UCLA's Thomas Cole Says He's Retiring from Football After Attempting Suicide
Jul 18, 2022
PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 14: A UCLA helmet on the sidelines during the college football game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the UCLA Bruins on September 14, 2019, at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
UCLA football player Thomas Cole announced on social media Saturday that he is retiring from football after attempting suicide earlier in 2022:
"After many months of thorough consideration I have come to the conclusion that football is not conducive for my mental health, and there is more to my life than the game of football," Cole wrote.
Cole said he spent time at the UCLA hospital and in residential treatment at the Paradigm Treatment Center while also seeing a therapist, which helped him have a "much brighter outlook" on his future.
The offensive tackle enrolled at UCLA in January 2021, although he did not see action during his first year with the team.
Cole was a 3-star recruit out of San Luis Obispo High School in California, rated the No. 31 overall offensive tackle in the 2021 class by 247Sports composite rankings.
The news comes about a month after fellow UCLA football player Martell Irby retired from football amid mental health struggles.
USC, UCLA Announce Move to Big Ten from Pac-12 Beginning in 2024
Jun 30, 2022
Los Angeles, CA - November 20: USC wide receiver That Washington, right, UCLA defensive back Cameron Johnson deflect a pass in the first quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The next big domino in college football realignment has fallen, as USC and UCLA will leave the Pac-12 and join the Big Ten in 2024.
The Big Ten announced today that the University of Southern California and the University of California, Los Angeles will become conference members effective August 2, 2024, with competition to begin in all sports the 2024-25 academic year. https://t.co/DnwNMJSEe7
The Athletic's Bruce Feldman added USC and UCLA broached the idea with the Big Ten and not the other way around. Brett McMurphy of Action Network reported the Big Ten conference may not stop at 16 teams.
College football has always featured a gap between the haves and have-nots. The stratification has widened in recent years to the point where a "super league" made up of the elite programs feels inevitable.
In the case of USC and UCLA, the schools' administrators seem to feel they're getting left behind.
Under the stewardship of former commissioner Larry Scott, Pac-12 football fell noticeably behind its Power Five rivals.
USA Today's Steve Berkowitz also wrote in May how the most recent payouts to the Pac-12 member schools, which fell from $33.6 million in 2020 to $19.8 million in 2021, "were the lowest among the Power Five by a significant margin."
For USC and UCLA, the motivations to join the Big Ten are the same ones that led Oklahoma and Texas to bolt the Big 12 for the SEC. There's more money and prestige to be had from playing in the Big Ten.
The biggest obstacle in such a move had long been UCLA leaving behind Cal because it meant breaking away from UC system, per sources. One Pac-12 source said they were "stunned" UCLA would make that move. https://t.co/jWgX3ZBs2J
Losing USC and UCLA deals a major blow to the Pac-12, and the conference might struggle to recover even if it works quickly to line up programs to take their places.
Beyond watching Southern California become Big Ten territory and suffering the consequences of that, the Pac-12 might see the likes of Oregon, Washington and Utah question their futures. The Ducks have become the best school on the West Coast over the last four years under Mario Cristobal and might not want to be the big fish in a small pond.
However, Ryan Kartje of the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday night that no other Pac-12 schools are expected to join the Big Ten "at this time":
Multiple sources tell @latimes that no other Pac-12 members are expected to be added to the Big Ten at this time.
Oregon, Washington, Stanford, etc. will not be following USC and UCLA.
When the commissioners for the ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12 announced their "historic alliance" last August—a direct response to the SEC's poaching of Oklahoma and Texas—many questioned how long the strategic partnership would last.
Less than a year later, the venture is dead in the water.
Chip Kelly, UCLA Agree to New 4-Year Contract After 8-4 Season
Jan 15, 2022
UCLA head coach Chip Kelly runs on the field before the team's NCAA college football game against Washington, Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Chip Kelly's tenure as UCLA's head football coach will continue after he and the Bruins agreed to a new four-year deal Friday.
The Athletic's Bruce Feldman first reported the news.
Kelly is just 18-25 overall in his four years, but he led the Bruins to an 8-4 mark and a Holiday Bowl berth in 2021. COVID-19 issues within the UCLA program forced the Holiday Bowl's cancellation.
The Bruins also crushed rival USC 62-33 on Nov. 20. UCLA had lost two of its three games to USC under Kelly before its dominant 2021 performance.
The contract news comes after Scott Roussel of FootballScoop reported in December 2020 that UCLA was "not guaranteed" to bring Kelly back for the 2021 campaign and planned on vetting potential big-name replacements such as Urban Meyer and Chris Petersen.
