Toma talk

So why is Wolf saying his sources said UCLA ripped Toma for convincing Teo to commit with Bruins. Leading to Toma ripping his NLI at signing day...

Brian, the word is that it was Chow on the phone with Toma during the announcement celebration. Can you confirm that?

Brian, the word is that UCLA and Norm Chow called Toma and told him the only reason they offered him a scholarship was to get Manti Te'o to sign. UCLA and Chow were mad that Te'o picked Notre Dame. That is also why Te'o chose ND and not USC, because USC would not offer Toma just to get Manti. Check that story out, you'll find it's the real truth. Toma switched to Notre Dame at the very last second because he was upset at the way UCLA treated him, and apparently Toma tore up his UCLA letter in disgust because he was so mad at UCLA.

Man there is so much talk on both sides about whether this kid's offer was pulled or whether he was scolded by UCLA staff for "not delivering Teo" and made to feel like he would be an outcast if he showed up in Westwood.

I wish the air could be cleared about this. I'm afraid rumors might hurt UCLA's future recruiting efforts in Hawaii if people believe Rick played dirty with Toma.

I can't believe the staff would do anything like that for fear of damaging relationships with Punahao players and coaches

Even if that was the reason Toma was offered the scholarship, do you really think Norm would call the kid and tell him that? Don't be dumb.

Toma had his offer. Te'o was a long shot, and everyone at UCLA knew that. It doesn't make sense for Norm to call this kid and chew him out for supposedly letting Te'o get away.

Plus it would mean that Norm is really lacking in judgment - chewing out Toma when he knows darn well UCLA will try to get Te'o after his mission.

My guess is that Neuheisel didn't pull the scholarship but I don't doubt that Toma was given an earful by him or one of his staff and that the program was relieved when he didn't sign.

Obviously something made him rethink his decision and I haven't heard any other reasonable explanations.
In the end, I don't see any way the truth will come out. Both sides want to leave it behind them.

As far as Bruinswin! concern about recruiting in Hawai'i, I don't think it will really affect it. The only thing that would hurt UCLA's standing in the islands would be if Norm Chow left the UCLA program, which is actually supposed to be a real concern in a year or so.

Totally agree BruinChick. Everyone in the recruiting world figured Teo was a long shot for UCLA which is why this whole rumor doesn't make sense.

On the other hand, it's suspicious that Toma had pretty much ZERO offers from major schools other than UCLA and Army until the last minute.

Bottom Line, "Bromance" Toma didn't have the stones to leave his beloved Manti. If UCLA was so vindictive than why didn't they pull Daltons offer? He had no problem signing. And SuC is bitter because they had to settle with a worst class than UCLA per Scout.com

A day or so before LOI day, Tom Lemming said that Toma will follow Te'o to Notre Dame. Apparently, Toma had already decided to follow Te'o to Notre Dame because what wasn't apparent was that a Notre Dame offer to Toma has been on the table for 3 weeks before LOI day.

I bet ND threw in the offer to Toma to seal the deal with Te'o. Te'o's dad never wanted him at UCLA. ND had to steal him from USC, and realized Toma could help him do it.

If nothing else, UCLA would have taken Toma now to get Te'o after the mission. Imagine the phone calls between the two of them - "Hey Roby, it's -12 here and snowing." "Hey Manti, it's 80 and sunny here, the beach is close, and the flight home isn't too long."

him=them

The Honolulu Advertiser — Posted Friday, February 6, 2009

Toma to play for Notre Dame

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser
Robert Toma

Punahou's Robert Toma, The Advertiser Offensive Co-Player of the Year, said last night he will fax his signed national letter of intent today to play football at Notre Dame.

It happens two days after the 5-foot-10, 170-pound receiver surprised the state — and probably UCLA, to which he had originally verbally committed — when he did not sign the Bruins' letter at Wednesday's mass signing day ceremony at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall.

"That Notre Dame offer was something I just couldn't pass up," Toma said. "It's a great opportunity."

The commitment also extends Toma's long-time football relationship with childhood friend and classmate Manti Te'o, the Defensive Player of the Year on the state and national levels who signed with the Fighting Irish at Wednesday's ceremony.

