It's not a game. You're looking for that spark. That sense of ownership in this team. Where's it going to come from? I love Diggs, but I'm sick of him being the only voice in that crowd.

In Strong's career, I've never seen him pull a "cop out." If he says the team wasn't ready, then I'm thinking the team wasn't ready. The defense was certainly more ready than the offense, but to what degree necessary is something Charlie must determine. If he expects more than what he saw, I'm totally ok with that.

I get get your point... Though I still, personally, would be more impacted by having to see the images through the week rather than one symbolic act. But that's just me.

I am all about him expecting more... But as has been mentioned on this thread, the comment about not being ready... But the first half was a completely different game then the second half. So they were moreso ready for the first half than the second. BYU adjusted at half, we did not. At all.

I agree, I love Diggs but if he's the only outspoken leader then we're in trouble. There has to be more. I think the weakness of the online is going to continue to hurt the entire team.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

I get get your point... Though I still, personally, would be more impacted by having to see the images through the week rather than one symbolic act. But that's just me.

I am all about him expecting more... But as has been mentioned on this thread, the comment about not being ready... But the first half was a completely different game then the second half. So they were moreso ready for the first half than the second. BYU adjusted at half, we did not. At all.

I agree, I love Diggs but if he's the only outspoken leader then we're in trouble. There has to be more. I think the weakness of the online is going to continue to hurt the entire team.

Recalling the days when I was in a locker room, that one act would have led to other acts by other players. And that's the point. Something like that sets the tone for the whole week, the whole season sometimes. Letting that stay stuck on the wall is like a fungus on your feet. Just get rid of it because as far as you're concerned, you're not letting that fungus happen (sorry for the stinky analogy).

While you and I saw a first half that we were "satisfied" with, Charlie is the one who is captaining the ship. He's so good we sought him out - meanwhile you and I sat here idle but ready to answer the call if Patterson had dialed us up. So I'm willing to ignore my own opinion on this in favor of his since I sit here in Denton County and don't see what he sees every day. He knows where he wants this to go and how to get it there. I do not.

We had four straight turnovers to open the second half. That's not a BYU adjustment. That's incredible pressure put on your defense, who answered those situations in the first half. I understand that sooner or later, the defense breaks when put under that kind of pressure. 

You have to inspire someone to be a leader in many cases. Tearing that down, IMO, tells other leaders it's time to step up. And 9 times out of 10, they do.

I respect your opinion and you're right to have it. I do see what you're saying and everyone is different that way. But this is how I saw/see it.

 

[Bevostuntdouble]

Going to disagree here, too. When Charlie is asked why the game went the way it did, I expect him to give an honest answer. If the players don't like it, let the players change it. But I don't want Charlie making stuff up on the fly.

IMO, the monitoring of derogatory things said is something akin to what we just left behind. The days of worrying about feelings and self esteem are over. Let the kids create their own self esteem through hard work and success. If it ain't there, it ain't there. Don't sugarcoat it for their sake. Be honest for their sake.

Haha and I disagree with your disagreement... I believe in escalation of force and I think public embarrassment is further down in that progression. I would prefer CFS say nothing to the media and hammer the boys. I know we love getting info but it's tough to feel like a family when right after the family goes through something the parents are pointing fingers, and that's exactly what happened. I understand the mess they inherited. But they do also... They didn't show up yesterday and this isn't their first coaching jobs. At this point the players are well aware that the current coaching staff did not recruit them... I think there's a fine line there. IMO.

I'm a fairly insensitive person myself... But what I have learned over the years while leading is that sometimes you have what you have(as Wickiline said). Kicking around and being pissed off about it does absolutely no good if you have no other recourse... Culture build for years doesn't change in less than a year. Hell we've been in Afghanistan for 12 and haven't changed anything about their culture. Haha I love what Charlie is doing but I would prefer more of it stay in house. That's how you build trust and alliances. Not feeding the media and fans needs. IMHO.

 

[Bevostuntdouble]

Recalling the days when I was in a locker room, that one act would have led to other acts by other players. And that's the point. Something like that sets the tone for the whole week, the whole season sometimes. Letting that stay stuck on the wall is like a fungus on your feet. Just get rid of it because as far as you're concerned, you're not letting that fungus happen (sorry for the stinky analogy).

While you and I saw a first half that we were "satisfied" with, Charlie is the one who is captaining the ship. He's so good we sought him out - meanwhile you and I sat here idle but ready to answer the call if Patterson had dialed us up. So I'm willing to ignore my own opinion on this in favor of his since I sit here in Denton County and don't see what he sees every day. He knows where he wants this to go and how to get it there. I do not.

We had four straight turnovers to open the second half. That's not a BYU adjustment. That's incredible pressure put on your defense, who answered those situations in the first half. I understand that sooner or later, the defense breaks when put under that kind of pressure.

You have to inspire someone to be a leader in many cases. Tearing that down, IMO, tells other leaders it's time to step up. And 9 times out of 10, they do.

I respect your opinion and you're right to have it. I do see what you're saying and everyone is different that way. But this is how I saw/see it.

You are 100% correct. We don't have the view he has and he is in a much better position to do as he sees fit.

I would have gladly answered Paterson's call! Haha

I love the D and the potential there but they can not do it all. OLine OLine OLine... All starts and ends there. Gonna be a headache for us all year. But I'm happy with the big boys Wickiline is bringing in.

As I respect your opinion...

 

[Sirhornsalot]

I don't think you build trust off coddling your players. I think you literally sink this ship if that shit shows up. You lose the team right there. At that point, they're convinced you're just a black Mack Brown.

SSDD.

I agree, kicking around and just being pissed off helps nothing. And perhaps if you're inclined to do that, you'd be one of the dismissals.

Myself, I responded favorably to what Strong is doing. Had he called me out, I would have taken it personally and responded to the criticism. Not with talking to the media. Not with getting my feelings hurt and wondering where "trust" is when it was my performance that damaged that trust in the first place. No, I would have responded by working harder to improve, but studying film, by listening harder. Dennis Alexander once employed the same approach and I watched while myself and others worked our tails off to remove the criticism. And we did.

Picked dead last in our district by DCTF, we won the title. We had no business doing that. But he made us believe we should, so we did. We had one player weighing over 200 lbs at a 4A school.