However, athletic director Martin Jarmond shot down such rumors before the school brought Kelly back in 2021:
UCLA showed noticeable improvement in 2021 after three straight losing seasons to start Kelly's tenure.
Still, the hope for the Bruins when they hired Kelly was that he could replicate the success he enjoyed at Oregon from 2009-12.
He went 46-7 and was known for his innovative, no-huddle offense that exploited mismatches in the defense with tempo and speed. His Ducks teams went to the national championship game and two Rose Bowls during his tenure, and he won the Rose Bowl and Fiesta Bowl in his final two seasons, respectively.
It seemed as if the Pac-12 would never catch up to Kelly's offense at the time, but he chose to test himself at the NFL level following such a successful run with the Ducks.
It appeared as if Kelly was well on his way to an impressive NFL career at 10-6 in each of his first two years with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013 and 2014, but he was fired in 2015 following a 6-9 start.
The San Francisco 49ers then fired him after just one season when he went 2-14 in 2016.
UCLA took a chance on Kelly hoping he could rediscover his collegiate touch. That wasn't the case from 2018-2020, but the offensive innovator's performance last season has created hope that brighter days are ahead in Westwood.
2021 Holiday Bowl Canceled After UCLA Withdrew Because of COVID-19 Issues
Dec 28, 2021
UCLA defensive back Martell Irby, center, reacts to a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against California Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021, in Pasadena, Calif. UCLA won 42-14. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Holiday Bowl was officially canceled Wednesday after UCLA withdrew from the NC State matchup Tuesday because of COVID-19 issues.
Per Fox Sports and The Athletic's Bruce Feldman, UCLA had just two available interior defensive linemen and a "converted linebacker as the backup nose guard," though the Bruins were still going to play before reportedly having more COVID-19 issues pop up Tuesday.
It's the latest bowl game to be canceled because of COVID-19 concerns. The Arizona Bowl (Boise State vs. Central Michigan), Military Bowl (Boston College vs. East Carolina), Wasabi Fenway Bowl (Virginia vs. SMU) and Hawai'i Bowl (Hawai'i vs. Memphis) were also canceled.
A number of other bowl games have had to pivot to different matchups amid the pandemic. The Sun Bowl scooped up Central Michigan to face Washington State after Miami withdrew from the game, while the Gator Bowl added Rutgers to take on Wake Forest after Texas A&M pulled out.
The cancellation is a major disappointment for both UCLA and NC State. The 8-4 Bruins had their first winning season under Chip Kelly and were heading to their first bowl game since 2017.
It took four seasons for Chip Kelly to get UCLA to a bowl game only to have to pull out the day of the game.
The 9-3 Wolfpack, meanwhile, finished the season ranked 18th and were looking for their first 10-win season since 2002.
Heartbroken to not be able to compete one more time this season. We were informed a short time ago that our opponent would be unable to play this evening.
Postseason heartbreak for COVID-19 reasons has become an unfortunate storyline for NC State this year. The school's baseball team had to pull out of the College Baseball World Series because of COVID-19 protocols in June, just a game away from reaching the final.
Chip Kelly Rumors: Oregon Requests Interview with UCLA HC After Mario Cristobal Exit
Dec 9, 2021
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 27: Head coach Chip Kelly of the UCLA Bruins reacts on the sidelines during the first half of a game against the California Golden Bears at Rose Bowl on November 27, 2021 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Who said you can never go home?
According to John Canzano of The Oregonian, Oregon has requested to interview UCLA head coach Chip Kelly for its head football coaching vacancy.
Confirming @johncanzanobft's report. @oregonfootball is making a hard push to bring back Chip Kelly as the Ducks' head coach, sources tell ESPN. He has a lot of support there after taking Oregon to the national championship game in 2010. His buyout at UCLA is $9 million.
Kelly famously served as the Ducks head coach between the 2009 and 2012 seasons.
The 58-year-old also served as the program's offensive coordinator in the 2007 and '08 seasons, and his fast-paced spread offense helped revolutionize the college game.
It also led to one of the most successful periods of football in Oregon's history. With Kelly as head coach, the Ducks went 46-7 across four seasons, 2-2 in bowl games and reached the BCS Championship Game in the 2010 season, losing to Florida State.
Kelly's Ducks twice were ranked No. 1 overall in the country by the Associated Press, and finished as a Top Four team in those rankings in his last three seasons.
But the New Hampshire native left for the NFL in 2013, taking over as the Philadelphia Eagles head coach. In three seasons with the Birds and one with the San Francisco 49ers (2016), he went just 28-35, with only one playoff berth. After two 10-win seasons in his first two NFL seasons, he was fired in 2015 after a 6-9 start to the season and only last one year with the Niners following a 2-14 disaster.
