Diamond83 on Twitter reminded me today of a comment former UCLA Coach Bob Toledo made upon the occasion of UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero’s hiring.

(Guess that didn’t go over too well after all)

From UCLA’s DAILY BRUIN:

Next for the UCLA athletic department is a month-long effort to secure a smooth transition from the Dalis to the Guerrero era.

Toledo even suggested a way to break the ice.

“We’ll make tacos together,” he said, with a laugh.

Toledo and Guerrero are both Latino. Read more…

Michael David Smith of PRO FOOTBALL TALK has a nugget from the NASHVILLE TENNESSEAN which sums up the acumen of football *fans* north of Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles.

Vince Young, who is back in school at Texas (we’re sure his mom had nothing to do with that) , on how he has been received by classmates: “The kids, they’re shocked. One day I walk into class to a standing ovation and my teacher — she’s from UCLA — she was like ‘What’s going on?’ I guess she thought the applause was for her … The kids have been giving me a lot of love. Some kids are like, ‘Why are you back? You’ve got all this money.’ That’s not what I’m shooting for. I want to get my degree.”

Having lived in Lipstick City for eight years, that reax is right-on when it comes to UCLAers. Why do you think Dan Guerrero had no choice but to hire a two-time loser as head football coach?

The PORTLAND OREGONIAN reacts in hushed tones today to a report in the ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER that Oregon Coach Mike Bellotti is talking to UCLA open the school’s football coaching vacancy. The P-O notes that “Nobody at Oregon denied the interest is mutual.”

It’s only mutual in the sense that Bellotti knows that he can use the scenario to possibly extract more jack out of the Ducks. We can’t think of too many jobs Bellotti would leave Eugene for, and UCLA certainly isn’t on the list. The compensation at the school is embarrassing low and Westwood’s well-monied boosters won’t be dropping a boatload of cash on a football coach anytime soon - Bellotti included.

Then again, with the installation of mini-bar in Bellotti’s Rose Bowl suite, we might be talking a deal.

“TRUE BRUIN” KARL DORRELL DUMPED AFTER FIVE YEARS: The LOS ANGELES TIMES reports today that Karl Dorrell has been fired by UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero.

Statement from Guerrero: “This was a very difficult decision for me. Karl has represented this program with dignity and class. He is a true Bruin and I respect what he has accomplished in his five years as our head coach, particularly off the field.“The folks at USC would certainly agree that Dorrell was a “true Bruin”, which is why they are so upset that he was fired.

MORE: “Boise State’s Chris Petersen, Texas Tech’s Mike Leach and former NFL coach Steve Mariucci have already been contacted by representatives on behalf of the athletic department. DeWayne Walker will be the Bruins’ interim coach for the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 22..“