UCLA Football: Rick Neuheisel Said What?

Former UCLA Football Head Coach Rick Neuheisel made some head scratching remarks on SiriusXM College Sports Nation, inferring that it would not be such a bad idea if the Bruins move to the Big 12. When you stop laughing, please continue reading.

So stay with me. Rick Neuheisel stated that UCLA Football could go to the Big 12. Alright, that’s enough, stop laughing.

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Yes, we remember when Coach Neu said that Mora never really changed the culture of the program just “painted the walls black”. These comments were weirder than that.

On Wednesday, the former Bruin quarterback and head coach gave his thoughts on the recent talks of expansion that has hit the Big 12 Conference as he joined Chris Childers on SiriusXM College Sports. The conversation had begun with Childers envisioning Colorado returning to the Big 12, with Neuheisel immediately striking that notion down.

The former Bruin countered with the possibility of seeing schools like Cal, Arizona and Arizona State leaving for the Big 12. Weird, right? Well just wait until you hear the next part.

Neuheisel then brought up his alma mater into the discussion. The reason being is that, like Texas A&M did with Texas in bolting for the SEC, UCLA would want to “branch away” from crosstown rival USC. It would not shock Neuheisel at all.

UCLA Bruins

Anther aspect to a UCLA-to-the-Big-12 move, according to Neuheisal, is that Los Angeles would be a fantastic market for the Big 12 to tap into. There is no doubt about that, and that is a good reason, but there is no logic to any of this.

UCLA is a proud school and there is no possible way to rationalize going to the Big 12. To want to get away from USC, is an absurd reason. I’ll tell you this, UCLA will take each and every chance they get to take on USC (you can 8 clap me later for that). Both Bruins and Trojans are proud people and to go to another conference would diminish that hostile, yet competitive relationship.

Secondly, do you really think the Pac-12 would want to lose UCLA and half the LA market? Come on, coach! UCLA is engrained in the west. They are the definition of the west. There could be no way a UC school goes middle America (not that there is anything wrong with that).

Third, as much as it would be dandy for the Big 12 to have the LA market, it would only be a one way street. Fans of Texas, Oklahoma and Baylor (for example — actually, the entire Big 12 for that matter) would make plans for a matchup at the Rose Bowl five years in advance.

UCLA (and I love my school, but) does not travel well. It is hard enough getting the fan base to Stanford, Washington State or Colorado, do you really think they are going to head out to (with respect) Iowa State, Texas Tech or bloody West Virginia?!?!? That would be just perfect to go cross country for a conference game every other year (and every year for basketball and all other UCLA sports for that matter).

(Okay, rant over.)

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Though it would be an interesting scenario, I cannot see UCLA ever leaving the Pac-12. For the most part, I cannot imagine any of the 12 institutions that are in the Conference of Chapmions to leave. It is just that awesome.