So Kelly returned to the college game in 2018 with the UCLA Bruins after taking a year off from coaching. In four seasons at Westwood, he's gone just 18-25, though the team finished 8-4 in 2021 and earned a Holiday Bowl berth.
If he takes the Oregon job, Kelly would be replacing Mario Cristobal, who departed for the Miami Hurricanes gig. Cristobal was 35-13 in parts of five seasons at Oregon, winning two Pac-12 titles.
UCLA QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson Flagged for Signing USC Fan's Hat After Touchdown
Nov 21, 2021
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 20: Dorian Thompson-Robinson #1 of the UCLA Bruins celebrates his touchdown run, to take a 28-10 lead over the USC Trojans, by signing an autograph, resulting in a penalty, during the second quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 20, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after signing a USC fan's hat upon scoring a second-quarter touchdown in his team's 62-33 road win over the Trojans on Saturday.
Thompson-Robinson scored on a four-yard run to give UCLA a 27-10 lead with 2:13 left in the half. He then saw the fan extend his hand with the hat, and the Bruin signal-caller was happy to oblige even if he rooted for the arch rival.
Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times got the scoop surrounding the interaction.
Declin Manz, 12, a lifelong Trojans fan, wanted to get UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s signature on a hat at halftime because DTR had thrown him a glove at the Coliseum two years ago. So when DTR scored, Declin gave him his hat and got the memory of a lifetime. pic.twitter.com/DW852PS1SX
The senior out of Las Vegas finished the game with 349 passing yards, four touchdowns (two interceptions) and another 46 rushing yards and two scores in UCLA's 29-point win.
UCLA Aware of Video Showing Jay Toia Threatening Students in Elevator
Nov 3, 2021
PASADENA, CA - AUGUST 28: UCLA Bruins defensive lineman Jay Toia (93) during a college football game between the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors against the UCLA Bruins on August 28, 2021, at The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
A spokesperson for the UCLA athletic department told Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times the Pac-12 school knows about a video of defensive lineman Jay Toia intimidating and threatening people on an elevator.
The Bruins are following protocols regarding student conduct.
The video depicts Toia yelling at a group of students and preventing them from leaving an elevator. He seems to be upset about the possible presence of students who attend USC, though some in the elevator say they attend the University of California-Santa Barbara.
Toia directs a sexist slur at some of the people and repeatedly says he will "slap a b---h."
The defensive lineman originally committed to play for the rival Trojans but flipped to join UCLA as part of its 2021 recruiting class.
He has appeared in one game for the Bruins this season.
UCLA QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson Talks NIL Deals, USC Rivalry, More in B/R AMA
Jul 22, 2021
TEMPE, AZ - DECEMBER 05: UCLA Bruins quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (1) throws a pass during the college football game between the UCLA Bruins and the Arizona State Sun Devils on December 5, 2020 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
UCLA star Dorian Thompson-Robinson is approaching a big 2021 season in more ways than one.
Expectations are high for the senior quarterback after he threw for 1,120 yards and 12 touchdowns in five games for the Bruins in 2020. He's also navigating a totally new landscape after the NCAA opened the door for players to cash in on their name, image and likeness.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson stopped by the B/R app to answer questions on a number of topics ranging from that aforementioned NIL legislation and UCLA's longstanding rivalry with USC for Los Angeles supremacy.
The following is the full transcript from the AMA session.
@Realzzzsoadapop How hard was it transitioning from WR to QB in high school?
Don't think it was really that hard. I'm a pretty athletic guy.
@Ace3k9 Why UCLA?
When I first got here as a recruit, I just fell in love with it. The environment, the campus, the education. It just fit what I was looking for in a school.
@LA57 Why do you wear No. 1 ?
You got to be that guy if you're wearing no. 1. Big responsibility and big role and i think i can fill those shoes.
@BayLegend Do you have any upcoming plans with the new NIL agreement?
I do. Don't think I can speak on them yet, but there are a few things in the works.
@PerryThePlatypus If you could sign an endorsement with the company of your dreams, who would you pick?
Probably adidas. Building a relationship with them.
@BigHitter401 What is it like to be a part of the USC-UCLA rivalry?
It's surreal. Games are always packed. Def a heated feeling, def intense. One of the best rivalries out there and glad to be apart of it
@Not_RudyGobert Which game do you look forward to most this season?
I think the big glaring one is LSU week 1. Gotta be SC. SC each year.
@KyleCus24 How crazy was the locker room after the comeback win vs. Washington St. in 2019? How did it feel? (down 32, 130 total points scored)
Such a surreal moment. Don't think anyone believed it when it happened. Happy, genuine. Everyone was happy to be there.
