[UPDATED: For Mariucci Too?]A "Call Back" For Neuheisel

by Nestor on Dec 18, 2007 4:29 PM PST in Football Comment 47 comments

Rick Neuheisel is scheduled to be interviewed by UCLA Chancellor Gene Block for the Bruins' head coach job tonight, sources familiar with the search said.

Neuheisel, the offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens, was interviewed by UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero last week and is believed to be the front-runner for the position. DeWayne Walker, UCLA's interim head coach; Norm Chow, the Tennessee Titans' offensive coordinator; and John Harbaugh, a Philadelphia Eagles assistant coach, were also interviewed for the job.

Neuheisel is the only one so far to receive an interview with the chancellor, a necessary step before a job offer can be made, a source said.

Neuheisel could not be reached for comment. Guerrero has declined all interview requests since firing Coach Karl Dorrell and beginning the coach search.

This would be a homecoming for the 46-year old Neuheisel, who was the quarterback for the Bruins in a 45-9 victory over Illinois in the 1984 Rose Bowl. He was also a UCLA assistant from 1986 to '93.

Neuheisel had a 66-30 record during eight seasons as a head coach at Washington and Colorado, but those stops also involved controversy.

As I have said before even though I am genuinely conflicted over RN, I will support him provided we have a good sense that Dan Guerrero made an earnest effort to pursue some of other names such as Leach, Mendenhall, Peterson, who we have heard about in last few weeks.

Again I will repeat that I am not all that worried about his alleged transgressions in Washington. It turned out that it was Washington Huskies who screwed up. As for his recruiting violations at CU, there were not repeated in Washington despite him having a constant target on his back. Moreover, I doubt he will make them at UCLA, given our compliance officials are some of the best in the country to make sure our coaches operate within the parameters of the NCAA rules. What I am ambivalent about his how his team in both Colorado and Washington didn't fare well in his later years. Still, there are aspects of Neuheisel that can get me excited. I have written my thoughts about him extensively here and here.

Right now what I know for certain is that I will take Neuheisel over Walker or the CHOKER any day. I think Neuheisel has strong enough personality and support within the Bruin family that he would be able to check the Walker tools within Morgan Center who will always be plotting for his ascension as the next head coach.

So even though Neuheisel would not be my first choice, if I had to pick between CHOKER, Walker or Neuheisel, I'd take RN over any of them in a heart beat. That said as I referenced above, DG will have to answer some serious questions about how we ended up a finalist list of those three and some no name with "impressive bloodlines."

GO BRUINS.

UPDATE: Maybe, just maybe, Walker should be sending that resume to UDub (he can try to scheme himself into the head coaching picture up there as UDub will prolly look to fire TY at the end of next season. It will be perfect for the DyNoMite). Per bluegold and gilbert, 570 AM is reporting that Mariucci is also getting a second interview. I have made my thoughts on Mariucci clear as well. He won't be my first choice. But he too would be clearly preferable to Walker or CHOKER. And I will also take him over Neuheisel. GO BRUINS. -N

UPDATE II: I want to add another thought on RN's call back. I think the RN story could be a smokescreen to placate heavy hitting boosters/football alums from the 80s who are heavily lobbying on his behalf. DG might have wanted to show them he is giving him more than a courtesy interview. Hence the second interview. Again, RN is not my first option or a first tier option. He is preferable over Walker and CHOKER. However, if he is the guy, DG will have some serious explaining to do and, if that is not followed up by a BCS bowl game in next three years, it will probably be the end of DG at UCLA. Anyway, it's evident this drama is not over. But its starting to get a little bit interesting. GO BRUINS. -N

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This is the same fishwrap

that brings us Slimers and Pukin'. Who wrote this story? And who are the sources?

Why should we believe anything coming out of the fishwrap about a search which they know no more about than we do? I don't believe what they say about a game that they watched and I watched.

I take this hot article with a grain of salt about the size of Wyoming.

