Karl’s wild ride

The Karl Dorrell story has more plot twists, themes and characters than a Balzac novel.

Start with the quarterback controversy between the underachieving prodigy and the overachieving proletariat. Move to the head-coach-in-waiting defensive coordinator who, the better he performs, the more he ensures the job security of the head coach he would replace. Consider the conflicted alumni who want the team to win, but fear that in so doing would prolong the “Dorrell Experiment.”

Observe the 600-pound gorilla in the room: race. Was the coach hired, is he difficult to fire and is he unfairly judged because of his race?

Never has someone so dull spawned so much drama.

Wes Wellman

Santa Monica

Could it be possible for UCLA to win the Pac-10 but not make the top 25?

Gary Robb

Los Feliz

Thanks for beating Cal, Coach Dorrell! You have job security . . . for another week.

Jerry Selby

Pasadena

I am a student of human behavior and an avid Bruins fan. Here are my observations: I sense the team supports Patrick Cowan as its quarterback; I sense the fans support Patrick Cowan as their quarterback; I sense Karl Dorrell is on the fence regarding who should be the starting quarterback; I sense Dorrell’s lack of talent judgment does not bode well for Bruins football.

David Radden

Indian Wells

The UCLA season in a nutshell: Stanford, expected win. BYU, close win. Utah, disappointing loss. Washington, good win. Oregon State, solid win. Notre Dame, horrible loss. Cal, super win. I’m now convinced. Karl Dorrell is really Steve Lavin’s brother.

Mark J. Featherstone

Windsor Hills