When I met with Rick Neuheisel in his office in June, he hadn’t lost his sense of humor, but it was fading as fast as his hairline. He came across as a down-on-his-luck comic forcing jokes, making himself laugh.
He indicated that what can save his job is a UCLA quarterback, any of them, to make a big-time play. Three games into the season, Neuheisel can’t even crack a smile, let alone a joke.
Another Neuheisel season is collapsing at UCLA. His best quarterback, Kevin Prince, healed enough to play again and threw three interceptions in his seven attempts in an embarrassing 49-20 loss to Texas on Saturday.
The game was a mess for UCLA, and so is Neuheisel’s team. On a third-and-1, the Bruins came out in the wrong formation and, after a timeout, were called for too many men on the field.
“I’ve been around too long to be stunned,” Neuheisel told reporters after the game. “But I am disappointed.”
Not only is his offense struggling, but the defense is now a sieve. Under first-year coordinator Joe Tresey, whom Neuheisel brought in from the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League, UCLA (1-2) gave up 16-of-20 passing and 284 yards rushing.
Fans starting pouring out of the Rose Bowl with eight minutes left.
No “D” in Kansas.
No one thought Kansas could be worse than it was last year. They may be wrong. Saturday’s defensive comedy looked like someone’s fantasy league fantasy.
In Georgia Tech’s 66-24 win, the Yellow Jackets had a school-record 604 yards rushing on an NCAA-record 12.1 yards per carry. They had three one-play TD drives and 14 plays of 20 yards or more. They scored 42 consecutive points in the second half.
It wasn’t a football game. It was a autumn demolition derby with the Jayhawks serving as fallen leaves.
Kansas lost defensive coordinator Carl Torbush in May when he retired because of cancer, and second-year coach Turner Gill promoted cornerbacks coach Vic Shealy to coordinator.
“Look right here at me,” Gill told reporters after the game. “It’s all on me. I’m the one that’s in control. But we’re 2-1. I still want to look at that. It’s one football game.”
Knapton is Wyoming hero.
Gabe Knapton, the Skyline High grad who led all Mountain West defensive linemen in tackles last year, teamed with fellow senior Josh Blezuns to block Bowling Green’s potential tying extra point with three seconds left.
“I think (the ball) hit Josh’s hands first and then hit mine,” Knapton said. “We got a great push. They came down on me, and Josh got free and was able to get his hands on it.”
Wyoming is 3-0 for the first time since 1996.
Record beating in Utah.
So you want to be independent? OK, BYU. Stew by yourself about your worst beating at the hands of hated rival Utah since a 49-0 shutout in 1922. In its 54-10 win Saturday night, Utah rushed for 215 yards — in the second half.
Sparse Cal crowd.
California coach Jeff Tedford held back tears after the 63-12 win over Presbyterian gave him 75 victories at Cal, topping Andy Smith’s 1916-25 school mark of 74-16-7. Tedford was given a framed jersey with the No. 75, then he sought out his wife, Donna, and hugged his son, Quinn, who caught his first career pass in the game.
The biggest downer? Cal’s first game in San Francisco’s AT&T Park, while Memorial Stadium is being renovated, drew only 33,952.
Fourth and short.
With Auburn’s loss at Clemson, Stanford has the nation’s longest win streak at 11. . . . Colorado transfer Darrell Scott is averaging 87 yards a game on 7.5 yards per carry for South Florida after gaining 33 yards against Notre Dame, 82 against Ball State and 146 on Saturday against Florida A&M.
