UCLA Football Briefs
By Derek Hart
Here’s what’s up with UCLA’s football team as they left for Eugene, OR today to face #9 Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship Game at Autzen Stadium this Friday night…
According to the Los Angeles Times…
Soon-to-be-ex-Bruin football coach Rick Neuheisel was carried off the field after UCLA last practice on Wednesday, with the players singing the school’s fight song along the way.
“I’m excited to be traveling with this team one more time and I’m looking forward to a great effort Friday night,” Neuheisel said. “…we know we’re playing a damn good football team in a tough environment. We’ll…see how it turns out.”
For the record, UCLA is a 32 point underdog to Oregon.
Hey, here’s some actual good news for UCLA…
The NCAA granted the Bruins a waiver, which they had already applied for several days earlier, to play in a bowl game should they lose to the Ducks tomorrow, which would leave them at 6-7 for the year and – according to NCAA rules – ineligible for the post seaosn as only teams with records of .500 or better are allowed to play in bowls.
“I’m glad they are going to get that opportunity.” Rick Neuheisel said.
Offensive coordinator Mike Johnson will take over as interim head coach for the bowl game.
Some TV information about the Pac-12 Championship game:
Fox Channel 11 will air the matchup between the Bruins and the Ducks locally, starting at 5:00 p.m.
And on a personal note…
Deep down, while the 50-0 humiliation by USC was exactly that – humiliating – I truly feel that the Trojans did UCLA a favor by beating the Bruins as badly as they did.
The reason?
Because that triggered the beginning of the changes, starting with Neuheisel getting the axe, that were sorely needed in the Bruin football program.
Will UCLA get these changes with a new coach?
That remains to be seen, but it will be most interesting to see how things will unfold.