@CarsonD21 Your top 3 pregame songs?
3 artists: drake, young thug, youngboy
@Jordanjones23 What is your favorite thing about Coach Kelly?
His mind. Always thinking, always trying to solve a problem or think of something new
@DPitt What would it take for you to consider the 2021-22 season a success?
Undefeated. If we get that, everything will speak for itself. We’re shooting high.
@Crew4 Who in the NFL would you compare yourself to?
Deshaun watson. I like his game.
@Antonio16Rossi Which NFL team would you like to play for?
Being a Vegas boy, definitely the raiders.
@Ice_Trae Where do you see yourself in five years?
Strong in the league. Winning games, living life and having fun with the fam.
Rapid Fire:
@Fugi456 Chik Fil A or Popeyes?
Chick Fil A
@KB2324 Favorite place to eat at near UCLA?
Gushi
@Kylecus24 The hardest place to play in the Pac-12?
Oregon
@lOGAN316 Your favorite UCLA jersey?
Blue home
@Yifi11 Your favorite team to use in Madden?
chiefs
@foxhol23 If you could have any NFL WR on your UCLA squad, who you taking?
Julio Jones
UCLA Dismisses Chris Weiland for Alleged Racist, Homophobic, Sexist Language
Feb 23, 2021
A Pac-12 Conference logo is photographed before an NCAA college basketball game between Washington State and UCLA at Beasley Coliseum in Pullman, Wash., Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)
UCLA has dismissed runner Chris Weiland from the track and field team after an Instagram video was released that allegedly shows him making racist, homophobic and sexist comments.
Avery Anderson, UCLA's director of track and field and cross-country, issued a statement to announce Weiland's dismissal:
Per Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times, a 4.5-minute video was uploaded to an Instagram account named "ucla_is_racist" that appeared to show Weiland talking to his girlfriend about her cheating on him and later using a racial slur while talking to another woman on the phone.
"When she says she doesn't, you know, want to get back together, why do you think?" Weiland asks a woman on the phone in the video, via Bolch. "It's because she wants to be with this f--king f----t who has no future. She's going to be with a stupid n----r who's going to be in community college all his life."
Bolch noted the alleged comments from Weiland occurred before he enrolled at UCLA in the fall of 2019, and "multiple people in the program" identified him as the person in the video prior to his dismissal.
In addition to the video, Bolch reported Weiland is alleged to have made "offensive remarks" in a text exchange with an unidentified person, whom he called a "slut."
Per Jordan Mendoza of USA Today, Weiland was with the Bruins cross-country team at the Dave Murray Invitational on Saturday in Tucson, Arizona.
Weiland, who was in his senior year with the Bruins, ran track and field at Mt. San Antonio College and Cal State San Marcos before transferring to UCLA.
UCLA Football Will Decline Bowl Bid After Playing Final Game vs. Stanford
Dec 17, 2020
UCLA head coach Chip Kelly leads his team on the field before an NCAA college football game against Oregon, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Chris Pietsch)
The UCLA football team will decline to play in a bowl game this season, instead ending their 2020 campaign against Stanford on Saturday.
Add UCLA to the growing list of schools declining a potential bowl bid. Bruins still play Stanford this Saturday. pic.twitter.com/QAXmyjk74i
The 3-3 Bruins would be bowl eligible with a win this weekend. Teams must have a winning percentage of .500 or better to qualify for bowls.
UCLA players seemed prepared for the possibility of skipping a potential bowl berth this season.
"Yeah, we haven't heard too much on that front, we're pretty much focused on Stanford and just what's ahead," tight end Greg Dulcichtold reportersTuesday. "This whole year has been about taking things in stride and whatever comes at us we will be ready for. We love playing football, so, that's my stance on that."
"Yeah, we haven't heard too much of that stuff, we're just focused on Stanford," wideoutEthan Fernea added Tuesday. "As far as I'm concerned we're not bowl eligible until we have a winning season, so we have to win that Stanford game before we start thinking about other stuff."
UCLA's release said the decision to decline a berth was led by the players, with support from the athletic department and head coach Chip Kelly.
Californiaregistered52,281 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday alone and the city of Los Angeles is currently under astay-at-home order. Like UCLA, Stanford (3-2) had previously announced it would forego a bowl game this year.
"As much as any of us in our hearts would love to play in a bowl game, the practicality—I don't see how we could do it," Stanford head coach David Shawtold reporterson Tuesday.
"The guys are great with it, they understand it, they're excited about this week, and they're excited about being able to see their families for the holidays," he added.
