Ready For The Neu Days

by Nestor on Dec 31, 2007 10:11 AM PST in Football

UCLA will formally introduce Coach Rick Neuheisel as our 16th head football coach later today at a 2 pm PST press conference. Before he finished off his responsibilities as the offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens (who beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-21), Coach Neuheisel talked to Sam Farmer from the LA Times for his first interview as the UCLA head coach with the local media. The first note that stuck out to me? It was dispelling the notion of how Neuheisel alone was responsible for the Ravens' offense (a point advanced by morons like Mark May in a total sour grapes reaction on Saturday). From Farmer's note today:

In his three seasons as a Baltimore assistant, most recently as offensive coordinator, he didn't call plays -- Brian Billick does that now -- but spent much of his time working with young quarterbacks. Neuheisel was a major influence in shaping former Ravens reserve Derek Anderson, now a budding star with the Cleveland Browns.

Derek Anderson is not the only career Coach Neuheisel advanced in the NFL. He also revived the career of Steve McNair. From a January 2007 article in the Washington Post, which described how the former Raven assistant coach rejuvenated the former NFL MVP, helping that franchise make the NFL playoffs last season:

The sound of a football hitting the crossbar echoed throughout the Baltimore Ravens' indoor practice facility late on a December morning, signaling a winner in a pre-practice throwing contest.

Surrounded by a group of four players at the 20-yard line, the champion wore a black and purple jacket and a black Ravens cap that concealed most of his wavy blond hair. With a wide grin, quarterbacks coach Rick Neuheisel basked in his victory, one of many reasons he is smiling these days.

Neuheisel, formerly a star in the college coaching ranks, has found contentment in tutoring Steve McNair, whose career rebirth has coincided with Neuheisel's. While he awaits another head coaching opportunity, Neuheisel is happy to contribute to a playoff team in a role for which he would have been overqualified before his fall from the top earlier this decade.

I will get to that little cross bar hitting competition again a little later. But going back to Coach Neuheisel's time in the pros, he made it pretty clear what he is most passionate about in the Times article linked above:

[W]hat has Neuheisel missed most? That's easy: football on Saturdays.

"Sundays are different than Saturdays," he said. "That's the kindest way to put it."

He says he has missed a lot, including the bus ride to the stadium, the fight songs, the game-time decisions and watching an unknown kid rise to the occasion under extreme pressure.

"You see this kid's face and he's an instant hero, where an hour ago he might have been obscure," he said. "Now everybody in town's going to know who this young kid is, and he's just burst onto the scene."

Neuheisel says that's a little how he now feels -- refreshed and reborn. Until he got the call from UCLA on Saturday, he said, he had reconciled himself that this opportunity might never come.

"I had kind of made up my mind that that was going to be OK," he said. "But I still always had this hankering that I felt there was unfinished business in the college world. I really wanted the chance to prove that I could run a program completely within the rules and do so in a way that made the ultimate goal the experience for the kids."

Coach Neuheisel can say those things because he knows a little about a kid coming out of nowhere and emerging as an "instant hero." From Brian Dohn of all people (who seems to be letting go of his grudge?) on what Coach Neuheisel went through before making his mark in Westwood:

Tom Ramsey often watched a battered and bloodied walk-on stagger into the locker room after another practice as the scout team quarterback.

Part of the gig was to have players, such as three-time consensus All-American safety Kenny Easley, pepper the quarterback - in this case Rick Neuheisel - on blitzes.

"I think he was seventh team, or maybe they didn't even have a number, and he got his (butt) handed to him every day in practice," said Ramsey, a scholarship quarterback and Neuheisel's UCLA teammate.

"He would walk in bloody, bruised, muddy, and I was damn near embarrassed because my uniform was so clean. He was like, `Yeah, I got my (butt) kicked again today, but I hope I gave them a good look.' Yeah, it's funny, but it also tells you a lot about the person."

So much for the perception of a kid who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Oh, and about that story about the cross bar mentioned in the Post article above. Dohn provides this:

Stevens, who was one of Neuheisel's backups in 1983, recalls a game they used to play in practice during down time. Each quarterback would throw the ball at the goal posts, trying to hit the cross bar.

