Coach Rick Neuehisel On UCLA: "A Romantic Place To Call Home"

by Nestor on Aug 29, 2010 10:18 AM PDT in Football

Jon Gold from the LA Daily News recently sat down with Coach Rick Neuheisel to get his thoughts and reflections before the official start of UCLA's 2010 season. Gold lobbed some tough questions to CRN which could have easily tripped any seasoned D1 coach up. Yet just check out how CRN handled it:

On comparing the talent level now to in Karl Dorrell's last season:"It's not necessary for me to do that. It's for some other people to do that. My job is to go and get the very best and brightest to come to UCLA, and if I showcase this university as it can be showcased - with effort and with the ability to take them on the tour myself - if I do that, I know it's a tough thing to turn down. The proof is in the pudding. We've done a nice job with the guys we've gotten to campus, in terms of our percentages. Our batting average is always going to be high, because this is as beautiful a campus as there is in the country and an unbelievable environment for which to go to school. It's got great historical roots and it's still a romantic place to call home."

Well there is not much we can add to that. Go over to Gold's blog to read rest of the Q&A including CRN's definitive response on the much discussed Shirley/Richardsons. CRN provides text book examples on how to hit home runs off every curve ball thrown at him and turn them into positives for UCLA.

Given our early season injury issues and brutal schedule, I expect 2010 to be a challenging year. Yet I find myself most excited about UCLA football since the Fall of 1998. The vibe around Rick Neuheisel's program is unmistakable and it is not going to diminish despite the toxic cynicism from the Trojan lapdogs dominated Southern Cal traditional media and the national ones dominated by hacks and frontrunners, who are just out to drive up their corporate bottom line.

Let's sit back and enjoy this ride. There will be our share of downs and adversity in the coming season. However, you can finally sense the natural leadership and optimism that has been missing from UCLA football in two/three decades in Westwood. If CRN and his staff keep recruiting and coaching like they have been last two seasons, the journey to the promised land is going to be that much sweeter without all the bandwagoners around us.

GO BRUINS.

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Comments

High road.

I love the way he handles questions from the media. True class. Doesn’t take the bait and still swings for the fences in his response.

Comparing us to the 1998 vibe? Not sure if we’re there yet, but hopefully he is right on that one.

by Bruin'96 on Aug 29, 2010 11:24 AM PDT reply actions

edit: I hope you are right on that one.....

by Bruin'96 on Aug 29, 2010 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions

I totally agree w you

We are nowhere close to the 98 team in terms of a finished product. However, when I wrote about “vibe” I was referring to the trajectory of our program in terms of what we were seeing and hearing out of Spaulding and out of recruiting trail.

by Nestor on Aug 29, 2010 11:37 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions

Trajectory, yes !

by northbaybruin on Aug 29, 2010 12:04 PM PDT up reply actions

Now, when I hear 'vibe' I think 'passion buckets'

Under the old coach there was no passion, no energy and no fire (but I don’t want to starting a bash-athon for a fellow bruin – thankfully my failures haven’t been as public).

CRN didn’t wait until the first spring practice to give his passion bucket speech – he started lighting that fire at a Benball game!

BTW: I think CRN has let slip something with his “A Romantic Place To Call Home” comment – I think the guy loves UCLA. I think that this is more than a job for him it is his passion

by KnudsenRockne on Aug 29, 2010 4:23 PM PDT up reply actions

No slip

He is crazy about UCLA. It has been obvious in everything he has done when he was here as a student, assistant coach and now back at head coach. KD was a good Bruin but he treated his responsibilities as another “job.” CRN on the other hand not only takes in his responsibilities but from what he has projected he approaches it with passion and sheer labor of love. We can see the results on recruiting front, how his players (including seniors who were recruited by KD) and coaches (like Chow) are loyal to him. I am optimistic that we will see the results play out in his favor on the field in next few years as well.

by Nestor on Aug 30, 2010 5:31 AM PDT up reply actions

Exactly

Coaching isn’t exactly a job that can be half assed in any way, his passion is a nice change. I don’t think trad media has a clue on what CRN is bringing to UCLA.

by Bruin'96 on Aug 30, 2010 6:53 PM PDT up reply actions

i continue to be impressed

Neu is such a class act. I’m still amazed at what a bad rap he gets from the trad media idiots and the rest of college football. He always, and I mean always, gives the right answer in a classy and respectful yet competitive manner. I’ve said this before here but I am very proud to have him represent our fine university.

by DoubleTroubleBruin on Aug 29, 2010 12:59 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

TradMed on CRN

I don’t get the “Slick Rick” moniker the tradmed bestowed upon CRN.

That Wash mess turned out not his bad so all he’s done were some minor recruiting violations – and he took his lumps and learned his lesson. Bear in mind, that sort of minor recruiting violations are so common that all 4 or 5 star recruits see some school break a rule or two.

Note: I’m not excusing him but someone please tell me how does his “screw up” make him any more ‘slick’ than, say, Lane Kiffin or Pete Carroll? It’s like being label a criminal for a speeding ticket.

by KnudsenRockne on Aug 29, 2010 5:40 PM PDT up reply actions

It is indeed romantic place for CRN and wife Susan,

producing 3 football boys. CRN’s sister also a Bruin, who was mad as hell when CRN didn’t get the UCLA head coaching job the first time.

by LA Bruin on Aug 29, 2010 2:10 PM PDT reply actions

fwiw

IIRC CRN’s sister went to Arizona (a cheerleader for that program). However, she was also a huge Bruin. She absolutely BLASTED Donahue for bypassing CRN and bringing in Toledo after Home Smith left after 94 Rose Bowl.

I believe she did it on Joe McDonnell’s show on radio (I actually used to listed to radio back then). Anyway, I saw CRN the week after he announced he was headed to Colorado on Bruin Walk. He had his head down while walking up Bruin Walk right infront Meyerhoff park. I went up to told him and told him “keep your chin up coach, you will come back home eventually.” He LOLed and just gave a “Go Bruin” and moved on.

That was almost 16 years ago. Wow … I am becoming a geezer. Yikes.

by Nestor on Aug 29, 2010 2:23 PM PDT up reply actions

Great reminisce

But you, Sir, are no geezer.

by peggysue69 on Aug 29, 2010 2:32 PM PDT up reply actions

lol

Sorry for the screwed up sentences above … was typing too fast while writing another doc (and also on a call).

by Nestor on Aug 29, 2010 2:34 PM PDT up reply actions

I dunno....

That was a LONG time ago.

by captainqtp on Aug 30, 2010 10:47 PM PDT up reply actions

Everyone knows!

DoubleTroubleBruin is right on. Everyone that knows CRN or watched his progression from player to coach knows he has class and talent. Said it before and those who speculate will see that you cannot underestimate the character or the ability of CRN. The respect for UCLA will happen. CRN will get us there. You can count on it.

by Blue Critter on Aug 29, 2010 3:11 PM PDT reply actions