In Reply to: When did you know something was not right with Chip? posted by TJJ on February 10, 2024 at 17:22:56
I think every cfb hc lives and dies by the play of the QBs (in case one gets hurt)
DTR was more wr than QB coming out of hs. He was ABSOLUTELY not ready to be a starting QB in college. So speight (the only guy chip could get as a transfer... this was before the metastasized TP of 2021) won the starting job coming out of camp. Then got hurt early in the 1st game of the 2018 season.
DTR had to play a lot, but he was a disaster.
For whatever reason, chip wasn't able to recruit over him. That's partly on chip. He could have done more to throw DTR under the bus. That would have sent a clear signal to the market that the job is open.
But then again, you can't kidnap a hs QB and say, "you're coming to Ucla!" These kids have a say in the matter.
Sadly, DTR was just as bad (or worse) in 2019 as he was in 2018. So the team continued to misfire, and consequently, lose.
2020 was another shiishow with covid. But one Ray of hope! Chase Griffin had to start the Oregon game in place of DTR (covid exposure) and played GREAT! 12-12 to start the game! That's the 1st sign of hope I had. Griffin's 2nd half performance v Stanford in 2020 (4 TD passes, leading Ucla back from a 20 pt deficit, was also very inspiring. "Hey, this o can work if we have a competent QB at the controls!"
However, for good or ill, chip stuck with DTR, DTR continued to choke in big monents of big games, and here we are, 35-34.