"He could beat anyone," said Stevens, an analyst on UCLA's radio broadcasts. "Rick's a perfectionist. Everybody talks about that A-type personality with Pete Carroll, and you've got it with Rick. He really is a perfectionist with his attention to detail.

"Rick Neuheisel works hard at what he does. He's very good at what he does."

Speaking of getting to work DumpDorrell.com has a post on how the new head coach is not wasting any time. Everyone is talking about his effort to hold on to Walker and to pursue Chow. This is not news to us. KellyBruin brought this possibility up more than a week ago, and Rich Perelman from the LA Times also talked about the financial feasibility of bringing in Chow and retaining Walker as assistant coaches a while ago as well. Either way, I feel confident Coach Neuheisel is going to find a way to put together the best staff combination possible under his watch.

There is no one better than him in selling our alma mater. Bob Keisser from the Long Beach Press Telegram had this to say on the topic of Coach Neuheisel championing UCLA, and coming home as the people's choice (emphasis added):

"This is what I've wanted for a long time, someplace I've always wanted to be," Neuheisel said in a conference call Saturday. "Coming home is a thrill that's hard to describe. There's a lot of work to be done and I'm anxious to get my hands into it.

"I was fortunate under Terry Donahue to play on two Rose Bowl teams, so I know it can happen. There's no one out there who can give a better campus tour. I've been there. I know what the program has accomplished."

This is why so many supporters of the program-high end guys who donate large sums of money, former players who care about the winning, low-end fans who believe in the power of the blog-wanted Neuheisel. When your ship is adrift, you need a captain who knows the sea.

I had no idea distinguished alums who are law school professors, doctors, CEOS, attorneys, teachers, professionals or UCLA students (who come from the top 1-2% their respective high schools) were considered as "low-end fans." But whatever. We will let that slide. We got one of the guys we wanted on BN.

We are ready for the Neu Days. We can't be any more excited for Coach Neuheisel to get here and get started. But, then again, as noted above, he is already off and running.

GO BRUINS.

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I'm happy that Neu is pursuing Chow

but I just don't see it happening. I think it would be too hard on his ego. He didn't even get a second interview, and by all accounts the first went poorly. Go after him, but I hope RN has a strong back up candidate.

"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"

by silverlakebruin on Dec 31, 2007 10:25 AM PST reply actions

I don't see it happening either

But you have got to appreciate the effort on RN's part. That is awesome. Also money may not be the issue. It's all about whether Chow will be willing to do it. If he gets here and helps RN revive this program, while making a comparable salary living in So Cal with his family and sticking it to Pom Pom ... well one can see there is something to this.

Regardless I love RN's effort.

by Nestor on Dec 31, 2007 10:31 AM PST up reply actions

The difference is "maddening"

When KD got the job, his first order of business was to go on vacation.

RN's first order of business: going after Chow and assembling his staff and getting to work.

I know I am supposed to let go of the past, but the whole KD experience just leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

At this moment, do you think there is anyone who misses KD as UCLA coach?

Yes, I'm still bitter because 5 years of my Bruin football life were completely wasted.

by bluegold on Dec 31, 2007 10:37 AM PST reply actions

Saturdays

Funny how RN talks about missing football on Saturdays. I have had that same feeling for a while now too.

After holding out to see what DG & Co. would do, I'm ready to Ri-Neu my season tickets. (Pardon the cheesy play on words, but I am giddy about the dawn of a new day in Bruin Football.)

Here's to bringing some excitement back to the Rose Bowl....

by sausmaf on Dec 31, 2007 10:45 AM PST reply actions

Infectious

"Perelman from the LA Times also talked about the financial feasibility of bringing in Chow and retaining Walker as assistant coaches a while ago as well. Either way, I feel confident Coach Neuheisel is going to find a way to put together the best staff combination possible under his watch."

