While the NIL collective Men of Westwood covers just football and men’s basketball, UCLA launched an NIL athlete online store Friday morning that features a select handful of athletes from the school’s baseball, basketball, football, gymnastics, rowing, soccer, softball, tennis and beach and indoor volleyball teams.

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When it was reported before the game that DeShaun Foster would not be introduced at the men’s basketball game against Colorado last night, it gave me an idea:

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UCLA’s Gameday account agreed:

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Then, at 5:11 a.m. the next morning, Foster DM’d me this:

“I’ll be at the cross town rival game.”

Antranik “Anto” Balian, a 2025 guard from nearby Pilibos HS in L.A., visited Westwood tonight.

Balian is averaging better than 30 points per game this season.

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Will pass along any pre-game observations if something important comes along

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Dylan Andrews and Sebastian Mack:

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Cronin uploading still…

The move is expected to accommodate at least 1,000 students, according to the announcement made Wednesday.

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DeShaun Foster on Big Ten Network:

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Someone else mentioned that men’s sports success will beget women’s NIL success. I agree with that and I apply it to profitability in general. If nobody is buying seats for games, eventually they discount them, then give them away. And at our worst, people still don’t go.

So if a big NIL budget is key to winning, why not pull out all the stops to increase the NIL? The success it creates will radiate into all other aspects of the program.

I had the idea of putting a bunch of tickets in a NIL’s hands. Make it “free” or cheap contingent on different levels of donations to NIL.

Put a NIL surcharge on all tickets. Reduce the price by the same amount.

Allow the NIL (shorthand for a representative of) negotiate access to players for interviews and advertisements. Why should CBS be able to show TJ Harden in all their ads without paying for it? NFL players get a small amount for their use in ads for the games.

“Adopt a player” where you donate and a percentage goes to a player of choice. Silly or parody campaigns are part of a multi-faceted approach to raising money.

Finally, create a bona fide fundraising team akin to a University’s donation team that raises NIL funds. Potentially the athletic department itself could donate to the NIL. Loopholes are certainly there at this stage.

Although it’s a dead period from now through March 3, the staff is back to engaging recruits:

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My latest on the questions that have come with DeShaun Foster’s lack of head coaching experience coupled with an introverted personality that met the moment at least on Tuesday:

“I’m guaranteeing you that I am prepared for this job.”

As you can tell from the variety of videos after the press conference, everyone in the media was spread around talking to various people at different times.

Catching up on some of the clips surfacing from the day on social media, UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond told John W. Davis of the Southern California News Group that with a first-time head coach like DeShaun Foster it’s imperative to have the proper support in the assistants that will be hired.

One of those qualities, Jarmond requested, will be an assistant with previous head coaching experience.

“You’ve got to build a support structure around him to help him be successful,” Jarmond said. “He and I have had great conversations with that. For example, one of the positions that I want him to have is a former head coach. I want someone on staff that’s been a head coach, that he can talk to, relate to, and help him along that.”

Starts around 3:57 mark, plus some insight on how many donors Jarmond has been in contact with recently, and more:

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Silly me for trying to run an errand on this day!

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Will pass them along as they come in.

First up, 2024 QB signee Karson Gordon:

“Love it. Great hire to keep our team together. A great guy to talk to with good connections.”

I’ll have much more including a separate story focused on NIL and recruiting by tomorrow, but for now the initial story from what was a joyous day for those in attendance at new UCLA head coach DeShaun Foster’s introductory press conference:

Creating this now before the day gets away from me.

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We had so many chances to punch them squarely in the jaw and either whiffed or grazed. Our mistakes were too many and our offensive play calls were questionable.

Starting this busy day with Cronin and players starting at 9:30 a.m.

UCLA’s Laiatu Latu, Darius Muasau and Gabriel Murphy are among the 321 draft prospects invited to the NFL scouting combine.

The full list:

My latest looking at everything from the staff to the current roster to recruiting, NIL and getting the fan base back that stayed away from the Rose Bowl in recent years:

I’m sure everyone loves the idea of a great alum coming in elevating our program to where we feel it belongs. Count me in on that camp. That being said, what kind of offense can we expect? What about his defensive philosophy? Is he going to call plays? Has he called played before?

I have a lot of faith that he will be a tireless worker and will be an immediate upgrade in recruiting. I can’t wait to see how this unfolds. Welcome back coach. Let’s get it!

The latest:

For good bad or indifference this is what college football is all about today. Your thoughts?