All signs point to Rick Neuheisel no longer remaining the UCLA Bruins head coach after the Pac-12 Championship Game. After reports of his pending oust broke, the fourth-year UCLA coach cautioned against proclaiming his time in Westwood done just yet:
Rick Neuheisel Reacts To Imminent Firing Report
“I was told we needed to move the needle, and if the needle moved, that we’d be fine,” said Neuheisel, 21-29 in his fourth year in charge of his alma mater. “I’d get to continue along my five years of my five-year contract. We have won five conference games, as opposed to three last year. We have won the right to represent the South in the conference championship. We have certainly had some unfortunate evenings where things haven’t gone our way, but I think the program is headed in the right direction.”
One such thing that hasn't gone the right way: losing 50-0 to the USC Trojans, the actual best team in the Pac-12 South. If not for the Trojans' NCAA postseason ban, Neuheisel would likely already be gone.
It would be pretty amazing if the Bruins manage to make it to a Rose Bowl with Neuheisel fired along the way. Or without him being fired. Just going to the Pac-12 title game as a .500 team is pretty remarkable stuff.
For more on the Bruins, visit UCLA blog Bruins Nation and SB Nation Los Angeles, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes.
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