That said, I am so tired of all the blowhardity (which I hereby deem a word) buy the Walkeristas and the Chowderheads that I will take the proverbial player to be named later as coach over either of them. If that coach is Neuheisel, I'm reasonably content. I agree with Nestor and sjh on him - not my first choice but by no means my last choice. I don't think the NCAA is a worry.

by Fox 71 on Dec 18, 2007 4:40 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Why not add

"chowderheadity" to the dictionary, too? Turnthecornerness. Coachhardity. It's difficult to stop.

by Bruinut on Dec 18, 2007 5:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Also..

.."itiswhatitisness?

by whp68 on Dec 18, 2007 6:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Again another rumor in a search where

golden silence reigns.

by uclachem87 on Dec 18, 2007 4:42 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Neuheisel

I find myself actually quite excited about the prospect of Neuheisel. Still young, still hungry (perhaps very hungry given this may be his last/best shot as a head coach). 8 years of his own pretty successful experience as a major D1 head coach, and has spent the last couple years under a highly respected "tough" NFL coach.

I think if people look past the BS about his past, and see that he accomplished pretty good things while he was still in his 30s, this would be a good situation for him and the university.

GO BRUINS!

PS: Mooch okay with me, too. Please no Chow or Walker.

by paulucla on Dec 18, 2007 4:43 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

If SNUheisel's the guy

Does he keep DyNoMite? Do we want him to? Is Ken Norton available?

by ocbruin1985 on Dec 18, 2007 4:45 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

SUC can keep Norton

We don't need traitors.

by charnaw on Dec 18, 2007 6:41 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Dunno if Norton is a Traitor..

I think our beloved Karl Dorrell drove him over to the dark side. Sorry for the referral to a TrOJan site for the nitty-gritty, but:

Ken Norton Jr. sought a position under his former UCLA teammate Dorrell (UCLA head Coach) in 2003, but to no avail. Pete Carroll coached Norton on the 49ers. He ran into him while doing an interview at the NFL Network studio, where Norton was working in 2003, and the rest is history. Norton rejected offers by UCLA last January and is currently in the greatest spot he can be in..... Working as an assistant under the greatest football coach Pete Carroll.

by whp68 on Dec 18, 2007 7:03 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Norton

I wish there was some way to get Norton, but I doubt it. He has only been a LB coach for a few years and isn't qualified to be a DC (at least not yet). Why would he leave as a position coach at SUC to be a position coach at UCLA for what is surely less money. It's a nice idea and should be looked into, but probably a waste of time.

by nikeu on Dec 18, 2007 7:47 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I think Rick

will concern Pete and the rest of the Pac-10 more so than anyone else who has been discussed. Hopefully if he gets hired, he comes in with some tricks learned in the past few years in the NFL(watching all that pro film, the newest techniques being taught, schemes). The other great thing about Rick is he wants to come to UCLA unlike Peterson. Rick is a Bruin and we all know how much spirit that possesses. It would drive the toejams nuts if a former Bruin came in and took over as coach at UCLA; and then took over the Pac-10!

Go Bruins!

"Call it, Friend-O"

by bruin95 on Dec 18, 2007 4:55 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I'll get behind Rick

but I think he's a gamble. As has been much discussed I'm not worried about off the field trouble or recruiting trouble. But considering the less than spectacular way his Washington team ended up I don't see him striking fear into the better coaches of this conference.

He has to prove himself all over again. Is he capable? I hope so. He needs to show everybody he is the superstar coach that it looked like he was about to become. I was pretty young at the time but I get the vibe that he was the Petersen of ten years ago and the troubles played a role in keeping him from reaching superstardome. Maybe some of the longtimers can set me straight but I remember my dad and uncle seeing him as the coach that got away. However, as of today, that sparkle isn't on RN anymore. Names like Leach and Petersen have replaced RN in my household with the glamorous shine.

If Rick is the final choice I can only hope that the sparkle comes back. I sure wouldn't classify him as an experiment, but a little bit of a gamble. This time around he doesn't inherit a full cupboard. He's going to need to show actual coaching chops right from day one.

Or put another way. He isn't a homerun hire today. But he has homerun power. I'm thinking Kirk Gibson, with two bad knees.

