What Went Wrong in Westwood: Pt. 11

Ed. note: I’m taking a retrospective look at what eventually doomed the Rick Neuheisel era. He obviously did not lack a passion for the job, but questionable decisions and cruel twists of fate – and knees – led to his dismissal from his alma mater. I take a look back at a dozen of the pivotal moments that eventually sealed Neuheisel’s fate.

11. Debacle in the Desert
If Arizona was better, it would be one thing. If UCLA suffered a close loss, it would be one thing. If there was no petulant fighting, it would be one thing. If it was not an ESPN-televised, Thursday night marquee matchup, it would be one thing. It was everything. Everything bad, that is. The Bruins traveled to Tucson for a matchup with a Wildcat squad under a freshly minted interim head coach, one that had lost 10 straight to Division 1 opponents, and traveled back to Westwood with a 48-12 loss that spurred rumors of Neuheisel’s imminent demise. The major stain: A midfield brawl near halftime that resulted in 10 player suspensions, and a clear sign that the coaching staff had lost control of the players.