Optimistic Rick?
Part of UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel's postgame speech to the team, according to some of the players, included an anecdote about the 1983 Bruins. Neuheisel was the quarterback of that Rose Bowl-winning team, which began the season 0-3-1.
"I don't want to start off 0-3-1, and hopefully we won't,'' UCLA defensive tackle Brian Price said. "We'll get together with our fellow teammates and continue to work hard. Everyone is working hard out there. I don't know what is going on."
The 1983 season began with an 11-point loss at No. 15 Georgia, a tie against Arizona, a 32-point loss at No. 1 Nebraska and a two-point loss at BYU.
Of course, that team was able to score points, and average 28.1 per game. The Bruins' offense has 20 points (in regulation) in three games.
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About Inside UCLA
This is Brian Dohn's sixth season covering UCLA after spending 4 1/2 years covering the Dodgers for the Daily News and other Los Angeles Newspaper Group papers. He graduated from Rutgers, where the first college football game was played in 1869. Sure, the Scarlet Knights suffered for a long time, but now RU is doing what Jerseyans always thought was possible. Winning at Rutgers also proves winning is possible everywhere else in the nation, so underachieving coaches better be careful. Now, if only men's hoops can turn it around.
Brian,
Thanks for your accuracy in reporting and not sugarcoating your comments. I felt before the season that if it was break-even, the coaches all deserved coach of the year. A third-string JC transfer at Q-back, and an offensive line "obtained in a garage sale" just won't cut it- even if the rest of the team were perfect (which it isn't).
I still have two more UCLA games to attend- Washington State and Cal. I will be there in spite of what has happened so far.
A better Title for this one would be: Unrealistic Rick.
Come on Coach! Does this not create unrealistic expectations? There is no way in hell this team goes to the Rose Bowl. There is no way in hell this team goes bowling. I read a lot of quotes about these guys playing hard and battling. Really? If Terrance Austin and Dominique Johnson are giving a 100% effort and their performance is reflective of that than they are simply not good enough! On punt return if Austin is our best option then what does that say about Ryan Graves and Michael Norris? Why do we have to continue to watch Johnson drop balls right in his hands? We have the worst set of starting wide outs in the Pac-10
Why do we continue to go to them?
Clearly, we need to win the battle of field position to even have a remote outside chance to win another game. We actually won that against Arizona and still got our asses handed to us. Might I ask why in the hell Jimmy Rothstein Kicks off??????????????? Forbath or Locke cant kick the ball inside the 15 yard line? This guy would not be kicking off for any other Pac-10 team , maybe even another D-1 team yet he has been kicking the ball to the 15 yard line for two years now.
Start Kevin Prince, Start Tyler Embree and Start Nelson Rosario! And for Gods sakes let someone kick that can at least get it inside the 5 yard line!
Tommy Trojan, do you know the difference between one and won? Or is that not something that you learned while at $c?
If he is so optimistic why did he punt on 4th an 1 in the fourth quarter?