C'mon lightning in a bottle!

"Someday we'll look back on this and it will all seem funny" - Boss

by TCbruin32 on Dec 18, 2007 5:13 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

If Raising the Anxiety Level of Pac 10 Coaches

is the standard, my money is on my first choice -- the Pirate Master Leach.

No one is more innovative and more difficult to defend.

Plus, he is incredibly charismatic and will be loved by players, press, and alum's.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Dec 18, 2007 6:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Remember there's a post game handshake

So maybe Hannibal Lecter. I would have a little trepidation seeing him walking toward me.

by Fox 71 on Dec 18, 2007 6:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Actually

"It would drive the toejams nuts if a former Bruin came in and took over as coach at UCLA"

That already happened...we got Karl Dorrell...I think the Toejams are still laughing about that one. UCLA doesn't have a very good record with hiring ex-players, at least in hoops and now in football...but hopefully Neuheisel would change that.

by tasser10 on Dec 19, 2007 9:10 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm happy with Neuheisel, but who's the OC?

But I'm interested in his OC. I really won't be happy unless he runs some form of spread option, or at least the "wide open" offense ala Chow.

By the way, if Chow were to get the HC job, would he also serve as OC or just call the plays?

by SinnerBoy 99 on Dec 18, 2007 5:03 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

OC

Any OC under Rick or Norm would be in name only. Not the kind of job a qualified OC would take, just someone looking to learn and punch his ticket.

by nikeu on Dec 18, 2007 7:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Slick Rick...

is fine with me as long as DW is not around...Question is tonights basketball game televised on FSN?

by eoj703 on Dec 18, 2007 5:06 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

No, it's not

by bruinbabe2000 on Dec 18, 2007 5:37 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

GROAN

Its not the rumors of Neuhiesel or Mariucci that concern me so much as the rumors of SECOND interviews.

Neuhiesels' scandalous past concerns me.
As I've said before, I want to beat USC; I don't want to become USC.

I think Mariucci is a great coach. But, I am concerned he will use the job to get another NFL job.

Chow is looking like a better fit than ever if these two are the best DG can do. My problem with the Chow/Walker combo is that Walker is being groomed to take over when Chow leaves. Doesn't that just reak of expected failure? Or am I the only one?

A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment. John Wooden

by MexiBruin on Dec 18, 2007 5:16 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I don't mind Mooch using this to get back in NFL

Because if Mariucci is using UCLA to get back to the NFL, he's going to have to do a good job to get hired by an NFL team.

Should Mariucci put up a mediocre record here, the NFL won't touch him. If he's great, they might.

That means UCLA would have won a lot of games, and finding another coach the next time around would be even easier coming off of great seasons instead of mediocre ones like now.

by gilbert on Dec 18, 2007 5:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Long Term

I think Neuhiesel is the best long-term option we have been presented with. He has a good offensive mind and I think he'll bring the offense into the 21st century, ala Rodriguez at Michigan. And....he is NOT a proponent of the WCO..that alone makes him more attractive than Mooch, IMO.

by Herschy on Dec 18, 2007 5:43 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Did you mean...

... "However, if he is the guy, DG will have some serious explaining to do and if that is NOT followed up by a BCS bowl game in next three years, it will probably be the end of DG at UCLA."?

Sorry, original text makes it think that RN will be canned if he DOES get to a BCS game in 3 years.

"Because I'm tired of it. Year after year after year after year having to choose between the lesser of 'Who cares?'"

by Meriones on Dec 18, 2007 6:09 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

My bad

fixed*

by Nestor on Dec 18, 2007 6:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Mariucci

would be my choice over Neuheisel.

Mariucci would put UCLA on the map on the national scale; I guarantee you'll see more Mariucci news conferences on ESPN than you will Neuheisel.

