UCLA QB's Dad Eviscerates 'Million Dollar Coach' Chip Kelly over Winless Start
The Chip Kelly era at UCLA is off to a bad start, and the father of quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson has laid the blame squarely on the shoulders of the coach.
In a series of tweets, Michael Robinson, the quarterback’s father, called out Kelly after the Bruins got blasted 38-14 by Fresno State (2-1).
“It is all about the coaching, lousy coaching and play calling… Coaching that is so bad that it demands closed practices… Million dollar coach who bares (sic) no responsibility… Just random observations from a frustrated dad!” Michael Robinson said.
He is speaking on and about the factual… It is all about the coaching, lousy coaching and play calling… Coaching that is so bad that it demands closed practices… Million dollar coach who bares no responsibility… Just random observations from a frustrated dad!
— Michael Robinson (@DoriansDAD) September 17, 2018
His son, a freshman, came to UCLA as the 36th-ranked prospect in the Class of 2018 out of Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas.
He started the year as the backup to Wilson Speight, but Speight got injured in the team’s season-opening 26-17 loss to Cincinnati and Thompson-Robinson was thrust into the starting role. Saturday against Fresno State he went 10-for-24 for 151 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He also ran for 49 yards.
After one of the interceptions, Kelly was shown on the sidelines barking at his young quarterback.
Look, coach Kelly, if you wish to call him this is 4 and 26 for his last offensively called football games… Dorian has only played in 3 of the last 30 games… Can you say duped!
— Michael Robinson (@DoriansDAD) September 17, 2018
Kelly said he simply wanted to know what Thompson-Robinson had seen on that play.
“There’s a lot there to work with,” Kelly said of his quarterback during his postgame press conference. “There were times when we were really happy with what he did, and there were times when we will watch the film and correct him. The great thing about Dorian is he doesn’t seem to make the same mistake more than once.”
“The one thing he lacks is experience, and he’s getting it in games and that’s part of the growing process,” he said.
Thompson-Robinson downplayed the sideline conversation.
“I gave him an answer and it was just move on,” Thompson-Robinson said after the game, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Wide receiver Theo Howard, who connected with Thompson-Robinson on a 45-yard touchdown pass, urged patience.
“Obviously it’s a brand-new offense. We’re still working on jelling and getting together,” Howard told the Times. “We have new faces on the line. We have true freshmen that are playing at the receiver and running back spot. Everybody’s just getting used to each other and trying to play.”
“It’s a process, but we’ll get there. We just have to keep the faith,” he said.
His years at Oregon was simply a fluke on his part… I am sure that he stood on the shoulders of the actual player callers… Random thoughts, outside looking in, closed practices…
— Michael Robinson (@DoriansDAD) September 17, 2018
But Michael Robinson, for one, has seen enough of Kelly.
“His years at Oregon was simply a fluke on his part… I am sure that he stood on the shoulders of the actual player callers… Random thoughts, outside looking in, closed practices,” Robinson tweeted.
The Bruins have not gone 0-3 to start a season since 1971. After a much-needed bye this week, the Bruins take on 3-0 Colorado on Sept. 28.
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