At the end of his last practice as UCLA’s head coach, Rick Neuheisel was carried off the field on the shoulders of his players. The culmination of his last game at the helm was far less ceremonious.
As Chip Kelly and the rest of the Oregon team accepted the Pac-12 Championship Trophy under a steady stream of confetti and cheers, Neuheisel and his boys were relegated to a somber press conference. Neuheisel said he had a moment to reflect on his stint with the Bruins before kickoff Friday night.
“(Athletic Director Dan Guerrero) had let me bring my family to the game, which I thought was a classy move,” Neuheisel said. “So I had my boys out on the field in the pregame and I was playing catch with both Jack and Joe, my two youngest sons, and just looking at all the surroundings. You know, say what you will about how we got here and so on and so forth, but looking up at those banners and seeing Oregon and UCLA on the deal was a treat for me. It’s something that I’ll have for a long time.
“It’s one of those things where I really didn’t want it to end, but end it did and we’ll move on.”
As Neuheisel sat at the podium with two members of his inaugural recruiting class — quarterback Kevin Prince and linebacker Patrick Larimore — he spoke passionately of the bonds he’s formed with his players over the past four years.
“The relationships you gorge with young people — who first say yes to you when you recruit them, and then you try to correct them when they do wrong and you try to keep channeling their efforts so they can improve as players, all that kind of stuff — those relationships are what make the glue for coaches and why no one leave this deal voluntarily.”
As Neuheisel exited the field, he shared a few heartfelt words and hugs with his children. He said that his future moves would surely depend on the needs of those closest to him.
“We’ll evaluate,” Neuheisel said. “I’ve got a great wife and three great boys and we’ll evaluate what’s next. Obviously I’ve got some decisions to make as to stay or move and all of that stuff, but a lot of that will hopefully get cleared up in short order.”
As far as the game, both Neuheisel and his players were full of praise for Oregon on both sides of the ball.
“I just want to give credit to Oregon, they played a great game,” said Prince. “It’s a first-class program and a great experience to play in the first Pac-12 Championship ever. Just speaking strictly offensively, we just couldn’t get enough done. We turned the ball over too many times and we knew that put us in some bad spots.”
“Oregon is a very talented team,” Neuheisel said. “And sometimes because of the enormous success that their offense has, their defense doesn’t get enough credit. They sometimes become nameless, because we talk so much about the guys scoring the touchdowns and such. But they are stout up front.
“It’s a dynamic program and one that’s tough to keep up with.”
Though Larimore and Prince face an uncertain future without their current leader, both players repeatedly expressed optimism, as well as gratitude towards Neuheisel for everything he’s done for the program.
“I’m really proud of the team,” Larimore said. “And I think this game, even though we lost, is a very positive thing for UCLA. I think we can really build on it in the future and I’d like to thank Coach Neuheisel. Being able to play under him has truly been a blessing for me.”
The NCAA has approved UCLA’s request for a bowl game waiver, meaning the Bruins will remain bowl eligible despite the loss. While the team isn’t guaranteed a bowl berth, Neuheisel said he wishes the team the best going forward.
“I’m just excited for these guys,” Neuheisel said. “They get one more game here. They’ll find out where soon. And I’ll be appreciative of … everyone in the locker room for letting me have a dream job for the last two years.”