Mariucci has an edge in bringing a PRESENCE to the head coach position in Los Angeles. Phil Jackson, Joe Torre, Pete Carroll.......and Steve Mariucci. He'd be right up there with the big boys. And listen DG: More presence = More coverage = More interest = Higher Attendence = More $$$

I'm definitely not sold on the WCO, and his coaching history with Cal and the Niners brings in an element of doubt, however RN's coaching history is not much stronger. Recruiting would be a wash between the two.

Neither would be my 1st choice, neither would be my last. If it were up to me (and if both would say yes and I could pay them) it would be Mariucci

"This is not a place for just any coach" Dan Guerrero

by godblesstyus95 on Dec 18, 2007 6:22 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Rumor Mill Has Lowered Expectations

All that Chow/Walker talk has lowered the bar sufficiently to make Mariucci and Neuheisel seem heroes riding in to save us. They are the beneficiaries of the ABW movement.

I don't believe any of the rumors.

I believe the golden silence is being imposed because DG is going after first line coaches like Leach, Mendenhall, Petersen, and who knows who else.

Mariucci and RN are good second level choices.

Inadvertently, by hyping the SM and RN interviews, Dohn and the other shills have diminished the NC and DW stock value.

Rumors cut all ways.

Thanks, Dohn.

sjh

PS. If NC and DW were truly being considered as first line choices, the search would be over. Every day it goes on, their chances fall a notch. Take your time, DG, it seems you are doing it right.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Dec 18, 2007 6:37 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Was thinking the same thing

Every day that goes by makes it less and less likely that either Chow or Walker will be hired. If either were DG's choice, we'd have a HC already.

And if the Vegas bowl comes and goes and we are still coachless, keep an eye out fot Mendenhall.

"This is not a place for just any coach" Dan Guerrero

by godblesstyus95 on Dec 18, 2007 6:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Something that just occurred to me

If a new coach isn't hired by Friday, that makes it more likely we're going after a big-name coach most of us would be thrilled with.

Christmas is next week, New Years' the week after. If the new coach isn't hired by Friday, he likely won't he hired until after January 1 -- after all of the bowls have been played.

As has been said, if Dan Guerrero wanted to hire Neuheisel, Mariucci or Walker he could've done it already -- RN's team is out of the playoff race, Mariucci isn't coaching, Walker is coaching at UCLA already. If DG wanted Chow, they could've probably hired him by now too. The last time I remember an NFL coordinator on a competitive team leaving for a college team (Charlie Weis), Notre Dame held a press conference announcing his hiring, and Weis remained with the Patriots until the end of the season.

Think about it -- Leach, Mendenhall, Petersen, June Jones all have bowl games coming up. They may not want to leave before their schools' big games out of loyalty. They will all be free after New Year's Day.

I'm still holding out hope DG impresses us all.

by gilbert on Dec 18, 2007 6:58 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I'm hoping

DG is going to get it right. Chow, Walker would be disasters. Neuheisel is a gamble. The other names you mention would all be the type of homerun DG has got to be looking to hit on this one. The longer this goes on, the tougher it is, but in reality the better it could turn out.

by Tommy Bruin on Dec 18, 2007 7:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Agree

We are all (for good reason) on pins and needles but I will not truly freak out unless it is January 3rd and we still don't have a coach. I assume the bigger hires DG is aiming for would want to stick with their current team through their bowl. Understandable.

I also think (just my speculation) that Bronco is a serious candidate and DG has no choice but to wait until after the game to begin discussions with him.

I believe that RN is our fall back if everyone else says no. DG is too smart to go the Choker route and if he was considering it for one second...BN killed it.

by lewkay on Dec 18, 2007 9:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

No No No No No...

Retread, rejects and experiments....no no no no no!
Pretty clear tricky Ricky inherited pretty good teams at both Colorado and Washington...and promptly failed to maintain the pipeline of quality recruits. These teams peaked and then collapsed.

We've been over his resume time and again. Honestly has all this talk about Choker gone to everyone's head? Are WE now conditioned by such talk to now accept more mediocrity?

If this really is DG's "signature" hire...then what is the signature on, a resignation?

I will not support anyone who is not a successful Div I head coach with no ties to the WCO, Donahue or any previous administration toady.

