Tracy McDannald
@tracymcdannald.bsky.social
260 followers 140 following 2.3K posts
Freelance sports writer covering UCLA football/men’s basketball and recruiting for BruinBlitz.com and HS sports around the South Bay and Long Beach for Southern California News Group
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Bruin Blitz has learned that a handful of recruits from Mission Viejo and Sierra Canyon are on campus at UCLA practice Thursday morning.

The names on the @uclaon3.bsky.social board ⤵️

📝: www.on3.com/boards/threa...
Reposted by Tracy McDannald
WATCH: UCLA slot receiver Mikey Matthews and tight end Hudson Habermehl met with the media after Wednesday’s practice to look back on the improving results on offense.

Plus, thoughts on the renovated field, and more.

📝: www.on3.com/sites/bruin-...

(🎥: @tracymcdannald.bsky.social)
A new week, another new message from UCLA interim head coach Tim Skipper to the players.

“The standard is the standard.”

TE Hudson Habermehl after Wednesday’s practice:
UCLA formally announced it will wear its powder blue throwback uniforms for Saturday’s homecoming game against Maryland. No surprise considering all the social media logos and posts have been with a lighter shade of blue in the UCLA logo.
Back for another practice in Westwood
The UCLA practice field looks good to go, 24 hours after rain changed practice plans
Reposted by Tracy McDannald
One of the more difficult things to pinpoint in UCLA’s turnaround is how exactly the defense turned everything around just weeks after missing several tackles each game.

A reset and more time together appears to be all they needed:
UCLA defense finds closer bond amid coaching ‘chaos’
A closer look at how a UCLA defense, with all the same pieces during an 0-4 start, turned its season around under new leadership.
www.on3.com
“We’re having a lot of fun."

Things have changed quickly for UCLA, which has built momentum with a pair of Big Ten wins in recent weeks. DL Keanu Williams spoke about the changes for the Bruins following Tuesday's practice.
WATCH: DL Keanu Williams discusses UCLA's recent success
Veteran defensive lineman Keanu Williams breaks down the keys to UCLA's recent success following several coaching moves.
www.on3.com
“All that chaos kind of just brought us closer together as players."

UCLA has built momentum after a rocky start, and veteran DL Devin Aupiu spoke Tuesday about how the Bruins have worked to regroup after all the turmoil.
WATCH: DL Devin Aupiu breaks down impact in UCLA's win over Michigan State
UCLA defensive lineman Devin Aupiu looks back on his forced fumble and the latest win for the Bruins against Michigan State.
www.on3.com
True, but to do it all in three weeks is pretty unheard of
One of the more difficult things to pinpoint in UCLA’s turnaround is how exactly the defense turned everything around just weeks after missing several tackles each game.

A reset and more time together appears to be all they needed:
UCLA defense finds closer bond amid coaching ‘chaos’
A closer look at how a UCLA defense, with all the same pieces during an 0-4 start, turned its season around under new leadership.
www.on3.com
We were told that over time, once it sets into the soil, it will improve and drain quicker
🎶Now I know, only I can stop the rain🎶

Appropriate music choice as UCLA gets practice started on the intramural fields after its renovated practice field was flooded by the rain this morning
UCLA interim head coach Tim Skipper just exited the Wasserman Football Center and walked by, on his way to the intramural fields.

“Yeah, we’re going over there. We can’t do that.”
Was just told that UCLA will be practicing on the intramural fields today due to the rain
Was just told that UCLA will be practicing on the intramural fields today due to the rain
📍UCLA

Well, that’s quite a bit of rain
"I think the guys are working really hard, and it’s starting to pay off for them."

UCLA is building some momentum under interim head coach Tim Skipper, and he spoke about the latest victory for the Bruins in his weekly media session Monday morning.
WATCH: Tim Skipper reflects on road win over Michigan State
UCLA interim head coach Tim Skipper addressed a number of topics with reporters Monday following the Bruins' win over Michigan State.
www.on3.com
UCLA interim head coach Tim Skipper was asked today by Ben Bolch about the national coverage as it relates to whether he’s being given enough credit:
Overall, there are six teams from the Big Ten ranked in the preseason top 25 led by No. 1 Purdue
UCLA checks in at No. 12 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 men’s basketball poll
As of today, there are still four ranked opponents left on UCLA’s remaining schedule, including two of the top three
It’s always nice to see the Cubs have their season ended
The Milwaukee Brewers advance to the NLCS
I can say for a fact they liked Foster and Ikaika Malloe. Nico Iamaleava would continue to praise Tino Sunseri and say the plan wasn’t being executed. So, the players continually looked inward over pointing fingers.

It could just be a matter of philosophies better suited to mask any deficiencies.