From the information that has surfaced over the past three days, it doesn’t look like UCLA football coach Jim Mora is going anywhere.
On Tuesday morning, Bruin Report Online reported that sources “close to the situation” said Mora wouldn’t take an interview for another coaching job right now, even if he were offered one.
Beyond that, statements from a couple of players have lent further credence to the idea that Mora is staying.
Senior punter Matt Mengel – a two-year starter for the Bruins after transferring from junior college – spoke of Mora’s commitment to the Bruins via social media Monday morning.
“He built a foundation here. His family loves it here. He can watch his kids play sports on the weekends. He just built a multi million (sic) dollar home here. Just to leave? He is set on winning a nati (national championship) here,” Mengel posted in the UCLA Football Group on Facebook, which has more than 4,300 members.
Four-star safety prospect Brandon Burton – whose college decision is coming down to Florida State and UCLA – shed light on Mora’s situation as well, in an interview with Scout.com.
Burton initially planned to announce his college commitment this past weekend, but pushed his announcement back when Mora rumors started to surface. On Sunday morning, Michael Silver of NFL Media tweeted that Mora, along with Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin, was “trying hard to get to the NFL.”
In response to these rumors, Burton reached out to Mora personally to make sure that the UCLA coach was intent on staying in Westwood.
“I talked to him this morning and he said he wasn’t going anywhere and is happy at UCLA,” Burton told Scout.com Sunday afternoon.
Burton is set to take his official visit to UCLA on Jan. 30. National Signing Day is on Feb. 3, and then spring camps usually start in late March or early April.
Nothing is ever certain – former UCLA defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich also told a recruit that he was staying in Westwood last winter, only to accept a coaching offer with the Atlanta Falcons soon after. But as it stands right now, everything is pointing to Jim Mora staying at UCLA.
Compiled by Matthew Joye, Bruin Sports senior staff.