Dewayne Walker

It is always a pleasure to read Kurt Streeter's Minority Report. Last week he was crying because Ty Willingham, who quit a great job at Stanford, was fired for losing 14 straight games at Washington. Now it is poor DeWayne Walker at UCLA. DeWayne is a nice gentleman and an excellent coach, but UCLA has a 17-21 record during the last three years. The lack of offense is not his fault, but who can forget his defense holding BYU to only 59 points this year or allowing Fresno State to score 36 points at home and beat us, or even worse, losing to Notre Dame last year with less than two minutes left?

Norm Chow appears to be out as UCLA's offensive coordinator, but whether the coach will remain with the Bruins or leave the program hasn't been determined. Mike Johnson, most recently the offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, appears set to take a similar position with UCLA, according a person inside the Bruins football program who was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. UCLA spokesman Marc Dellins said Wednesday that Johnson had not been hired. But a person in the program with knowledge of the situation said head Coach Rick Neuheisel had interviewed Johnson and they had been talking.

Listen up. Anybody can be captain of the hindsight team. Rick Neuheisel's decision to perhaps take Fresno State out of field-goal range in the third quarter by accepting the holding penalty gives your defense an opportunity to keep your opponent from scoring. If you have no confidence in your defense, then that's another story. By the way, when are we to expect some criticism for the supposed defensive guru -- DeWayne Walker? Tim Newhard Irvine A source close to the UCLA marketing department has revealed its next campaign: "If you liked Chick Hearn and like Vin Scully, you'll love Chris Roberts."

Idaho 21, at New Mexico State 6: Nathan Enderle threw two touchdown passes and Princeton McCarty got most of his 96 yards rushing on one play as the Vandals their Western Athletic Conference and season opener. Former UCLA defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker was denied a victory in his debut as a head coach. at Fresno State 51, UC Davis 0: Ryan Mathews rushed for 106 yards and Ryan Colburn passed for 161 in his first career start as the Bulldogs routed the Aggies. Fresno State amassed 511 yards of total offense, including 310 on the ground.

A look at key matchups inside the USC-UCLA football game. Today: Battle of the coordinators. DeWayne Walker's UCLA defense versus Lane Kiffin's USC offense. * DeWayne Walker, UCLA's first-year defensive coordinator, coached the USC secondary in 2001 as part of Pete Carroll's first staff. Another assistant on that staff was Lane Kiffin, who at the time worked with the Trojans tight ends and is now the team's offensive coordinator.

New USC Coach Pete Carroll hired his first assistant Monday, naming DeWayne Walker to oversee the secondary. Walker spent the last three seasons in a similar role with the New England Patriots. "He was with me . . . in the NFL, and he was able to learn my style and understand my system," Carroll said. "He has a vast knowledge of coaching the secondary."

Let me get this straight. DeWayne Walker can't get a job as a head coach and the majority of Times readers think it's because he hasn't earned a spot. If only he could get fired from two jobs under a cloud of controversy, the UCLA job would have been his. Maybe he could've led an uber-talented offense through an under-achieving season and he'd be at Washington. Or if he could have coached Notre Dame through years of big wins over Air Force and none over a ranked team, he would be getting a vote of confidence.

Rick Neuheisel, barely half an hour into the UCLA football coaching job, was already selling. Asked whether he wanted to keep Bruins defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker, who was a candidate for the job and the key to the program's recruiting efforts, Neuheisel said, "DeWayne is my No. 1 recruit." Over the last month, high school players who have committed to UCLA and their families have lobbied for Walker. At the same time, many have explored opportunities at other schools as a backup plan.

UCLA has held on to defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker, at least for now. Walker said he will spend the next few weeks considering his options after learning Sunday that he did not get the head coaching spot at San Diego State. It has been reported that Ball State Coach Brady Hoke will be hired. "You go through the process knowing that they were looking at head coaching experience," Walker said. "Still, I took a shot at it."

You can take the guy out of the defensive coordinator's job, but apparently you can't take the defensive coordinator out of the guy. DeWayne Walker may have been appointed UCLA's interim football coach, with big-picture responsibilities, but Sunday morning he was immersed in dissecting Brigham Young's passing scheme. The Cougars' Max Hall carved up the Bruins for 391 yards passing, but UCLA survived, 27-17, Sept. 8. That is already on Walker's mind two weeks before the Dec.

