UCLA Fires Toledo – Finally

Jessica Stamp
Mirror contributing writer

   It’s a bad sign when you fall asleep during UCLA’s last football game of the season, and as you wake up you ask your roommate, “How bad did we lose?”
   It was obviously time for a change in UCLA’s football program. Students heard rumors all weekend about the fate of Head Coach Bob Toledo. They were true.
   Athletic Director Dan Guerrero officially released Toledo on Monday morning, after the Bruins Saturday loss to Washington State, 48-27. Though Toledo has accumulated two consecutive winning seasons, years of trouble off the field and questionable coaching calls added to the pressure this year.
   The problems began at the end of the 1998 season, when the Bruins lost 49-45 to Miami, dashing hopes of a National Championship bid. Instead, UCLA played Wisconsin at the Rose Bowl, and lost.
   In 1999, 13 players were convicted of fraudulently procuring handicapped parking tags and using them for their parking convenience. The players were suspended and the Bruins struggled to a 4-7 record.
   After a 6-6 season in 2000, the Bruins were on what looked to be a championship run after winning the first six games of the 2001 season. However, UCLA narrowly lost to Stanford and Washington State. Then, the NCAA suspended DeShaun Foster, UCLA’s star running back, because Foster accepted use of a car that wasn’t his.
   UCLA then lost to Oregon as Toledo’s calls came into question. Before the final game against USC, Toledo discovered that quarterback Corey Paus failed to inform him about two driving under the influence convictions. Though Paus was allowed to play against USC, UCLA lost 27-0, finishing the year 7-4.
   Toledo was then warned by Chancellor Albert Carnesale that the off-the-field antics must stop and that the team would have to have a winning season or Toledo would be fired.
   But last spring several players were arrested for fighting at a bar in Westwood. Toledo has since banned the players from going to bars, but the incident made it apparent, even to those who had previously turned a blind eye, that the program was out of control.
   Guerrero took over for former Athletic Director Pete Dalis last summer and has since expressed certain expectations of UCLA’s football program. According to Guerrero, Toledo has lost the confidence of the fans, players, and the University as a whole. “This was an extremely hard decision to make but one I felt was necessary for the future of the program,” he said. “I believe that in order to revitalize our program and move it forward, a change of leadership is required. The circumstances over the past four years, both on and off the field, created an environment that, in my opinion, hindered long-term success.”
   Toledo had six years remaining on his contract after coaching at UCLA for seven. His contract buyout consists of one year earning $578,000 and five years receiving the base salary of $153,000.
   Toledo graciously accepted Guerrero’s decision, “I came to UCLA with class and dignity and I will leave with class and dignity. I have nothing but great things to say about UCLA. We’ve done some outstanding things during my time here and we’ve won some big games. I have enjoyed my time at UCLA and wish the players best of luck in the future.”
   UCLA has appointed Ed Kezirian, currently Assistant Director of Academic Services, as interim head coach until a replacement can be settled upon. Kezirian spent 11 years as an assistant coach at UCLA under Terry Donahue from 1982-1992. He will lead the 7-5 Bruins to the Las Vegas Bowl, where they will meet the University of New Mexico.