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Happy Neu Year BN

silverlakebruin already took up the diary title. But what the heck. There are lot of reasons to feel blessed, joyous and excited about 2008 as a UCLA Bruin.

You are looking at one of them:


Photo Credit/Source: UCLA Bruins Official Website

That's Coach Rick Neuheisel, Rose Bowl Champion & MVP, and now officially the 16th head football coach of our football program.

Click here to view a video of the press conference and link to a photo gallery of the news conference. KLAC 570 has also uploaded the podcast of the conference. (thanks Quickhands).

Class of 66 posted these initial reactions:

If you were an RN supporter you will love this press conference. If you were not, you will love this press conference. Anyone who listens should come away certain that he fully appreciates this job and that he will do everything, in the right way, to bring us back to excellence.

I was moved by the words, inflection and obvious emotion.

I love his depth, commitment, his sense of humor, and his humility.

I found particularly touching his remarks about Karl Dorrell. Yes, KD is a part of UCLA and always will be. I am pleased he is no longer our coach; but I am also pleased that RN will make him feel good about his time here and will keep him close to the family.
Perelman at What's Bruin has posted some of the rough transcript (emphasis mine):
Reflecting on his Bruin career that started as a walk-on and moved slowly toward his final game in which he was the Most Valuable Player of the 1984 Rose Bowl, he said "Today I stand before you experiencing the greatest thrill, to come back and be the head football coach at my alma mater, the greatest university in the land, UCLA."[...]

>> He had plenty of thanks to the Bruin coaches who came before him. Of Terry Donahue, for whom Neuheisel played and later became an assistant coach: "I owe him the greatest debt of gratitude, for getting me into this business, for believing in me as a player, believing in me as a coach and encouraging me to pursue this as a career.

"We’re going to try to take back the city in the same way you did in the early 80s and see if we can’t get ourselves into those New Year’s Day games on a regular basis, just like Terry Donahue did."

>> Of his immediate predecessor: "I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Karl Dorrell right now. Karl was a teammate and a great teammate. He wasn’t very talkative. He wore no. 8 and I wore no. 10, so our lockers were that close together and he was a sophomore before he said hello [big laugh in the room].

"I called him immediately upon hearing the news [of his hiring], before it had reached the public because I wanted to him to know that we’re going to carry on his legacy. He meant a great deal to this program and will always mean a great deal to this program. He’s a great man and a great leader and he’ll always be a Bruin. As long as I am in charge of this program, we are going to speak of Karl Dorrell in reverent tones."

>> Of Chancellor Gene Block and Guerrero, Neuheisel said that he appreciated that they were willing to look past his previous errors in judgment and thanked them for believing "that I can do this job and do it in a way that UCLA deserves it to be done, with the highest level of integrity and we can do it in a way that we can all enjoy it and be proud of it and also win, I can’t thank you enough. This is a dream come true for me and my family."
And I will end with this from Coach Neuheisel via Jill Painter:
"UCLA is magic," Neuheisel said. "On the East Coast, they heard I had this job and it was like I was the head coach of Oz, this was the Emerald City, that UCLA is at the Golden Gates and the truth is, it's not that far off."
Obviously we will have so much more....

But for now ladies and gentlemen congratulations to everyone in Bruins Nation.

We have gotten ourselves a football coach to go along with Coach Ben Howland.

We are blessed to be blue and gold bleeding Bruins.

Happy Neu Year BN.

GO BRUINS.

0 recs  |  Comment 18 comments

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Just watched the entire presser
If he is anywhere near as good on the field as he is behind the podium, which I suspect that he is, we have alot to be excited about.

UCLA now has a true leader at the helm of its football program.

What a great way to kick off 2008.

by Ajax on Dec 31, 2007 6:08 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

I am listening to RIGHT NOW
He had me in his first line.

by Nestor on Dec 31, 2007 6:10 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

It only gets better
I caught myself with a stupid grin on my face the whole time. UCLA football is fun again.

by Ajax on Dec 31, 2007 6:16 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I only get this feeling
While listening to Coach Howland. All we have to do is cross our fingers and make sure he is as good as he sounds. I have listened to lot of smooth press conferences over the years. This is no Lavin. There is so much substance in what he is saying.

Amazing.

