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UPDATE 1/5/15 4pm - the BRO story that was previously free is now behind the paywall. We've updated our story accordingly.
Update 1/5/15 8:55 pm - It is being reported that there was never an interview set up. Per Chris Foster:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCLA?src=hash">#UCLA</a> COACH JIM MORA IS IN MANHATTAN (beach) RIGHT NOW ... <a href="http://t.co/S9I1AMIqlS">http://t.co/S9I1AMIqlS</a></p>— chris foster (@cfosterlatimes) <a href="https://twitter.com/cfosterlatimes/status/552285797161123840">January 6, 2015</a></blockquote>
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If you go to the link there is this:
Whatever became of any interest the Jets had in Mora, it never reached the point in which the two sides agreed to sit down for an interview. Which means a report—I'm not linking to it—that Mora "will be in New York either today or tomorrow to interview" isn't true.
*******
According to a report today by BruinReportOnline, UCLA Football Head Coach is getting chatty with the Jets - so chatty that he's on a plane to New York.
Jim Mora will be in New York either today or tomorrow to interview for the Jets job, according to sources. http://t.co/kpASNrN1WD #UCLA.
— Bruin Report Online (@BruinReport) January 5, 2015
This shouldn't be a huge surprise to UCLA fans, as the Jets inquired into Mora's buyout about a week ago.
However, BRO reports that UCLA fans shouldn't worry, as he isn't the "top" candidate for the position and he wouldn't leave for the NFL.
We've heard it's unlikely that Mora would take an NFL job right now, even if one were offered, and he's not No. 1 on the Jets' list. #UCLA
— Bruin Report Online (@BruinReport) January 5, 2015
However, CBSSports Jason LaCanfora is squashing all Mora to Jets rumors:
Spoke to source w/knowledge of situation who said NYJ have interest in Jim Mora but he has NOT agreed to meet with them contrary to report
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) January 5, 2015
That could be true, or Mora's agent, Jimmy Sexton, is once again, doing a masterful job of spinning this exactly the way he wanted to get more out of UCLA. Remember, he also represents Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher.
It is also being reported other NFL teams are making overtures, but Mora is apparently not interested:
We're now hearing that Jim Mora will not interview with the New York Jets. NFL teams are contacting Mora, but he now has no interest.
— Bruin Report Online (@BruinReport) January 5, 2015
This is not new to UCLA fans - we all remember when Texas and UW came calling last year and while Mora ultimately turned them down, this is not the same situation. He turned down big name COLLEGE jobs. This is an NFL position, and the news got out that he considered taking or is taking the interview. This is damaging in our current recruiting climate - we are losing big name recruits to other schools, other commits are not as enamored with UCLA as leans are being rumored to lean elsewhere, and even with a small number of scholarships this year, Mora needs to come out and say, definitively, he is not leaving, or other schools will use this as a bargaining chip against us. Re-read the comment section from the posts linked in this paragraph. That's why Mora needs to squash the rumors immediately if he is not considering leaving for the NFL. (and if he's not their first choice, then squash it anyways, why be the Jets 5th choice?)
Also, remember, if Mora leaves, Dan will have to hire another football coach. That is the ultimate terror, not a season with a true freshman running an offense that's ridiculously expensive.
Go Bruins.