Neuheisel set for UCLA headcoaching debut
editor1 |Aug 25,2008
|
|
|
No. 18 Tennessee at UCLA, 8:00 pm EDT
PASADENA, California (Ticker) -- Nearly a quarter century after
quarterbacking his alma mater to one of its most impressive
victories, Rick Neuheisel will lead another UCLA team into the
Rose Bowl.
The 46-year-old Neuheisel makes his UCLA head-coaching debut on
Labor Day, when the Bruins host 18th-ranked Tennessee.
In his final game as a player, he was the starting quarterback
for the Bruins in their 45-9 rout of fourth-ranked Illinois in
the 1984 Rose Bowl. Neuheisel spent six seasons as an assistant
at UCLA from 1988-93 before beginning his head coaching career
at Colorado in 1995.
"UCLA is a special place," he said when he was hired to succeed
Karl Dorrell, who was fired after posting a 35-27 record in five
seasons in Westwood. "We are going to build a program our
supporters will be proud of, both on and off the field.
"I can't wait to get started. I made some mistakes earlier in
my career and I take responsibility for those mistakes. I have
learned from that experience and I would never do anything that
would reflect negatively on UCLA."
Neuheisel returns to the college ranks after getting fired by
Washington for participating in a pool for the 2003 NCAA
basketball tournament. He guided the Huskies to the 2000 Rose
Bowl, but faced accusations that he overlooked criminal behavior
by his players.
Neuheisel spent the past three seasons as an assistant for the
NFL's Baltimore Ravens.
While Neuheisel is returning to his alma mater, Phillip Fulmer
is beginning his 17th season at Tennessee as the dean of
Southeastern Conference coaches.
Fulmer is coming of one of his most satisfying years, guiding
the Volunteers to the SEC championship game after many Tennessee
fans called for his ouster after a 41-17 loss to Alabama that
dropped the team to 4-3.
Tennessee lost to eventual national champion Louisiana State,
21-14, in the SEC title game, but capped a 10-4 campaign with a
21-17 win over Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl.
But now the Volunteers face life without Erik Ainge, who passed
for 8,700 career yards at Tennessee, the third-highest total in
school history behind Peyton Manning and Casey Clausen. Ainge
was drafted in the fifth round of this year's draft by the New
York Jets.
Junior Jonathan Crompton, who has spent three years on the
bench, has been tabbed as Ainge's heir apparent. The 6-4,
220-pounder threw four touchdown passes as a freshman in 2006 -
two against Louisiana State - and one last year in limited
action.
Tennessee's top offensive threat will be senior running back
Arian Foster who rushed for 1,193 yards last season, leaving him
less than 700 shy of Travis Henry's school career rushing mark.
|
|
Print
E-mail
Del.icio.us
Digg
