PASADENA, Calif. — As planned, Colorado coach Jon Embree was nowhere to be seen when his son, UCLA receiver Taylor Embree, was introduced on Senior Day before the game.
There were times during the game when Jon Embree, coaching against his son for the first time, didn’t want to be seen, either. And it wasn’t just because his Buffaloes got drilled 45-6.
“Never want to do it again,” Jon Embree said. “I’m glad it’s a one-time deal.”
In lieu of his dad, who was in the locker room prepping his team, greeting Taylor in a pregame ceremony was his mom, Natalyn, her brother and her father. All wore split jerseys: half black and half light blue.
Jon and Taylor talked briefly before the game, but when the game began it was uncomfortably strange.
“It’s very awkward,” Jon said. “You’re cheering against him. The play we broke up in the end zone and another good hit on the rout, I was glad.”
Taylor Embree caught two passes for 13 meaningless yards.
“I told him I loved him,” Jon said. “I congratulated him for getting bowl-eligible because that was his goal going into his senior year. And I told him to keep the high ball high. He might’ve caught the touchdown.
“He said, ‘I know. I could hear you.’ “
Grats to Neuheisel.
When Bill McCartney hired Rick Neuheisel as his receivers coach in 1994, he stayed at the Embrees. Jon was the tight ends coach at the time and had kind words for his former temporary live-in guest who’s under pressure in his fourth season.
“I know the pressure he was under, and I told him congratulations,” Embree said. “I know it was important to him that his seniors go out on a high note and get (bowl) qualified.”
Stewart sets catch mark.
Rodney Stewart’s second catch gave him 87 to set a school mark for most career receptions by a running back. The previous mark of 86 was set by Lee Rouson (1980-84).
