Winds of change breeze into Westwood

One coach in, one coach out and one coach on its way.

Forget trying to learn plays, UCLA football players are just trying to remember the man in charge.

With interim head coach Mike Johnson leading his first Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl practice on Sunday without Rick Neuheisel – and with new head coach Jim L. Mora expected to arrive in town today – the Bruins heads’ were spinning.

“I’m excited for like my fourth fresh start,” junior tight end Joseph Fauria said. “I had a fresh start as a freshman, a transfer, then (offensive coordinator Norm) Chow left, and now a new coach. Four fresh starts. Pretty fun.”

Fauria laughed, shrugged and shook his head – pretty much the consensus reaction from most of the Bruins who are just trying to keep up with all the change.

Step one, focus on the now, and that means preparation for their Dec. 31st bowl matchup with Illinois.

Sunday’s practice was lively, with players back out for practice for the first time since November, following finals week. The Bruins focused extensively on fundamentals, with the next week of practice almost like a mini minicamp. Scout team players got extra scrimmage time, mostly freshmen on freshmen, a luxury not afforded when preparing for an immediate opponent.

The biggest difference, though, was not hearing the familiar voice of Neuheisel.

“He’d always come out and say, “Great day to be alive, great day to be a Bruin,” junior quarterback Kevin Prince said. “He’d try to get everybody revved up. It’s a different feel. It really is. It definitely feels like something’s missing right now. You’re used to something for four years, and you take that away, and it’s odd.”

Out with the old and in with the new, and in UCLA’s case, that means Mora.

Mora called the Carolina Panthers vs. Atlanta Falcons game for Fox on Sunday then planned to fly back to Washington before heading down to Los Angeles to begin assembling his staff and start recruiting.

A newcomer to the college game, Mora is also going to make his introduction to the Bruins for the first time, as many only know of him from his NFL head coaching gigs with the Falcons and Seahawks.

UCLA players seemed to trust the hire, though they appeared relieved that the coaching search finally ended.

“There’s no reason to worry about it, but it’s nice to have it done,” Prince said. “It’s better to have someone solidified then wait and see and have uncertainty surrounding the program. You don’t want to miss out on good coaches. You saw all these good coaches going different places, and you’re like, ‘Well, when are we going to get somebody?'”