Jerry Neuheisel reflects on UCLA upset vs. Penn State: ‘How can you not love college football?’

UCLA pulled the upset of the season with a 42-37 win over No. 7 Penn State on Saturday. That, in part, was led by a new playcaller in OC Jerry Neuheisel, who replaced OC Tino Sunseri mid-week amidst the ongoing, in-season changes for the Bruins.

Following the victory, Neuheisel, in his eighth year with his alma mater, was asked postgame what that moment was like and what his emotions were after knocking off the Nittany Lions. He thought it ranked highly for him all time, with him having a better feel for it later on considering how in it he still was postgame.

“It’s up there,” said Neuheisel

“It’d be a better question to ask me tomorrow,” Neuheisel added later. “Right now, I still haven’t come down off of it.”

Neuheisel, though, was happier for their team and its players. They’ve been through a lot this season already, so going from winless and without a coach to beating a top-ten conference opponent was about as good as it could’ve gotten.

“First thing I want to say is I love UCLA more than anything. And, the kind of kids that you see that played on that field today is exactly why you love a place like this,” Neuheisel said. “We had two days to practice the new game plan, and all they did was believe. And we came out and played as hard as we could for 60 full minutes.”

“You know, it’s – again, it’s those kids. It’s the fact that I got to spend time and do that and been around them for so long,” said Neuheisel. “To come together and play a game like that? Like, I think that’s what we were capable of. And I think, to see their excitement and their emotion in that locker room? Like, again, just a special, special day.”

Called by a very newly-appointed coordinator in Neuheisel, UCLA posted 42 points, their most in a game in almost two years, and 446 yards, averaging 5.4 yards per play, on offense against one of the better defensive units in the country. For reference, the Bruins scored a total of 57 points and averaged 321.3 yards overall through their start at 0-4. Most of that came on the ground with 280 rushing yards, which led to nearly two-thirds of the time of possession. QB Nico Iamaleava also played one of the best games of his career, putting up 294 yards in total, 166 in passing on 70.8% completion and then 128 in rushing, with five touchdowns overall. All that earned Neuheisel being carried off of the field and chanted for both in the stadium and in the locker room.

Moments like that one are why we, regardless of what the schedule looks like, love Saturdays in the fall. And, on this Saturday, as Neuheisel said postgame, it was a great one to be alive and be a Bruin.

“But, like, how can you not love college football when you have days like this?” Neuheisel asked. “Special, special, special.”

“I don’t know where it would rank. I don’t know how to really put it into words,” said Neuheisel. “I just am glad I’m the one who gets to be in it right now.”