Special Report: Not the UCLA Way

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

About half-way through this article on UCLA and their tanking culture of excellence....

Over the last two months SI spoke with more than a dozen players and staff members from the past four Bruins teams. They portrayed the program as having drifted from the UCLA way as Howland allowed an influx of talented but immature recruits to undermine team discipline and morale. Fistfights broke out among teammates. Several players routinely used alcohol and drugs, sometimes before practice. One player intentionally injured teammates but received no punishment.

So far worth the read, and grateful for the kinds of players Buzz seems to be keeping in our program, and a tangible culture of toughness and discipline.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/magazine/02/28/ucla/

[Norm]

So how quickly does Howland get shown the door after this article?

[beercanindasky]

So now's your chance, Andy Katz what is the correct punishment!  

[Fullodds]

Make Howald watch the Wisconsin v. Minnesota game

So now's your chance, Andy Katz what is the correct punishment!  

[MerrittsMustache]

UCLA needs to get back to their glory days of John Wooden where they'd recruit quality players who were quality people...and then provide them with cash, drugs and hookers so they'd come to UCLA.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

About half-way through this article on UCLA and their tanking culture of excellence....

Over the last two months SI spoke with more than a dozen players and staff members from the past four Bruins teams. They portrayed the program as having drifted from the UCLA way as Howland allowed an influx of talented but immature recruits to undermine team discipline and morale. Fistfights broke out among teammates. Several players routinely used alcohol and drugs, sometimes before practice. One player intentionally injured teammates but received no punishment.

So far worth the read, and grateful for the kinds of players Buzz seems to be keeping in our program, and a tangible culture of toughness and discipline.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/magazine/02/28/ucla/

I'll probably get blasted for saying this, but MU fans (myself included) need to be careful throwing rocks.

We've had player fist fights, sexual assault allegations and several player "suspensions" (although I'd call them "benching") over the past year. We have had some relatively mysterious transfers, and the former AD left quickly and quietly after the assault issues, which could mean nothing, but could mean something.

If MU was losing, a writer could probably find enough "weird stuff" to write a negative piece.

I'm not saying MU deserves any negative press, I just don't know that we should be looking down our nose at other programs. Taken out of context, a losing program and coach can be made to look pretty bad.

[Oldgym]

So now's your chance, Andy Katz what is the correct punishment!  

+1000

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

I'll probably get blasted for saying this, but MU fans (myself included) need to be careful throwing rocks.

We've had player fist fights, sexual assault allegations and several player "suspensions" (although I'd call them "benching") over the past year. We have had some relatively mysterious transfers, and the former AD left quickly and quietly after the assault issues, which could mean nothing, but could mean something.

If MU was losing, a writer could probably find enough "weird stuff" to write a negative piece.

I'm not saying MU deserves any negative press, I just don't know that we should be looking down our nose at other programs. Taken out of context, a losing program and coach can be made to look pretty bad.

To be clear: I'm grateful for what we have, not looking down my nose. Once we win 11 more NCs I may.

[Aughnanure]

I'll probably get blasted for saying this, but MU fans (myself included) need to be careful throwing rocks.

We've had player fist fights, sexual assault allegations and several player "suspensions" (although I'd call them "benching") over the past year. We have had some relatively mysterious transfers, and the former AD left quickly and quietly after the assault issues, which could mean nothing, but could mean something.

If MU was losing, a writer could probably find enough "weird stuff" to write a negative piece.

I'm not saying MU deserves any negative press, I just don't know that we should be looking down our nose at other programs. Taken out of context, a losing program and coach can be made to look pretty bad.

+1000, no athletic program is immacculate. Those Wisky fans suiddenly had to account for their "culture" with the Chadima thing. That's why its so funny when fans start talking trash about other programs "culture" b/c it will eventually hit them as well (Kansas and Mizzou regulalry take turns embaressing their programs, and their fans always forget their past transgressions to rip on their rivals). Its just hypocritical.

However, that being said - what makes this story so intriguing is how fast they dropped from going to 3 straight final fours.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

+1000, no athletic program is immacculate. Those Wisky fans suiddenly had to account for their "culture" with the Chadima thing. That's why its so funny when fans start talking trash about other programs "culture" b/c it will eventually hit them as well (Kansas and Mizzou regulalry take turns embaressing their programs, and their fans always forget their past transgressions to rip on their rivals). Its just hypocritical.

However, that being said - what makes this story so intriguing is how fast they dropped from going to 3 straight final fours.

UCLA's fall has been quick, and certainly the story is interesting and believable.

Also, you bring up a great point about "culture". We all act like we know about a team's "culture". Truth be told, we really have no f-ing clue, which is why I hesitate to criticize another team's "culture". Over a long career, we can see patterns and make reasonable assumptions. But, in the short run, we really have no clue.  

[Warriors10]

Buzz to UCLA

[JTBMU7]

meh. this seems a little over blown. i imagine if you dove into most programs you'd find similar problems (entitled freshman acting out, fights in practice...) it probably just stands out more because it's UCLA and they dropped off so fast.

BTW, i didnt hear anyone complaining about Howland's quirkiness (film room temp, water bottles, etc...) when they were winning and pulling in all the best players in the country. i remember earlier this year reading Seth Davis' column stating that Howland is a good guy/coach who has some bad players...

[77ncaachamps]

Lorenzo Mata, former UCLA player, tweeted that UCLA's program needs to be respected and these kids are selfish.

Yeah, but who recruited them?

That's right.

Howland.

[ringout]

Lorenzo Mata, former UCLA player, tweeted that UCLA's program needs to be respected and these kids are selfish.

Yeah, but who recruited them?

That's right.

Howland.

Really makes you appreciate the hungry, humble, hard working kids Buzz recruits.