Jim Mora Is Staying At UCLA, So Everyone, Back Off!
Dec 31, 2013; El Paso, TX, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Jim Mora holds the 2013 Sun Bowl trophy after defeating Virginia Tech Hokies 42-12 at Sun Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
How much clearer can UCLA head football coach Jim Mora be? He is not interested in coaching anywhere in the nation, except for the location he currently coaches at now, in Westwood.
A Twitter-storm broke out Thursday, January 6, when reports came out of the woodwork that the University of Texas Football program was very interested in hiring Mora to replace “retired” head coach Mack Brown.
Texas is interested in UCLA coach Jim Mora as a possible replacement for Mack Brown, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 2, 2014
Texas eyes Jim Mora as Mack Brown's successor. http://t.co/uojceKC3Uu
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) January 3, 2014
Put a 10 gallon hat on Jim Mora and he looks just like a Texas kinda guy
— Drew (@MasterDroo) January 2, 2014
Some of those already had Mora going to Texas, even though he had already said he was not interested a few weeks ago. Many stated that $5-10 million would be available to Mora if he took the job and that staying at UCLA made no sense, to sum up. His previous views about staying at UCLA can be read in the article, Jim Mora Is Happy To Be Coaching UCLA Football.
A Twitter-storm of UCLA supports and those with the proper know-how about the program, fired back at several of these reports. Some with sound logic.
Still don't think that Jim Mora-to-Texas happens. Maybe there has been contact, but jumping to UT, esp now wouldn't match Mora's MO at all.
— Ryan Kartje (@Ryan_Kartje) January 3, 2014
Mora to Texas? Oh, is this the part where we all run around & panic?!
— La Femme Bruin 👋😒 (@LaFemmeBruin) January 3, 2014
*Yawn* Yeah, not gonna happen.
I get it. Jim Mora is a hot topic right now. Why? Because he has done something that few coaches are able to, especially at a big university, and that is change the culture. Since the moment he was hired at UCLA, Mora took this program in the direction he needed it to go to be a successful program. Now look at him, he has a 10-win season, a bowl victory and a hell of a team set-up for next year, and that is without the guys yet to sign a Letter of Intent to play Bruin Football next year.
Look, if Mora goes anywhere, it is because a coach got fired. And why did the coach get fired, because his team was not producing. Does Jim Mora really want to start over and rebuild another program? Probably not. He is starting an Empire in Westwood, and although the pay would be good, he would be leaving a place where he is already king. He sent this tweet out this morning:
So get the point, America. Mora turned down Texas. He is NOT interested in any other job.
Mike W.R.
Twitter: @TheBigDisco