Level Best Not Good Enough at UCLA

I enjoyed Bill Plaschke’s article “As New Star Rises, Will Lavin Fall?” and Chris Dufresne’s article “Will Bruins Show Them the Money?” on Dec. 10. Unlike their obtuse colleague T.J. Simers, I think Dan Guerrero’s decision was the right decision, and his comments at the news conference were right on point.

UCLA needs to move forward with its football and basketball programs. UCLA should not be content with being a second-tier program in both sports. Terry Donahue brought UCLA from the third tier to a consistent second tier and occasional first-tier team. The hiring of Bob Toledo seven years ago sent a signal to the program that UCLA is content with being a strong second-tier school. As Guerrero said in the news conference, UCLA should move to the next level.

Dean Yanohira

Honolulu

*

What do UCLA and UC Riverside have in common? Bob Toledo was their last football coach and neither one of them has a football team.

Dave Snyder

Grand Terrace

*

Instead of crediting Bob Toledo because he tied for fourth place in the tough Pacific 10 Conference, even though he was picked in the preseason to come in sixth, you can also call it the way it is: He tied for the fourth-worst record in the tough Pac-10. Sounds to me that he did just as bad as his pitiful preseason pick.

Don Geller

Irvine

*

UCLA showed a complete lack of class in firing Coach Toledo. I thought they were above such giving in to the ravings of a few loud-mouthed alums. How would USC have done if Carson Palmer had gone down with a broken leg in the middle of the season?

Bob Cossarek

Cerritos

*

I strongly agree with Chris Dufresne that UCLA should spend at least one million dollars a year on salary for its new head football coach. Heck, I think they should spend two million dollars!

Sure, there’s a huge state budget crisis. But a public, tax-payer-funded college like UCLA should make winning football games its highest priority because ... er ... well, because that’s what the public wants.

Mark Srednicki

Santa Barbara

*

I have been a supporter of UCLA athletics for quite some time now and applaud Dan Guerrero’s bold move in firing Bob Toledo. I don’t wish anyone to be out of work during the holidays, but I’m sure his $1.3 million may soothe the sting of his dismissal.

Could the day be far off when there is another call on the UCLA campus, followed by “Mr. Lavin? Mr. Guerrero is on line one. Do you wish to take the call?”

Bob Werner

New Albany, Ind.

*

For more than two years I have read Steve Henson’s articles about UCLA football where I have often been misquoted or misrepresented. Tuesday’s article is one I cannot let go uncorrected. The firing of Coach Bob Toledo is very unfortunate. Furthermore, the termination and consequential uprooting of the coaches and their families do not bring me “glee,” which was stated in the article. I have had five years of experience with these coaches and wish it could have ended in a more positive manner for everyone.

Cory Paus

Westwood

*

While many UCLA alumni hold J.D. Morgan in esteem, I always believed that the school’s best athletic director was Wilbur Johns. In 1948, Johns, who was A.D. and basketball coach, fired himself from the latter job and hired John Wooden. The next year he terminated football Coach Bert LaBrucherie and replaced him with Red Sanders.

These two moves, more than anything else, put UCLA on the national stage in the major sports. Come next spring, Dan Guerrero will have the opportunity to become the next Wilbur Johns. All Bruin fans should hope he takes advantage of it.

Bart Robertson

Torrance

*

One down. One to go.

Michael Martin

Los Angeles