Talk about having perhaps the best kicking game in the country returning:
“That should be hugely comforting. But as coaches will do, we find other things to worry about. But you’re right, we have two of the finest kickers in the country. For both to be coming back and all the machinery returning, including holder and snapper, those are all huge comforts.”

How are Josh Smith and Kai Maiava doing academically?
“Josh had a great quarter academically. There’s no problems with Josh. He still has a few things this spring to make sure he meets his demands. I think he can do it. He’s proven he can do it. I know this close to the finish line he won’t let down. Kai I think has learned a valuable lesson. I know it was hugely embarrassing to him to miss the bowl game, and he’s made it a personal vow to never let that happen again. I know he had a good quarter last quarter as well, and I think it’s full-steam ahead.”

Continue reading “Neuheisel ON: Pt. 3” »

Talk about the guys returning with extensive experience?
“There’s a number of guys who have proven themselves and we’re fortunate they’re back. On defense, you point to Rahim Moore who has 13 interceptions in two seasons. Akeem Ayers has made countless big plays. Those two guys will be at the forefront of what we do defensively. David Carter has to pick up where he left off. Datone Jones has to do a great job up front. Those guys are going to help bring along guys with less experience so we can play our typical UCLA defense. Prince, Rosario, Embree have all made a lot of plays. Cory Harkey, even though he’s going into his second spring here, he has a lot of experience. Four-fifths of our offensive line is coming back. There is experience. But I think we are in a place in our development where we have to let our fur fly. We’ve got to see who can do exactly what needs to be done.”

In your third spring ball, does your approach change?
“The approach and structure are the same. It’s the intensity. That’s not to say we weren’t intense in the first two springs. There was a lot of teaching going on, a lot of explanation. Not that we won’t teach and explain, but we have to really find time for legitimate playing. Who can play this game at the intensity this conference demands?”
Continue reading “Neuheisel ON: Pt. 2” »

UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel took his first conference call with reporters today, a few days before the start of spring football.
Did I have to pull over at a Dairy Queen to make sure I got on the call during my drive back from the Bay Area? Yes, yes I did. Did I get a Blizzard? No, no I did not…unfortunately.
Continue reading “Neuheisel ON: Welcome back…” »

Does what’s happened at other schools off the field make you worried for your program?
UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel: “I always think when you’re dealing with 18-to-22-year-old kids, you’re going to be susceptible to poor decision-making. The best we can do as educators, coaches, teachers, is to give them all the pertinent information. Give them the skills and tools to make good decisions and have a disciplinary framework in place that they understand when they don’t make good decisions, what happens.”

(More on the subject after the jump)
Continue reading “Keeping Tabs” »

What does ‘an improved program’ mean to you?
“UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel: We have to get more wins. We have to win more than we did last year. Eight or more.”

Is that your goal, or the program’s goal? Do you need that, or does everyone around you need that?
UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel: “Well, I haven’t been told I’d be fired if we didn’t win eight. But I want to keep the momentum going. The momentum of this program is tangible. By winning seven, by getting to a postseason game and winning it, we were an attractive entity to recruits, and it parlayed itself into a top class. Kids that in years past wouldn’t have even considered UCLA, came to UCLA. Not just considered UCLA, but came. We have to keep that rolling. If we go to the postseason again and win again and show improvement so you can look at the graph and it still looks like it’s climbing, that’s tangible evidence that this thing is going in a positive direction. That’s why I say eight. We have to win eight. I’ll be crushed if we don’t win eight. How do you win eight? You win every one you line up. It’s no different formula. It’s not like I’m saying, ‘OK, here are the four I want to lose.’ That’s not what I’m doing. It’s just that I want all signs to point that this thing is going where I said it would go. We can do that, if we get all hands on deck, because there is nothing given to us in this schedule. Nothing. Nothing. There is nothing out there where you can write down and say, ‘OK, we’ve got that one.’ That’s not the way it is. And that’s not true of most colleges. Most colleges can tell you right now they’ve got some wins scheduled in there. The argument will go on forever and ever which is the better way to go about it, and I can argue both sides. But it doesn’t matter. This is what we have – now let’s go make it work.”