UCLA Football

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Ex-UCLA OL John Lopez Flies $15M Lawsuit Against Jim Mora, Staff and NCAA

May 30, 2019
PALO ALTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 23: Head coach Jim Mora of the UCLA Bruins looks on while his team warms up prior to playing the Stanford Cardinal in a NCAA football game at Stanford Stadium on September 23, 2017 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
PALO ALTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 23: Head coach Jim Mora of the UCLA Bruins looks on while his team warms up prior to playing the Stanford Cardinal in a NCAA football game at Stanford Stadium on September 23, 2017 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Former UCLA offensive tackle John Lopez has filed a $15 million lawsuit against the school, former head coach Jim Mora and the NCAA.

Per TMZ Sports, Lopez said in the lawsuit he attempted suicide through a combination of over-the-counter and prescription medications in 2016 as the result of repeated concussions he suffered in practices during his three years with the program.

Lopez alleges Mora and the coaching staff rushed him back onto the field after suffering his first two concussions during practice in August 2013 and August 2014. He described the drills after his second injury as "unnecessarily brutal."

Per TMZ, Lopez also said he was "ridiculed for being injured" and his teammates were "encouraged" to hurt him.

A third concussion suffered in December 2015 forced Lopez to leave the team. The California native also said he experienced "drastic changes in his demeanor" as a result of the head injuries.

A UCLA spokesperson issued a statement to TMZ Sports:

"While we cannot comment on the specific details of a pending lawsuit, we want to make it clear that the health and safety of our student-athletes is UCLA's top priority.

"We strongly deny and will defend ourselves against the allegations made in the lawsuit. We handle every injury with the highest standard of care, and take potential head injuries very seriously. As one of the world's leading research institutions, and a partner in the largest-ever concussion research study conducted by the U.S. Department of Defense and NCAA, we believe our concussion protocol is among the strongest in the country.

"Our team physicians and sports medicine staff work hand-in-hand on diagnosis, monitoring and treatment, and they are the only individuals who determine when a student-athlete is cleared to participate in their sport; coaches are not involved in these decisions."

Mora spent six seasons as head coach at UCLA before being fired in November 2017. 

Lopez committed to the Bruins in August 2012 and officially enrolled in school the following June. 

Former UCLA Football Coach Terry Donahue Diagnosed with Cancer

May 22, 2019
PASADENA, CA - OCTOBER 12: Former head coach Terry Donahue attends the game between the UCLA Bruins and the California Golden Bears at the Rose Bowl on October 12, 2013 in Pasadena, California. UCLA won 37-10. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - OCTOBER 12: Former head coach Terry Donahue attends the game between the UCLA Bruins and the California Golden Bears at the Rose Bowl on October 12, 2013 in Pasadena, California. UCLA won 37-10. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Former UCLA Bruins football coach Terry Donahue has been diagnosed with cancer and is beginning chemotherapy after undergoing surgery on Friday, according to a press release from UCLA.

Donahue, 74, spent 20 seasons (1976-95) as UCLA's head coach, going 151-74-8 during his time at the school. He led the Bruins to 13 bowl games (winning eight), five Pac-10 titles and finished ranked in the top 10 on five separate occasions.

Between 1982-88 he won an impressive seven straight bowl games, including three Rose Bowls. 

He also guided some of the best players in program history, including Troy Aikman, Kenny Easley, Jonathan Ogden, Ken Norton, Jr. and Jerry Robinson.

Donahue also played his college ball at UCLA as a defensive tackle. He spent five years on the team's staff, including two under Dick Vermeil, before being named the head coach.

Donahue then served as the San Francisco 49ers director of player personnel from 1999-00 and was the general manager from 2001-05. The Niners went 35-45 under his guidance, though they did win a division title and make two playoff appearances.

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