"Not a lot of people can say they played with their good friend from Pop Warner to high school and now at the collegiate level," Toma said.

Toma had verbally committed to UCLA in October. He said Notre Dame made him an offer about a month ago.

"I just didn't tell anybody because I didn't want anybody to freak out," Toma said. "I didn't make up my mind until (Wednesday). That's why I didn't sign. I needed time to think."

He has not taken a recruiting trip to Notre Dame, but said he still is allowed to and will probably do it after Punahou's basketball season.

Toma's non-signing Wednesday drew interest from blogs related to Notre Dame, UCLA and Southern California, the three schools on Te'o's final list.

"Inside USC," a Southern California football blog by Scott Wolf, reported, "This coincides with what we've heard from various sources that said UCLA and Toma had an unpleasant conversation after Te'o informed (UCLA) Monday night he would not come to Westwood."

"It was fine," Toma said when asked whether UCLA was upset. "It was my decision. UCLA was doing everything right. It was just me."

Until Notre Dame's offer, Toma said he had no other offers after he verbally committed to UCLA. But when word got out that Toma did not sign Wednesday, the University of Hawai'i also offered Toma.

"I love Coach Mack (UH coach Greg McMackin) and I love what he has going on at UH, but thought, for myself, I just needed to go out and explore," Toma said.

Net of all of this, Te'o will play one year under Touchdown Jesus for the fatman in sub zero conditions, go on his mission and be available for recruiting thereafter. My bet is that he signs with the Bruins in 3 years and has a wonderful career with us. BTW, everyone is painting Toma as a wannabe loser, not true. My nephew is a backup receiver on the Punahou football team as a sophomore and guess who the one guy on the varsity that gave a darn about him and helped him out? Robbie Toma. that he didn't sign with the Bruins is not a reflection of his character as I know it so cut him some slack here.

So it's down to what Toma told Stacy Kaneshiro of the Honalulu Advisor recently vs. what he told Robert Kekaula of KITV on signing day.

And the truth "the world will never know" duh-duh-duhh

I tend to trust the reporter with the print article with Toma in quotes, versus Wolfe's version of what Robert Kekaula told him about what Toma had told him.

What he told Robert Kekaula? Scott Wolf reported a conversation he had with Kekaula. Kekaula was not there at the signing nor talked with the major parties. He heard a few things, them came to his own conclusions. Wolf is the only person who has "reported" about ripping the UCLA letter up. If there is another source besides Wolf's 3rd or 4th hand account, please provide a link.

Good call BruinChick and Fan4Life. Now that you mention it, I'm a little curious as to Brian Dohn's source.

I'd hate to hear Dohn's turned to the Scott Wolf school of journalism.

Nice paste, BruinChick, reflective of the Toma that I have heard about from my nephew. Who knows (or cares) about Wolf and his string of rumors from someone 10 times removed? Has he ever been to Hawaii does he have any idea what Punahou is like or where it even is?? Doubtful.

Thanks! Here is the link.
http://hawaiipreps.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090206/SPORTS03/902060372/1032&template=PrepSports

Hmmm, lets see... believe Dohn or believe Wolf? I'll take Dohn's source over Wolf any day of the week. I'm not surprised that an 'sc beat reporter is trying to stir the pot.

This isn't Brian vs Scott

Brian: The offer wasn't pulled.
Wolf: There was an unpleasent phone call.
These are not mutually exclusive events.
BRIAN: CLEAR THE AIR, DID UCLA HAVE AN "UNPLEASANT" CONVERSATION WITH TOMA?

I believe the article in the Honolulu Advertiser answers that question - quoting the horse himself.

Here are more Toma quotes. No mention of UCLA pulling his offer!

http://notredame.scout.com/2/837238.html

It would make a lot of sense for UCLA not to want Toma. A. They're loaded at WR. B. No Toma in LA means T'eo could not think to himself "at least its the same city" and sign with USC. If UCLA coaches thought by driving away Toma they could also keep T'eo out of USC, I'm glad they did whatever it is that they did. I just hope this doesn't hurt our recruiting down the road if it proves to be true. Oh, and any "reporter" that spends days talking about dance girls and cheerleaders on his blog, well... his opinion means nothing to me.

nice mightybruin. That's two independent sources, with quotes.