UCLA looked within to fill its defensive coordinator position Monday, promoting Chuck Bullough and adding Carnell Lake to the staff as cornerbacks coach. Bullough, 40, had been the Bruins' linebackers coach the last three seasons under defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker, who was hired as New Mexico State's coach in December. UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel interviewed candidates outside the program but decided Bullough was best suited in terms of consistency.

DeWayne Walker will be introduced as New Mexico State's football coach today, ending three seasons as UCLA's defensive coordinator. Walker, 48, becomes the seventh African American head coach in major college football. UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel said in a statement, "DeWayne is a first-class coach and a first-class man who certainly deserves the opportunity to run his own program. DeWayne has been a terrific asset to UCLA, both on and off the field, and he will be missed.

Let me get this straight. DeWayne Walker can't get a job as a head coach and the majority of Times readers think it's because he hasn't earned a spot. If only he could get fired from two jobs under a cloud of controversy, the UCLA job would have been his. Maybe he could've led an uber-talented offense through an under-achieving season and he'd be at Washington. Or if he could have coached Notre Dame through years of big wins over Air Force and none over a ranked team, he would be getting a vote of confidence.

UCLA has held on to defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker, at least for now. Walker said he will spend the next few weeks considering his options after learning Sunday that he did not get the head coaching spot at San Diego State. It has been reported that Ball State Coach Brady Hoke will be hired. "You go through the process knowing that they were looking at head coaching experience," Walker said. "Still, I took a shot at it."

It is always a pleasure to read Kurt Streeter's Minority Report. Last week he was crying because Ty Willingham, who quit a great job at Stanford, was fired for losing 14 straight games at Washington. Now it is poor DeWayne Walker at UCLA. DeWayne is a nice gentleman and an excellent coach, but UCLA has a 17-21 record during the last three years. The lack of offense is not his fault, but who can forget his defense holding BYU to only 59 points this year or allowing Fresno State to score 36 points at home and beat us, or even worse, losing to Notre Dame last year with less than two minutes left?

Trojans 28, UCLA 7 -- not exactly the overpowering USC win many guessed it would be. This was sort of like watching a high-powered sports car try to speed down a freeway full of potholes and sharp nails. Responsible for the obstacles was a Bruins defense that -- talent-challenged and playing with little rest because the offense could barely function -- kept this game from getting out of hand. Kudos to the Bruins' D for playing smartly, cohesively and with pants-on-fire hustle.

DeWayne Walker, UCLA's first-year defensive coordinator, grew up in Los Angeles but was not a fan of the Bruins when he was young. "I used to live on 30th and Vermont, right by the Coliseum," Walker said. "So obviously, growing up, SC was the closest and I used to go over there and watch them practice. It was during the time when they had O.J., Anthony Davis and all of those guys. UCLA was around, but it was really all about USC back then."

For the past two weeks, "Rocky Top," the Tennessee fight song, has periodically blared over the loudspeakers at UCLA's practice field, a not-so-subtle reminder that the Bruins' season opener was approaching. The music stopped Thursday -- partly because of a power failure at the facility -- but the Volunteers were not far from the thoughts of those on the field. UCLA went from theory to practical application in preparing for its Sept. 1 season opener against Tennessee at the Rose Bowl.

There were changes expected and, though not drastic, the UCLA defense will have some different looks. After an epidemic of missed tackles against Oregon, defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker was ready to shake up personnel. He will do so on a limited basis against Stanford on Saturday. Glenn Love, a redshirt freshman, will share the strong safety spot with senior Bret Lockett, which Walker hopes will make the Bruins a little tougher against the run. Oregon gained 323 yards rushing in a 31-24 victory last Saturday.

Listen up. Anybody can be captain of the hindsight team. Rick Neuheisel's decision to perhaps take Fresno State out of field-goal range in the third quarter by accepting the holding penalty gives your defense an opportunity to keep your opponent from scoring. If you have no confidence in your defense, then that's another story. By the way, when are we to expect some criticism for the supposed defensive guru -- DeWayne Walker? Tim Newhard Irvine A source close to the UCLA marketing department has revealed its next campaign: "If you liked Chick Hearn and like Vin Scully, you'll love Chris Roberts."