Photo by Nick Ut
UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel speaks to reporters in Los Angeles on Dec. 31 after being named the Bruins' coach.
The barometer readings were preferable to all involved with the UCLA football program. The storm warnings were absent.
First-year coach Rick Neuheisel was glib and upbeat at the Pac-10 Conference media day, with his Bruins picked to finish a modest fifth in the conference. They open with a visit from Tennessee on Sept. 1.
"Needless to say, I'm elated to be here," Neuheisel said. "I'm looking forward to rekindling the rich, rich football tradition at UCLA and getting us back to a place where we play for the big prizes."
That sound bite requires only deferred payments, as opposed to the IOU that came due a year ago.
Last year, during the conference's media day, questions about assistant coach Eric Scott's arrest (he was later cleared) and high expectations for a season (which didn't materialize) became an albatross that dragged down coach Karl Dorrell.
The scene has changed dramatically. A repeat of last season's 6-7 record and a Las Vegas Bowl appearance would probably be cause for a parade.
"Last year there were a lot of expectations, we had a lot of seniors coming back, then the injuries started," said senior defensive tackle Brigham Harwell, who sat out all but two games because of a knee injury. "Now, no one expects anything from us. . . . Now we have something to prove."
Coach is optimistic
"I'm not going to tell players we're going out and having an 11-win season, then go in the back room and hope we win six," Neuheisel said.
"I know there is a willingness to be patient with a new coach. But it's all about creating an environment that will flourish eventually. Hopefully, it will happen sooner rather than later."
As for his own expectations, Neuheisel said, "I don't want to send the message that it is OK not to be good. Nor do I want to put a number on what it is for us to call it a successful season. I want to make sure that we get better so that I feel momentum when we go into homes (recruiting) in December."
Hold that line
The linchpin to the season remains the offensive line. Darius Savage, a converted defensive tackle, tops the depth chart at one guard and Scott Glicksberg, a converted tight end, is at the other.
Neuheisel said Savage has "an NFL body" and Glicksberg has added 30 pounds since spring, according to the UCLA media guide. But "we don't have a great deal of depth," Neuheisel said.
That is most evident at right tackle. Injuries forced Aleksey Lanis to end his football career and Sean Sheller was lost for the season when he injured his knee and ankle in an ATV accident.
That leaves Mike Harris No. 1 on the depth chart. The Bruins were also hoping for help from Donovan Edwards, a transfer from Diablo Valley College, but last week abruptly de-committed.
Nate Chandler, who has been moved from tight end, may also figure into that spot.
"Nate would look in the mirror and wanted to say he was a tight end, but his body kept saying he was an offensive lineman," Neuheisel said. "A year from now, we're talking about a future NFL player. How fast he gets there remains to be seen."
Quick kicks
The Bruins open training camp Saturday. . . . Wide receiver Jamil Turner, a junior, has left the team but will remain on scholarship. . . . Senior offensive lineman Aaron Meyer has transferred to Nicholls State. . . . Tight end Ryan Moya suffered a hamstring injury, but Neuheisel said it shouldn't prevent him from participating in training camp.
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Comments » 35
marinevol writes:
Not falling for any talk down-playing UCLA. They will be good.
ibvolman writes:
Dang! I'm first.
ibvolman writes:
Double Dang! I'm not first.
Jamey1210 writes:
hey guys any body got any good articles on Tennessee Football. Keep wanting to read something but there seems to be no new articles latley
DennisVols writes:
The biggest challenge facing UT will be not playing down to a weaker UCLA. This should be a great opportunity to iron out some of the wrinkles the new offensive system will have.
Too many times we have read our own greatness and believed it. The '05 season comes to mind.
I don't forsee this being a problem though as Clawson is highly energy and it was already starting to rub off on the players during the spring.
Look for UT to wear down a thin UCLA as the game wears on as the heat everyone is so worried about will affect their lack of depth.
givehim6 writes:
I'd say coach Clawson will want to use this game to show off his new offence. How close the game will be will depend on how well our offence works. I think our defence will be able to handle offence.
Jamey1210 writes:
http://utsports.com/football/article....
Good article about Robert Meachem for you all.
GerryOP writes:
New QB, new OC, new offense -- same old Coach Fulmer looking for 174.
murrayvol writes:
dtaylor: Shake it off big guy. You're 3rd AND 4th.
murrayvol writes:
sjt: "UCLA shouldn't beat UT this year and it shouldn't be close."
Correctamundo, but in recent years we've developed a nasty habit of making games close that shouldn't be close.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
sssh, murrayvol,8:56- you'll hurt Grey Goose Koolade sales.
We will destroy them, we're always ready to roll in road openers. Why, they're won't even be a line, why we'll wave those shakers and they will roll over, graveyard dead.
Get the idea, the company line, it's served us well for, let me look, nine seasons, now.
Thanks for your cooperation.