Nestor:
Maybe the infectiousness of RN's spirit and enthusiasm will influence these guys. We had some pretty harsh things to say about Chow as a head coaching candidate, but as an OC, he has definite credentials. And as far as Walker goes, if he gets the spirit here, there is no reason why this can't be a positive experience for him as well.

Perhaps the slight warming in this recent edition of MSM press pieces is also attributable to just how charismatic Neuheisel can be. If so, I fear for Pom Pom; his better days might have been behind him.

As you like to say: Go Brunis!

Signed,
"Enthusiastic but Guarded"

by whp68 on Dec 31, 2007 11:08 AM PST reply actions

What a difference a day makes

A day or two ago, the general tenor of the MSM comments regarding the RN hire was that a wild-eyed fringe of UCLA football fanatics - e.g. BN, were so desperate for a win that they would hire (and did) Saddam.

Today's Daily News and Times have articles that are actually somewhat favorable and compassionate.

What can we expect next?

by Offside on Dec 31, 2007 11:09 AM PST reply actions

Full circle for me

I have been a huge Bruin fan for my entire life. One of my first (and still one of my best) UCLA memories is when I was 9 years old and my Dad took me to the 1984 Rose Bowl. I didn't understand that we were big underdogs and expected to lose.

We got on a shuttle to the Rose Bowl and my family was the ONLY Bruin fans on the bus. It was the four of us and about 200 orange clad Illinois out of towners. Not knowing how to keep my mouth shut, I spent the entire shuttle ride telling all of the people that they were going to lose and UCLA would destroy them. I distinctly remember my Dad's face as he apologized to everyone within earshot about my "enthusiasm."

Well we all know what happened that day and who was responsible for that glorious afternoon. I have loved RN ever since and could never understand why he wasn't a Bruin for life. I like to think that everything happens for a reason...and at this very moment in time he is the perfect coach for our team.

I couldn't be happier. If Chow comes on as OC then great but I trust RN to take care of the program...and for the first time in a long time (maybe ever since I was alive), I feel we have the beginnings of a PROGRAM.

Howland and RN??? It is a Happy New Year after all.

by lewkay on Dec 31, 2007 11:14 AM PST reply actions

Yes indeed!

by Minnesota Bruinfan on Dec 31, 2007 11:22 AM PST up reply actions

How many other schools could boast

both the basketball and football coaches publicly declaring they have their dream jobs?

by bluegold on Dec 31, 2007 11:25 AM PST up reply actions

Now that that Billick is available?

Now that Brian Billick is available maybe Neu
will bring him to westwood with him. I know but
we can always dream.

by pjspack on Dec 31, 2007 12:13 PM PST reply actions

Keisser Makes Me Think of Garth Brooks

"I've got friends in low places."

Actually, we will never know for sure, but I do think the strong substantive analysis on this site -- which was far better than that in ANY other media, may have helped.

My bet is that the search firm and the AD checked in every so often.

We were, for the most part, very supportive of the process -- and our patience paid off.

Our passion when coupled with reason and substance probably played some role.

And our individual letters, as opposed to the form letters sent by weenie sites, may also have helped.

I don't care if we get credit, we got a great coach.

And, as far as being low end, I'd rather be low end with all of you than upper crust with Petey.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Dec 31, 2007 12:22 PM PST reply actions

I'll drink to that

"And, as far as being low end, I'd rather be low end with all of you than upper crust with Petey."

See you at Mom's.

by Bruinut on Dec 31, 2007 1:59 PM PST up reply actions

time for a name change?

BruinsNation to Low-Enders? Just kidding! But I do want to change up an 80's tune (think Pet Shop Boys).

Nation, what am I, what am I to do with you?

by lunabruin on Dec 31, 2007 2:02 PM PST up reply actions

Character versus reputation, example 142

"He would walk in bloody, bruised, muddy, and I was damn near embarrassed because my uniform was so clean. He was like, `Yeah, I got my (butt) kicked again today, but I hope I gave them a good look.' Yeah, it's funny, but it also tells you a lot about the person."

Rick, UCLA's Rudy. And, now, Coach Rudy.

by Bruinut on Dec 31, 2007 1:47 PM PST reply actions