We should have high expectations...we should communicate those expectations to others...and we should settle for nothing less than those expectations.

by GemCityBruin on Dec 18, 2007 7:24 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Dienhart's latest rumor

Is that a non-BCS head coach will be on campus to interview. Petersen? Tulsa coach Steve Kragthorpe? Mendenhall? June Jones? George O'Leary?

Also mentioned is Temple coach Al Golden.

by Odysseus on Dec 18, 2007 8:37 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Don't forget Leach

I don't think he's actually been ruled out yet. Everything that says he's ruled out is based on the original report that he'd be out of our price range.

by sevascisum on Dec 18, 2007 8:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not forgetting him

But based on the rumor, this potential interviewee would not be Leach because the report is that it's a non-BCS head coach and Leach coaches in the Big XII.

by Odysseus on Dec 18, 2007 8:48 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Ah whoops

I thought it meant a coach not involved in a BCS bowl game, not conference. My bad.

by sevascisum on Dec 18, 2007 8:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Norm Chow...

... is non-BCS

by njbruin on Dec 18, 2007 8:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

But he's not a head coach

and never will be I hope. At least not here.

by sevascisum on Dec 18, 2007 8:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Kragthorpe

is at Louisville now. I doubt we'd interview Mendenhall before the bowl game. The rest are all possibilities.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Dec 18, 2007 9:57 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Hot Seat

If you look at the Coaches Hot Seat Analysis you will see that with the exception of Mike Sherman at A&M this has been a very good year for hires. For the most part everyone has made very good to brilliant hires.

http://www.coacheshotseat.com/CoachingChangesAnalysis.htm

I wouldn't call Neuheisel even very good but merely acceptable (like a 5.5 or 6 out of 10) so I gotta say DG can do better and I know DG knows he can.

by njbruin on Dec 18, 2007 8:49 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

RN + DW = A Winning Combo

RN has HC experience in the PAC 10 and DW has seen all the defenses in the PAC 10 for two years. Together, they have a great body of knowledge about the game in the PAC 10. The PAC 10 is arguably one of the strongest conferences in the nation. I think they would make a great coaching team for us! I would question the motivation of Mariucci or Chow coming here. Norton can rot at SC where the traitor belongs. Did you all forget that DW's defense stuffed the trojans in 2006?

by blualien on Dec 18, 2007 9:12 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Did you forget

how we got steamrolled on defense by WSU, the worst team in the Pac 10?

by Tydides on Dec 18, 2007 10:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

DW

Just because DeWayne Walker has seen all the defense in the Pac-10 for two years doesn't mean he's gotten any better at stopping the spread (cough cough Washington State, Oregon, Arizona).

by Raisin on Dec 18, 2007 10:43 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Christmas Optimism

I am actually happy with the prospect of RN becoming the head coach. I don't really know that much about RN or any of the other candidates but the way I figure it is that if UCLA could win Rose Bowls with a mediocre coach like Ted Donahue and emerge from the Doofus era with a winning record then RN would almost certainly succeed (as would any of the other guys with HC experience).

I do admire Chow and I think that DW has earned his pay, but neither of these guys have proven that they can run a team so why take the chance? I think greatness is UCLA's lose and I am very optimistic....Merry Christmas!

by Vegas on Dec 18, 2007 10:32 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I'm not sure

I like your optimism, but I'm not sure you're on the right track. Sure, Ted Donahue was mediocre, and was sure a step down from the great motivational guy (Ted Vermeil) and the great thinker (Ted Prothro). But I'm looking for a return to the motivation of the late, great Henry "Ted" Sanders.

That's why my first choice remains Ted Leach, but I would be satisfied with Ted Mendenhall, or Ted Jones. I'm not totally convinced that Ted Neuheisel would do the job, but if that's who we get then so be it. I just don't want to get saddled with Ted Chow or Ted Walker. I want there to be no repeat of the mistake made when we hired the last coach - I still can't pronounce his name, but he was the successor to Coach Ted Toledo.

by Fox 71 on Dec 19, 2007 4:57 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs