SB Nation Los Angeles - UCLA Football Offseason: Jim Mora Hires Luke Spanos To Be Defensive Coordinatorhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48949/la-fave.png2012-02-12T14:58:54-08:00http://losangeles.sbnation.com/rss/stream/24590372012-02-12T14:58:54-08:002012-02-12T14:58:54-08:00UCLA Football: Jim Mora Makes Amazing Sales Pitch
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<p>Jim Mora of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/ucla-bruins">UCLA Bruins</a> is off to a good start on his first real month on the job in Westwood. His recruiting style has impressed many top recruits to the point where UCLA will be a solid challenger for the conference crown if he gets the coaching down right. It's definitely been an exciting month to be a UCLA football fan.</p>
<p>But now Coach might need to simmer down just a little. He might be going a bit overboard with establishing his credentials, <a target="_blank" href="http://blogs.ajc.com/recruiting/2012/02/11/uclas-jim-mora-says-recruits-remember-he-was-coach-when-falcons-last-won-in-nfl-playoffs/">as evidenced by an interview he just did with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution</a>.</p>
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<p>"The bottom line is this: The last time the Falcons won a playoff game, I was the head coach," Mora told the AJC. "Kids remember that game, the 47-17 victory over the St. Louis Rams. A lot of kids around Atlanta, the state of Georgia and the Southeast follow the Falcons. They know that was the last time that the Falcons have won a playoff game.</p>
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<p>Ah yes Coach. I remember too that win over an 8-8 Rams team that was heralded as one of the greatest football teams ever to go 8-8. I'm sure everyone also remember Mora's record after that playoff win, which was a grand 20-29. <b><br></b></p>
<p><i><b>To talk about Mora and UCLA football, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bruinsnation.com">go to Bruins Nation</a>. To discuss Mora as Falcons head coach, <a target="_blank" href="http://thefalcoholic.com">check out The Falcoholic</a>. </b></i></p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/ucla-bruins/2012/2/12/2793930/jim-mora-atlanta-falcons-ucla-bruinsAvinash Kunnath2012-02-07T17:29:16-08:002012-02-07T17:29:16-08:00UCLA Football Recruiting: Jim Mora Excels Early
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<p>Whatever Jim Mora is selling in Westwood, big-time recruits are buying in. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/ucla-bruins">UCLA Bruins</a> didn't give much time for Mora to settle in, but he still managed to land perhaps the second or third most complete recruiting class in the Pac-12 after it looked like he was destined for being part of the bottom. <br><a target="_blank" href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/ben_glicksman/02/07/new-coach-recruiting-grades/index.html?sct=cf_t11_a0"><br>Ben Glicksman of Sports Illustrated reports</a> on how good a job Mora did, in fact ranking him second among all incoming coaches in his performance behind only Urban Meyer of Ohio State.</p>
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<p><b>A. </b>Despite NFL lifers' historical proclivity for flailing in recruiting circles (see: Gailey, Chan), Mora has thrived since taking the reins Dec. 13. The Bruins landed the No. 12 class in the nation (they ranked No. 44 in 2011), and half of that haul committed after Mora's hiring. Among the headliners: U.S. Army All-Americans quarterback Devin Fuller, defensive tackle Ellis McCarthy and wide receiver Jordan Payton -- the latter two of whom flipped from Pac-12 rivals on or before Signing Day.</p>
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<div style="overflow: hidden; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;">Landing kids like McCarthy and Adams (both of whom are bona fide talents) is a big step in the right direction for the Bruins. Getting an athlete like Fuller is also positive. The Bruins seem to be benefitting from the lack of scholarships USC can hand out, and are getting some quality talent from everywhere else.</div>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/ben_glicksman/02/07/new-coach-recruiting-grades/index.html?sct=cf_t11_a0">To read the full article from Glicksman of Sports Illustrated, click here</a>.</p>
<p><i><b>To discuss UCLA football recruiting, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bruinsnation.com">head on over to Bruins Nation</a>. </b></i></p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/ucla-bruins/2012/2/7/2783560/jim-mora-ucla-bruinsAvinash Kunnath2012-01-17T15:03:29-08:002012-01-17T15:03:29-08:00Lou Spanos Is The New UCLA Defensive Coordinator
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/ucla-bruins">UCLA Bruins</a> might have found the defensive coordinator they were looking for when Lou Spanos was hired today. Jim Mora welcomed him with this congratulatory tweet.</p>
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<p>I'm pleased to welcome Lou Spanos to the coaching staff as Defensive Coordinator.</p>— Jim Mora (@UCLACoachMora) <a href="https://twitter.com/UCLACoachMora/status/159405763851337728" data-datetime="2012-01-17T22:44:30+00:00">January 17, 2012</a>
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2012/01/ucla-football-redskins-assistant-lou-spanos-to-be-bruins-defensive-coordinator.html">Here's more on the hire from Chris Foster of the Los Angeles Times</a>.</p>
<p>Spanos is the Washington Redskins linebackers coach and has been for most of the past two seasons. Spanos was also a defensive assistant with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the three years previous. He doesn't really have any experience as a defensive coordinator, but he definitely has been a part of successful defenses considering his history with the Steelers. It should be a hire more Bruins fans will be pleasantly pleased with, as they can look for UCLA to have a tougher, more physical edge to them that they've lacked lately.</p>
<p>UCLA has great talent on the defensive side of the football. Is Spanos the man to lead them to greatness?</p>
<p><i><b>To discuss Spanos and the Bruins, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bruinsnation.com">head over to Bruins Nation</a>.<br></b></i></p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/ucla-bruins/2012/1/17/2714517/lou-spanos-ucla-bruins-defensive-coordinatorAvinash Kunnath2012-01-14T11:03:56-08:002012-01-14T11:03:56-08:002012 NFL Draft Combine: UCLA's Cory Harkey Invited To Indianapolis, Per Report
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<a href="http://cfn.scout.com/2/1148493.html">According to <span>CollegeFootballNews</span>.com</a>, a part of FOX Sports' Scout.com, one UCLA Bruins football player has been invited to participate in the NFL Combine held in Indianapolis, Indiana, which takes place from Feb. 22-28. That player is senior tight end <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/38226/cory-harkey" class="sbn-auto-link">Cory Harkey</a>.</p>
