Fox Faculty Soccer tweeted that “The Jerry Neuheisel Era has begun with the Bruins.”
ESPN persona Pat McAfee added to the refrain of adoration for UCLA’s new playcaller, tweeting that Neuheisel “just might be a football wizard.”
Different media and sports activities betting websites tweeting in regards to the Bruins’ turnaround from 0-4 to darlings of the faculty soccer world prominently featured photos of the blond-haired assistant coach.
It was sufficient to immediate the sports activities media web site Terrible Saying to ask: “Does anyone know that Tim Skipper is actually UCLA’s interim head coach, not Jerry Neuheisel?”
Having been preoccupied with saving a season, Skipper acknowledged being blissfully unaware of any narratives about who’s completed what to spark his staff’s turnabout.
“I guess it’s good that I don’t get on social media and all that stuff right now because I don’t feel that way,” Skipper stated Monday when requested in regards to the notion that he wasn’t getting correct credit score. “But I don’t really know what’s happening in the outside world [because] I’m in this [practice] building so much.
“But I love what I’m doing, I’m just working, man, and I just try to put us in the best position to be successful on Saturday.”
A part of any credit score distortion may be related to Skipper having presided over the Bruins’ 17-14 loss to Northwestern after changing DeShaun Foster. The following week, Neuheisel was elevated to playcaller, serving to the Bruins (2-4 general, 2-1 Large Ten) revive a dreadful offense and roll up a mixed 80 factors throughout victories over Penn State and Michigan State.
In reality, there have been sufficient fingerprints on UCLA’s resurgence to go away numerous smudge marks.
UCLA coach Tim Skipper stands on the sideline in the course of the Bruins’ win over Penn State on Oct. 4.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Instances)
Skipper has offered power, meticulousness and drive, and his motivational techniques — together with leaving printouts asking “ARE YOU A ONE-HIT WONDER?” on gamers’ seats on the staff airplane final week — had their supposed impact throughout a runaway victory over Michigan State.
Neuheisel has undoubtedly elevated an offense that struggled mightily below predecessor Tino Sunseri.
Kevin Coyle, the de facto defensive coordinator who was introduced in earlier than the Northwestern recreation to exchange Ikaika Malloe, has unleashed an aggressive, disciplined model that has largely compensated for shortcomings that have been beforehand uncovered.
There’s additionally been a bunch of different contributors, from the scouting workers that helped determine the weak point resulting in a profitable onside kick in opposition to Penn State, to the safety guards exterior Drake Stadium who regularly inspired gamers strolling into follow amid loss after loss to start out the season.
And, after all, don’t overlook the gamers — quarterback Nico Iamaleava’s management and poise alongside a slew of others who’ve risen to the second after a lot early battle.
The Bruins are favored in opposition to Maryland (4-2, 1-2) on Saturday on the Rose Bowl for the primary time since they confronted New Mexico, and it may be straightforward to ascertain their success snowballing. However Skipper stated he wasn’t going to introduce the thought of constructing a bowl recreation as his subsequent motivational system.
“I’m all about the moment that you’re in, man,” Skipper stated. “… This week, kind of, [the mantra] is the standard is the standard and don’t get bored with success. We have to keep doing what we’re doing and always be on the rise, you know?”
As he neared the one-month mark since his Sept. 14 promotion, Skipper acknowledged having initially fearful about preserving his roster intact since gamers might enter the switch portal or redshirt.
“When I first took over, it was, like, every time I talked to you guys, everybody was asking about who’s redshirting, who’s going to the portal?” Skipper stated. “That was the theme that was, like, the No. 1 question. And we’ve been able to keep the team intact, you know, and that’s an everyday thing. I think we’ve shown them that, hey, we can make it, make it a good environment here, even though we have all this change and stuff, just stick with us and we’re going to be all right.”
A clear locker room and the grins and pleasure that include profitable have been among the many large modifications within the aura across the staff that Skipper stated he’s observed since taking up.
“It looks like the guys are in good spirits and things like that, and they know that tomorrow’s gonna be a work day and they better be ready to go,” Skipper stated. “But I think we’re giving the guys the ‘why’ and the reasons why we do things, and that’s helping them know what to expect.”
Put me in, coach
UCLA unveiled a sturdy offensive weapon late within the third quarter in opposition to Michigan State.
It was Siale Taupaki, a 337-pound defensive lineman used as a blocker when the Bruins reached the pink zone. Getting into movement on a direct snap to operating again Jaivian Thomas, Taupaki flattened a defender as Thomas scored on the second-and-goal play.
“He was begging to be able to do something on the offensive side,” Skipper stated of the redshirt junior, who has vacillated between the offensive and defensive traces throughout his seven seasons with the staff. “Sure enough, he went out there and did his job, so that gave us some juice on the sideline and it was good to see.”
And so forth.
Skipper stated the staff’s improved tackling in current weeks was extra of a perform of fundamentals than scheme. “We do drills when we get [individual] time that are specifically to use your weapons — your eyes, feet and hands,” Skipper stated, “and we’re learning how to wrap up and move our feet on contact because the hardest thing to do is re-start your feet when they stop.” … The College of California regents are scheduled to satisfy in a closed session Tuesday in San Francisco to debate the compensation bundle that shall be made obtainable to UCLA’s subsequent coach.
