Coach Rick Neuheisel understands the historical significance of Saturday’s UCLA-Washington football game. Neuheisel, now the Bruins’ coach, coached the Huskies from 1999-2002 before the school fired him for his involvement in an NCAA basketball tournament pool.
It all started perfectly for Neuheisel at Washington; the Huskies went 11-1 in his second season and beat Purdue in the Rose Bowl. But slowly the program began to slide: Players were involved in a string of off-field incidents, and Neuheisel’s team slipped from the top tier of the conference. Washington has not had a winning season since his exit, and this season has been especially abysmal. The Huskies are the only Division I football team without a victory, and coach Tyrone Willingham will be replaced after the season.
But despite all that history, Neuheisel wants to focus on the future. He looks at this week as a chance for his struggling UCLA team (3-6, 2-4 Pac-10) to claim a victory that it desperately needs over winless Washington (0-9, 0-6).
“Obviously I’ve got history there, I had a great experience being their coach and I very much respect their program and university,” Neuheisel said. “I think you’re going to get a spirited game on Saturday night. You’re talking about two programs that are pointing toward the future.”
The Bruins have lost three of their past four games, not a stretch when their offense has sputtered badly. Last week the Bruins scored only six points against Oregon State.
UCLA’s problems begin at the line of scrimmage, where they have been dominated by bigger, stronger defensive fronts. Kahlil Bell, the team’s starting tailback, still hasn’t recorded a 100-yard rushing game this season.
A better running game would give the offense much more flexibility, Neuheisel said.
“I know it sounds like a broken record, but if we can take advantage of the running game, we can take a lot of pressure off the quarterback,” Neuheisel said.
UCLA’s defense has played decently, but struggled at times in the fourth quarter.
Things have been even worse in Seattle.
The Huskies have lost each of their past five games by 20 points or more. That stretch includes a 56-0 loss at USC and a 48-14 fall at Arizona.
Jake Locker, the team’s star quarterback, broke his thumb six weeks ago against Stanford and is expected to miss the rest of the season.
Willingham announced his firing Oct. 27, days after his team’s 33-7 loss against Notre Dame.
“It is my desire to complete and finish the football season and do that in the manner that I have done it, unwavering in my approach and commitment to our young men,” he told reporters at that press conference.
“I have a healthy respect for the job he’s done. … You always feel bad when someone has to move on because of the effort that goes into these jobs,” Neuheisel said.
Saturday’s game kicks off at 7:15 p.m. Husky Stadium is known to be one of the loudest in the nation. And, for at least one night, Washington fans may have a reason to rally.
INJURY REPORT: Neuheisel said that he expects wide receiver Nelson Rosario and defensive end Reginald Stokes to return from injury for the Washington game. Quarterback Ben Olson will travel with the team, and he will probably be available if needed.
With reports from Andrew Howard, Bruin Sports senior staff.