Tim Skipper describes the vibe around UCLA football after winning a game

UCLA entered the game against a top-10 Penn State team 0-4. The team had been an abject disaster. Until it wasn’t.

The Bruins stunned the Nittany Lions. And it wasn’t just jumping out to a 27-7 lead, either. Penn State made a serious, hard charge late in the game. UCLA was there to answer the call.

So, naturally, the team’s locker room was world’s different after the win. Interim coach Tim Skipper described the mood.

“Smiling, laughing, talking,” he said. “When you’re sore after a game it actually feels pretty good, you know what I mean? Lot of things. Just the flow, people laugh at bad jokes now and stuff. Just, man, just joy. That’s how I would describe it. Just pure joy, excitement, realization that hard work is paying off, and I think that’s important.”

Now the trick for UCLA is to carry the momentum forward. It won’t be easy.

Up next is a cross-country trip to Michigan State. It’s a winnable game, but it certainly won’t be an easy one. Everything will have to go right. And that starts with preparation, Skipper said.

“We know as soon as the meeting is over and Sunday ended now the hard work starts up back again,” he said. “And that starts today. But everybody was happy and excited, that’s how I would say that meeting was.”

Nico Iamaleava emerging as team leader

There’s one factor that could make UCLA’s short burst of success a little more sustainable. It has a bona fide leader in starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava.

“He’s a natural born leader,” Skipper said. “So he was our top vote-getter when we voted for captains. He was. All of that stuff, you know, it doesn’t really matter when you get there, it’s what you’re doing while you’re there. He’s, from Day 1, been a vocal guy. People look up to him. He’s not afraid to voice his opinions, he’s not afraid to talk to the team, and I think that’s been huge.”

Iamaleava did it all in the UCLA win over Penn State. He threw for 166 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 128 yards and three more scores.

Replicate that feat and UCLA will win a few more games, at least. Of course, for Skipper, the leadership itself has been invaluable.

“As far as helping me, as many leaders as we have and eyes when I’m not around, the better we’re going to be,” the head coach said. “And he’s definitely one of those guys that makes sure the locker room is the way it’s supposed to be. He makes sure we’re practicing the way we’re supposed to be, transitioning from drill to drill. He’s going to speak up when things are going well. He’s going to celebrate when things are going great. He’s one of those guys.”

UCLA will return to action against Michigan State at noon ET on Saturday. The game will be carried on the Big Ten Network.