Neuheisel Officially Named UCLA Head Coach

by Paragon SC on Dec 29, 2007 1:11 PM PST in USC Football

Dec. 29, 2007

Rick Neuheisel, who quarterbacked UCLA to victory in the 1984 Rose Bowl and who compiled a record of 66-30 as a collegiate head coach, has been named his alma mater's 16th head football coach, Bruin athletic director Dan Guerrero announced today.

Good!

I can't wait.

I will have more on this later this evening as I had a feeling this was the way they would go and I already had a post in the can ready to go which I will put up later.

This is going to be great!!!

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Good for the ucla football program

They finally hired a coach that has promise. The only question with RN is his baggage, which unless he is a total moron, will probably stay in his past. I look for the bruins to be much more competitive in as little as 2 seasons.

by frak on Dec 29, 2007 1:27 PM PST reply actions

Agreed...

I like the hire from a football standpoint makes the Pac 10 more competitive and the rivalry will fun for us again.

I could care less what they think across town, but I would agree with you that it should take him about 2 years provided he keeps DW if he doesn't it make tke a little while longer because he has RN really doesn't have the ties to the inner city that DW has.

not really sure that they will lose 10-15 recruits, as Dohn stated, if DW bolts. I think they lose 5-7 max.

Like I said this will fun!!

by Paragon SC on Dec 29, 2007 1:38 PM PST up reply actions

Any bets on when we'll see the first violation?

This guy sued the NCAA. That program is going to be under even more of a microscope than USC is. He also has more than just that basketball pool in his checkered past. He lied about the pool when first asked, lied about interviewing with the 49ers, was reprimanded for recruiting violations at Washington, and left Colorado with sanctions from his recruiting. Questionable hire for a program that supposedly hired Dorrell to help clean it up.

by bwren on Dec 29, 2007 3:15 PM PST reply actions

Here's hoping...

he can get their football program back to its rightful place as a mediocre, almost-ran force on the national stage.

by Defender90 on Dec 29, 2007 8:41 PM PST reply actions

If the NCAA had more than 5 people

investigating violations, I would say that they would probably stick to Neuheisel like glue. However I think that Reggie Bush is way more on their radar than Neuheisel returning to the college ranks.

The only negative thing that I will say about Rick Neuheisel is that they are hiring a guy with a known track record for breaking rules, and causing media circuses. Some of the BN people like to believe that their program is about more than winning. Hiring Rick Neuheisel isn't going to do good things for the integrity of ucla. Well Rick Neuheisel has a tarnished image, and will have to run an extra squeaky clean program, or it just might blow up in their faces.

Right now every news story about the Neuheisel hire has a nice portion dedicated to all the troubles hes been involved with. Its not exactly the greatest PR you can have. Maybe Rick has put it all behind him. If he has, then I will wish him luck. If he hasn't I think its safe to say that there will be a lot of "I told you so" flying around Westwood.

by frak on Dec 29, 2007 9:41 PM PST reply actions

If anything

it has been quite refreshing to see the usual suspects over at BN blogging stuff like:

"That was a long time ago"
"He was exonerated" &
"Those violations weren't any big deal"

Since when have they cared about anyone being exonerated of anything.

by frak on Dec 30, 2007 12:23 AM PST reply actions

Neuweasel's torching of UW

Being exonerated isn't the same as being found not guilty. The NCAA and the lame UW athletic director bungled the investigation (a change in bylaws meant the NCAA had the responsibility to inform Neuheisel that they were looking into his gambling instead of surprising him with the announcement), so they felt obligated to offer a settlement as opposed to risking a mistrial. Exonerate means to free from blame or responsibility. Since the case never went to a jury, there was no ruling on the validity of the charges themselves.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2002200253_kell08.html

In addition to lieing to the NCAA (twice), Neuweasel lied to his boss, which is grounds for dismissal almost anywhere as far as I know. Maybe he means what he says about conducting himself differently. I'm sure that certain pious bloggers across town will use the same measuring stick for their new hire that they've used for USC (about as responsibly as the accusers in the Salem witch trials). If he doesn't though, it'll certainly be a big fat karmic kick in the powder blue a*s.

by Defender90 on Dec 31, 2007 1:26 AM PST up reply actions