<p>Harkey started in all 14 of the Bruins games this season but was a much more effective blocking tight end than he was a pass-catching tight end. In fact, he only caught one pass in 2011. That came in the team's Oct. 1 game on the road against Stanford and went for 10 yards. He caught 14 passes his junior year for 140 yards. Harkey was the winner of the Jerry Long "Heart" Award and also the Kenneth S. Washington Award for Outstanding Senior of the Year by the coaching staff at the end of the season.</p>
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The Combine will give Harkey a chance to display his athleticism and any attributes he has that will set him apart from others that play the same position.</p>
<p>For more updates on the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/ucla-bruins" class="sbn-auto-link">UCLA Bruins</a>, head on over to <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/">Bruins Nation</a>.</p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/ucla-bruins/2012/1/14/2707412/2012-nfl-draft-combine-uclas-cory-harkey-invited-to-indianapolis-perJason Garrison2012-01-09T14:53:24-08:002012-01-09T14:53:24-08:00UCLA Bruins Dismiss Randall Carroll, Wesley Flowers
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/ucla-bruins">UCLA Bruins</a> have had trouble getting production out of one of their most talented wide receivers, redshirt sophomore <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77883/randall-carroll">Randall Carroll</a>, even going so far as to move him to defensive backs. They won't have to try any longer. <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/ncf/story/_/id/7442952/ucla-bruins-dismiss-raymond-nelson-wesley-flowers-randall-carroll-team-violations?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed">Peter Yoon of ESPN Los Angeles reports</a>.</p>
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<p><a href="http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/26/ucla-bruins">UCLA</a> has dismissed tight end <a href="http://espn.go.com/college-football/player/_/id/511986/raymond-nelson">Raymond Nelson</a> and defensive lineman <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/113879/wesley-flowers">Wesley Flowers</a> for a violation of team rules while defensive back <a href="http://espn.go.com/college-football/player/_/id/480217/randall-carroll">Randall Carroll</a> was dismissed for failing to meet academic requirements, the school announced Monday after new coach Jim Mora met with the team for the first time.</p>
<p>"At UCLA, we have a high set of standards that we expect every student-athlete to adhere to," Mora said in a statement issued by the school. "Unfortunately, these three gentlemen choose not to do so."</p>
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<p>Jim Mora is making an early statement and apparently a huge commitment to culture change in the program. Carroll apparently was not performing up to his duties as a student-athlete on and off the field, which meant the team had to cut ties and start over. These are hopefully the right steps in bring UCLA football in the right direction.</p>
<p>Flowers was not much used at UCLA, so his departure won't be too big a deal. Both Carroll and Flowers join <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/136328/raymond-nelson">Raymond Nelson</a> on the chopping block for the Bruins football team.</p>
<p><i><b>To discuss Carroll, Flowers, Nelson, and the impact of their loss on UCLA football, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bruinsnation.com">head to Bruins Nation</a>. </b></i></p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/ucla-bruins/2012/1/9/2695022/ucla-bruins-football-randall-carroll-wesley-flowersAvinash Kunnath2012-01-08T19:20:48-08:002012-01-08T19:20:48-08:00UCLA Football News: TE Raymond Nelson Kicked Off Team
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<p>The UCLA Bruins are losing Raymond Nelson after an incident at the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. </p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/ucla-bruins">UCLA Bruins</a> are getting off to a rough start to the Jim Mora era, as promising freshman tight end <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/136328/raymond-nelson">Raymond Nelson</a> is off the team.<a target="_blank" href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2012/01/ucla-football-tight-end-raymond-nelson-dismissed-from-team.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LAT_Sports_Blog+%28The+Fabulous+Forum%29"> Chris Foster of the Los Angeles Times reports</a>.</p>
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<p>Raymond Nelson, freshman tight end at UCLA, has been kicked off the team for an incident that occurred prior to the Bruins’ playing Illinois in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.</p>
<p class="body">Nelson was sent home the day before the game for violating team rules, according to according to a person with knowledge of the situation who was not authorized to speak on the subject. Coach Jim Mora, hired last month, reviewed the situation before making his decision.</p>
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<p>Nelson leaving UCLA could impact the depth of the Bruins. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/38226/cory-harkey">Cory Harkey</a> graduates, leaving only <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/50249/joseph-fauria">Joseph Fauria</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/113885/john-young">John Young</a> ready at the tight end position. UCLA had a very weak offense in 2010, so the Bruins could use all the playmakers they can possibly put on the field to succeed.</p>
<p>That doesn't mean the Bruins will be totally hamstrung. But <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/38224/nelson-rosario">Nelson Rosario</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/38223/taylor-embree">Taylor Embree</a> are also leaving UCLA as seniors; <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/38203/derrick-coleman">Derrick Coleman</a> is also departing and UCLA will lose their starting center <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/7734/kai-maiava">Kai Maiava</a> in the process. Losing a guy like Nelson could be an issue that no one factors in before the season starts. Who knows at this point.</p>
<p><i><b>To discuss Nelson and UCLA football, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bruinsnation.com">head to Bruins Nation</a>. </b></i></p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/ucla-bruins/2012/1/8/2692894/raymond-nelson-ucla-bruinsAvinash Kunnath