When UCLA Football Head Coach Jim Mora took over the program four years ago, he promised a national championship… but will it ever happen?
Speaking of the National Championship Game (which airs tonight at 5:30 p.m. PT on ESPN) will the UCLA Football team ever get a chance to play on the big stage?
An ambitious Jim Mora took over the Bruins four years ago and changed the culture of the program from one of a doormat to one of a pugilist. Mora came in with hopes of success, and to a degree, he has reached that, but there is a lot more he has yet to accomplish. The biggest one, which came from his own mouth, was winning a National Championship.
Not just getting 10 wins. Not just beating USC. Not just winning the South Division. Not just winning the Pac-12… winning the National Championship.
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That is a tall order and unfortunately, Bruin fans are expecting nothing less, but how real is that for the UCLA Football team going forward?
For a team to reach those heights, many things have to happen. A team needs a solid roster, great development, top notch recruiting, intensive game planning and in-game adjustments, just to name a few.
It seems that teams like Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson, Stanford and TCU are all doing this on a regular basis, so what is holding back UCLA?
Simply, there just needs to be more. It seems UCLA is getting to that point, especially with specific players and coaches, but as a whole, the team has not yet been elevated to that level of national prominence.
This paat season, UCLA looked to have one of the fiercest defenses in the country, unfortunately they lost three key superstars as Myles Jack, Eddie Vanderdoes and Fabian Moreau all went down with season-ending injuries. A defense simply cannot survive when this happens.
On offense, things broke down with the offensive line and that negatively affected the Bruins late in the season and hampered both the running and passing game.
Still, the Bruins have been effective in recruiting, which will help depth and bring in better talent. The situation with this is if coaching can bring out and properly develop that talent. The coaching situation is also a work in progress.
Currently, the Bruins are in transition with coaches in an effort to take that next step. Former Offensive Coordiantor Noel Mazzone, who seemed to have over stayed his welcome (at least with fans), has now taken the same position with Texas A&M. Former QB coach Taylor Mazzone is also heading to College Station.
Replacing them, is Kennedy Polamalu at OC and former USC coach Marques Tuiasosopo being hired for the QB coaching spot. It is yet to be seen if they can elevate the offense, though so far these promotions/hiring a have left a mixed reaction from UCLA Football fans.
Still, despite what fans think, Jim Mora is making decisions that he believes will take UCLA to elite status. If this is the team he wants, then now is the time to act. Next season Mora is going to be expected to do a lot more than he did the last four seasons.
Bruin fans will not hold him to the standard of winning a National Championship (at least not yet), but he does need to prove that he is on his way.
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Next season, UCLA needs to start that process by beating Stanford, USC, winning the Soutth Division and getting to the Pac-12 Championship Game. At that point we will know that UCLA Football is on a path to greatness and able to compete for NCs.