Bass_Vol_1998 writes:
I'm not sure what to hope for- a all out whipping (which I love to see: 2006 Cal, 2007 UGA, 2007 ARK), or a dogfight. The whippings are fun to watch and help with credibility- but the dogfights are what helps make a great team. I predict a first half fight, followed by us dominating in the 2nd half.
Bass_Vol_1998 writes:
strike that... I now predict we will set the record for biggest blowout ever.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1916_Cum...
I heard that the coach for GT had a half time speech that convinced the guys that Cumberland was going to comeback on them. The score was 126-0 at the half.
TommyJack writes:
Top me, it's not about the kool-aid. We WILL be severely tested later. But UCLA ain't it this year, IMO. The aging surfer-dude coach has never proven himself. Their OC probably enjoys the Cutcliff Syndrome, i.e. the players made him; not the other way around. Plus they have been decimated by injury.
Now if we're talking about the SEC schedule, that may be a different animal. But UCLA, don't think so.
TommyJack writes:
Make that To me...
murrayvol writes:
TJ: Chow's success in college definitely dovetailed with some really competent teams @ BYU & USC. His work w/Titans was, to be kind, unimpressive.
Don't think he has the horses at Westwood yet. If this one's a squeaker, I'll be posting less and drinking more.......a lot more.
TommyJack writes:
Murray: I'll drink to that. I could be wrong. If I am, I'll be here to man-up, God willin. And if I'm wrong, I don't even want to think about the rest of the year.
orangebloodgmc writes:
So, is there a Vegas line yet on UCLA/UT?
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
In typical vol fashion, we will struggle through this game and the next (Florida is third, right?) and everyone will be so filled with doom that we go out and beat Florida by 10.
Volchaz writes:
I would never underestimate a Norm Chow Offense, we should win, hopefully we'll grasp the new clawfense.....
lilvolcoach writes:
Don't care about what they're saying. Don't take them lightly. UCLA athletes are decent even though they're playing the pity card. Let's go out there and destroy some Cali butt.
TommyJack writes:
Let's not "be surprised by their speed".
yardboy#538962 writes:
Florida has no DB's!!!!! Thats all they blab about around here. Must have major rush to QB before he can set up. Something T has not had. I still think T will beat Florida, however should things go right for them it could get rough! Florida is going to be ready and everyone around me cant wait for the taste of T blood! Talk is they want to make us look stupid at home!
IBleedOrange444 writes:
orangeblood/ gator4life-
The line is finally up! LVSC opened it at UT -5.5, but the only Vegas casino with a line yet is the Hilton which has it at UT -7.
IBleedOrange444 writes:
Sounds like UCLA will be trotting out a pretty shabby O line. Hopefully our D line will really get after the QB and gain some confidence right off the bat.
jasonn1970 writes:
Before veryone chalks UCLA up in the win column we should think back to the 1994 opener there. Remember? a QB who had waited his turn and was ready to shine, a backup who was also ready to shine (in major league baseball that is) and a couple of freshmen who (presumably) were going to redshirt, and a talented team that was maybe being underestimated by the media. UCLA was going to be a sure W on the way to the SEC schedule. That all changed on the 7th play of the game when the other 3 QBs who were not ready were forced into action. Any of this sound eerily familiar?
LadyVolsEighTimes writes:
Lets just take them one at a time.
govolsfan#214750 writes:
Im a Vols fan living out here in SoCal and the below link is to an article describing exactly the preception they have out here about us. Please read......and use it to get even more pumped up for this game.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgur...ee%26start%3D20%26ndsp%3D20%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN
tnbanker_govols writes:
I love how everyone is comparing this year's west coast game to last year's west coast game with Cal. Granted, we were not ready to play that football game but I believe UCLA doesn't possess the kind of explosiveness Cal had last year. But then again, if we go in with the same type of lame brain, lack of readiness to play, it could be uglier. Hopefully, last year's loss will help remedy that.
govolsfan#214750 writes:
This article is more in line to the TN preception of the upcomming game.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgur...
LongtimeVol writes:
I fully expect us to beat UCLA, but to be honest that expectation is not based on rigorous analysis, is it based on fear. Because I fear that if we can't beat UCLA easily, Sept 20 and 27 will be painful afternoons. Either way, I will be at all three games!
As for the Cal game last year, I can never tell whether posters who credit Cal as good or explosive do it to make the beat down easier to accept or out of genuine admiration. In either case I don't quite get it since Cal finished the regular season 6-6 in a conference we always deride as inferior. Kind of curious to me.
Colliervol writes:
A converted DT and a converted TE figuring prominently in their O-line. Hmmm.
Bass_Vol_1998 writes:
longtime- their qb was injured and it was over after that. They were #2 in the nation at the time.
LongtimeVol writes:
No doubt a factor, but I still think they were over rated and we should not have lost to them.
LongtimeVol writes:
Besides, Longshore only missed the Oregon State game so I don't see how you attribut the 6-6 season to that.
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