And as silverlake said he is taking away all the thunder from tomorrow's Rose Bowl. Epic.

by Nestor on Dec 31, 2007 6:18 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

good link
thanks for posting!

looks good at the podium, good speaker...already an improvement. i must admit my expectations for UCLA football have fallen over the last few years and i'm excited about the possibility of at least competing in some bowl games. i hope RN exceeds this and puts us in the championship race within a few years. definitely feeling hope for a new year.

by jjreicher on Dec 31, 2007 6:28 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

This HC hire just feels right!
I have no words to describe his presence, only that he speaks from his blue & gold heart. Just y'all wait until football season ~ after a win or loss, this man will greet the press with grace, maturity, and FIRE.  As a life time alum member, I echo his exact sentiments regarding his experience as a student on campus.  Testimony in itself is irrefutable and wins people over.  Only someone as passionate as RN about UCLA can captivate an audience with sincere, genuine feeling.  As well, showing that sincerity shut down any doubts about his checkered (& overexaggerated) past behavior. I'm so glad that this conference was publicized.  THAT alone catapults UCLA into the national level ~ HAH! We've already stole some thunder from tomorrow's Rose Bowl!  I love it!  Let's roll Bruins!

by LoyalAlum94 on Dec 31, 2007 6:40 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

You "young-uns" don't git it . . .
. . . we "older" types (okay, just Skippy's campus contemporaries) knew this about him already.  He's got the  charisma motherlode - his predecessor lacked it, big time.  He wanted this job back in the early 90's - when TD passed him over and anointed the doughboy as OC.  Probably a good thing, with the benefit of hindsight.  He bumped and bruised around in the coaching world elsewhere.  He's a smart guy and he's learned from those earlier years. He's gonna make good things happen - take it to the windows, and bet the farm.  

NOTE: this is not intended to be, nor should it be construed as, a solicitation or offer of unlawful wagering activity of any kind.  Your mileage may vary.

Now,  Skippy, hurry up and 86 Norvell, please.

The Mad Bruin

by lostnacfgop on Dec 31, 2007 6:45 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Best football presser ever
I don't think I have ever heard that kind of uplifting press conference from a UCLA football coach. Ever.

by bluestreet on Dec 31, 2007 6:47 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Hat Trick..
Howland, Neuheisel, Savage..

..and the hits just keep on coming!

As Eddie Murphy said in Trading Places, fellow Bruins: Merry Ne[u] Year!

by whp68 on Dec 31, 2007 9:50 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Walker to UDub
Dohn via Sporting News is reporting that Walker has been hired by Washington.  Don't know what effect this will have on recruits (doesn't seem many can follow him as one comments suggested UW is at it's cap).  Guess Walker felt snubbed or he didn't like Rick.  Probably good to clean house and let Rick set up his program as he wants.  If Walker does leave, I wish him well.  No reason to burn bridges in this industry.  Does make for a good story, though: its like we traded coaches.

Happy New Year!  Truly awesome to start the new year looking forward to BOTH basketball AND football!

by smayhew on Dec 31, 2007 11:55 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

I just bought
a crapload of UCLA gear today.  I haven't been this excited about football in one hell of a long time.

by bruinchick on Jan 1, 2008 2:47 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

I stocked up, too.
I went to Steve and Barry's in West Covina and they had a ton of UCLA stuff (no hats, unfortunately) with everything in the store at something like $8.50 or less.  While supplies last.  As seen on TV.  Not a slicer, not a dicer, and my favorite, "But wait, there's more."

by Fox 71 on Jan 2, 2008 8:58 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

im not going to lie
i was skeptical about RN at first but after his presser, man, I've missed having a charismatic coach and one who knows what being a Bruins is all about!

I cannot wait to see RN in action!

by blinkshot on Jan 1, 2008 4:00 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Recruits
I must have missed the announcement that all the UCLA recruits have now decided to go elsewhere.  Dohn told us that would happen if Walker was not named HC.  I imagine they would be very happy playing for RN.

by islandbruin on Jan 1, 2008 7:42 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Wow, that's one of the best pictures I've seen
In a long time.

I don't know if any of you were watching the Chick-Fil-A Bowl last night, but they talked to Coach Neuheisel and he mentioned that he is taking his boys to the Rose Bowl tomorrow to see where we want to be in a few years.

This makes me wish I was back in LA, but at least on Saturdays, I will be able to bust out my UCLA gear with pride (a tradition here in Birmingham).

And then on top of all this, Mr. BB and I found out last night that we are going to have a little niece or nephew around the time Coach Neuheisel makes his debut.  Hopefully we will also have championship #12 to welcome our niece or nephew with.

by bruinbabe2000 on Jan 1, 2008 8:30 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Pete Carroll Video
Ms. BB2K,

There is talk of some of us getting together at/after a game next year. Inquire after that and plan on visiting.

In the mean time, keep your spirits up by replaying that marvelous You Tube selection you offered up of the Pete Carroll sideline melt down. When Neuheisel starts handling it to SC, you'll see a lot of live replays of that wonderfully pained expression on Carroll's face!

by whp68 on Jan 1, 2008 9:31 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Yes, 66 had mentioned it
Hopefully everything will work out.  I would love to see and meet everyone.

It's hard because Mr. BB is working on his PhD and is on a year-round program.  While it will be easier for me to take time off starting in May, it's not as easy for him.  The good thing is that the professor he has his assistantship is quite flexible and would certainly be understanding if he took some time off to see his niece or nephew.

2007 was the craziest year of my life.  2008 is already off with a bang.

by bruinbabe2000 on Jan 1, 2008 9:45 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

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