LAX ““ UCLA football coach Rick Neuheisel sounded optimistic about the upcoming season when he spoke to reporters at the Pac-10 Football Media Day on Thursday.
Coming off a 4-8 record, the second-year coach said that the team has progressed noticeably since he took over 18 months ago.
“We’re a much more athletic team,” Neuheisel said. “We’re stronger, a little bit more physical, but we’re still relatively inexperienced.”
Despite the inexperience, there is familiarity. The Bruins have nine returning starters on the offensive side of the ball, losing leading rusher Kahlil Bell and center Micah Reed. Seven starters return for the defense, including redshirt senior middle linebacker Reggie Carter, who joined Neuheisel at the press conference.
“We’ll have to get some of our youngsters to play above their years, if at all possible,” Neuheisel said. “That will be the key.”
One of the young players is redshirt freshman quarterback Kevin Prince, who earned the most reps under center during spring practice. Prince gained praise for what he showed during the spring.
“For a redshirt freshman, (Prince) was very composed out there,” Carter said. “As long as he gets the ball where it needs to be on time, he’s going to be a great player.”
Neuheisel said, “He’s very composed. He’s wise beyond his years.”
The Bruins finished in eighth place in the conference with a 3-6 record and failed to reach a bowl game for the first time in seven years.
UCLA opens the season with three straight non-conference games ““ San Diego State (Sept. 5 at home), Tennessee (Sept. 12 on the road) and Kansas State (Sept. 19 at home) ““ before opening Pac-10 play with Stanford at Palo Alto. The Bruins will not have an off week during the nine-game conference schedule.
“I feel like we’re on the right path,” Neuheisel said. “The work ethic is exactly what you need to rise in the ranks of this competitive conference.
“I believe that great things are in store for our program.”