'Toma said it was very tough for him to not sign with UCLA, a school he’s been committed to since October.

'You never want to break your word, and I didn’t want to upset coach (Norm) Chow or anybody. I just hope they can respect me, because I know I’ll be happy at Notre Dame. I’m not saying I wouldn’t of been happy at UCLA, but Notre Dame seemed like the perfect place for me to go and do well.'"

A quote from the article.

My friend's son plays for Punahou. He said that there was no unpleasant conversation between Toma and UCLA, though Toma did ask if UCLA was still trying to sign Randall Carroll because he was studying the depth chart. He said Toma was concerned with the number of young receivers on the team.

“The offer came about three weeks ago,” Toma said. “I just didn’t tell anyone. Only me and my family, and Manti and his family knew anything about it.

“I didn’t want anything coming out, because at the time, I was committed to UCLA. But after praying and talking with my family, God really showed me that Notre Dame was the right choice for me.”

That settles it...it's God's fault

hahahaha.

"it's God's fault"

Is Bruinswin! actually Charlie Weis, because the fatman always says God is (a Fighting) Irish.

Bruinbalssy - good call! You've got it dialed! Toma skipped town after he looked at the UCLA depth chart & saw all the good receivers in front of him. Then he "prayed" ND still had a scholie left to offer.

If Notre Dame football comes calling, even at the last minute, most kids are going to take it. It's still Notre Dame, no matter who's coaching it and no matter record. Now, on the flip side, if UCLA basketball comes calling at the last minute, you answer the phone. Just ask Roll and Westbrook. We're they destined for the Big West Conference until a (late) spot opened up at UCLA. From all accounts, this guy Toma isn't really a high-caliber player anyway so why is everyone fussing over him. If you had to choose between Carroll and Toma, who would you take? I think brings closure.

But why doesn't Wolf write about Teo souring on USC because of PC's tantrum showing his true colors.

Someone's friends son says... well, that's just a Scott Wolf fact there.

Speaking of anonymous source quoters, isn't Brian supposed to reveal his.

If RT wants to go to ND with his friend, so be it. It is his life and in 30 years, he not we, has to live with the decision.

We had an amazing recruiting year that resulted in some very talented players who will be coming in next season. The program will be stronger and it shows the coaching staff can hold their own with some of the elite programs. There is a lot to look forward to with Bruin football!

It is probably going a bit overboard to dwell too much on a young man who was trying to make a life changing decision. Anything beyond that, blog opinions, print and electronic media reporting, he said, she said...is ultimately irrelevant...

My thoughts on signing day is that a sleeping giant (our program) who is waking up is getting into position to rake havoc in the Pac 10 and beyond...Go Bruins!!

It was reported that Toma ripped up his UCLA LOI at the signing day ceremony. Brian, is that true?

Who reported that they saw that first-hand, cv? Link?? Did you read the quotes by Toma saying UCLA did everything right, and that he just liked ND better and wanted to play w/Te'o? Can't it be that simple?

A better question now is why are SC folks still so desperate in this one instance to cling to this rumor and believe in their beat-writer's TMZ-style reporting who they normally discredit time and time again...

Scott Wolf needs to be fired. How can a "journalist" be allowed to lie and report false news over, and over, and over. It's simply ridiculous.

What everyone says here is correct and based on Toma's direct quotes. Everything else is unsubstantiated rumor or flat-out lies.

"Inside USC," a Southern California football blog by Scott Wolf, reported, "This coincides with what we've heard from various sources that said UCLA and Toma had an unpleasant conversation after Te'o informed (UCLA) Monday night he would not come to Westwood."

"It was fine," Toma said when asked whether UCLA was upset. "It was my decision. UCLA was doing everything right. It was just me."

Teddies and TrOJies are gross. BruinChick and BruinGirl you are so much better than these corrupt people, you should have gone to Cal.

I'd think you all would love Scott Wolf, he constantly calls "Caesar" out on what he believes is wrong.

And I'll say it once again, it's interesting that Dohn is allowed to slide without naming his sources.

I guess everyone loves a cheerleader.