Tim Skipper reveals his message to UCLA players after win over Penn State: 'Do not be a one-hit wonder'

UCLA interim head coach Tim Skipper made an immediate impact in his first game at the helm, guiding the Bruins to a stunning upset victory over Penn State this past weekend. It was a breakthrough moment for a program that desperately needed a spark.

Afterwards, Skipper was quick to make sure his players stayed grounded. His message to his UCLA team was simple: “I’m a 24-hour type of guy. Once we started our team meeting yesterday, it was watch and correct and critique things, enjoy the good moments from the game, but then we moved on pretty quickly after that. We don’t want to be one hit wonders. That’s the whole key to this thing. Do not be a one hit wonder,” he told the media.

“Let’s get back to work. Tuesday is a work day. Wednesday is a work day. Polish up on Thursday. Fly out to Michigan and then have a good Friday, and then we have to go play. But our mentality, our mindset, is to have a good week of practice, stay in the now, what’s important now is how we’re going to win, and just take it day by day.”

That message certainly resonates after UCLA’s most complete game of the season by far. Transfer quarterback Nico Iamaleava finally delivered the kind of performance many expected when he arrived in Los Angeles, showing flashes of brilliance that could redefine the Bruins’ outlook.

“Big-time players make big-time plays,” Skipper added. “That’s what he did out there. There’s times when we have drop-back passes and nobody is open and he just takes off, he makes a guy miss, and it springs an explosive run. He’s a player. I mean, he’s a football player. It doesn’t matter what the play call is, you have to always account for him.”

Iamaleava was electric, completing 17 of 24 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 128 yards and three more scores. UCLA’s 42 points were easily their best offensive output of the season. Through five games, the former five-star has thrown for 954 yards and six touchdowns, adding 332 rushing yards and four scores on the ground.

“He rises to the occasion,” Skipper said. “That’s the thing I love about him. There’s no pressure too big for him. He applies pressure to defenses. I’m happy for him. He’s our leader of the team. He was the number one vote getter for captains, and I love that kid and appreciate him so much.”

Now, the challenge for Skipper, Iamaleava and the Bruins is to build on the momentum. Sitting at 1–4, UCLA will hit the road to face Michigan State next weekend — determined not to be a one-hit wonder.