Fit to be Tai'd

There was no waffling, but for a little while, Sam Tai, well, got a little nervous today.
He had his mind made up, he had a conversation last night that sealed the deal, but just knowing that he was going to verbally commit the next several years of his life to a football program was caused a few butterflies to stir.

Not enough to deter Tai from verbally committing to UCLA today at a press conference at Liberty (Nev.) High.

"I got a little nervous," Tai said with a sigh of relief. "I made my decision, and I talked to Coach Neuheisel last night and made it official. But it was hard, coming between Arkansas and UCLA. I built a great relationship with the coaches at Arkansas, but UCLA came out on top."

Tai, who plans to enroll in January, said that UCLA's academic tradition is what won him over - "My mom has raised me to always have a backup plan, football won't last forever, and that UCLA degree speaks for itself" - but that he has been paying close attention to the team this season as well.

Tai has been to visit several times, including the spring game and against Oregon State, and he says Neuheisel's personal touch in coaching and recruiting helped sway him.

"I like the way Coach Neuheisel coaches," Tai said. "I was out for spring practice, watched the spring game, and I love their style of play. He gets the players fired up, and he treats them like their one of his own."

Tai has avoided riding the Bruins' season-long roller-coaster, choosing to remain neutral when analyzing the season's success and failures. Tai isn't looking at 2010, but beyond, particularly on the defensive line, where the UCLA coaching staff has concentrated extensively the last two seasons.

"I put all the wins and losses aside," Tai said. "I look at how the program will develop in the future and what my impact can be for the program. When they talked to me, they expressed that they really needed me, and I felt it when I was out there. I definitely feel the importance from them on the line."