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THOUGHTS FROM A UCLA ALUM REGARDING THE BRUINS’ NEW FOOTBALL COACH

Yes, like everyone else in Bruin Nation,

I found out about athletic director Martin Jarmond hiring the former Bruin football legend, UCLA Athletics Hall of Famer, and longtime assistant this morning on TV.

My first prevalent thought about DeShaun Foster becoming the fourth UCLA alum to lead the Bruin football program after Terry Donahue (RIP), Karl Dorrell and Rick Neuheisel was that due to his being popular among the players as the running backs coach,

And judging from the video I saw on X (formerly Twitter) of the players cheering and hugging him after Jarmond announced his hiring,

This former Bruin football great, who had back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons at running back in Westwood in 2000 and 2001, was the players’ choice to succeed Chip Kelly.

Which I’m glad about, as it makes the chances of an exodus of players hitting the transfer portal smaller.

There are four things in particular that I want to see Foster do first as UCLA football’s new head man…

  • HIRE KEN NORTON, JR. AS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR. NOW.

I had this fellow Bruin football legend as one of my two choices to replace Kelly, which I had mentioned earlier this month on this blog.

Being the new defensive coordinator would be the next best thing with his twenty years experience being such on two NFL teams.

Plus, along with Foster, Norton gets it.

He gets being a Bruin, and what wearing those four letters and those true blue and gold colors is all about.

And along with Foster, who is from Tustin, Norton is a local, (from Westchester High) which will be a clear plus in recruiting.

With two Bruin football legends leading that program,

While it may not happen this coming season,

The chances of their (and my) alma mater’s football team going to the upper echelon of and being strong contenders in the Big Ten along with contenders for the College Football Playoff will grow in 2025 and down the road.

NOTE: It has just been reported that Norton is leaving UCLA to become the linebackers’ coach of the NFL’s Washington Commanders.

I would still like Foster to go after this fellow Bruin football alum and at least try to convince him to come back to Westwood; make him associate head coach if needs be as well as the defensive coordinator.

  • BRING BACK THE TRADITION OF THE TEAM WALKING THROUGH THE TAILGATERS OUTSIDE THE ROSE BOWL BEFORE GAMES

I was unhappy when Kelly dumped that tradition, as it gave the impression of him not really caring about the fans and him not really wanting his team to, either.

Foster needs to bring that back, starting on September 14th vs Indiana at the Rose Bowl, which will happen to be UCLA’s very first game as a member of the Big Ten Conference.

  • RECRUIT, RECRUIT, RECRUIT!

This was something that Kelly was absolutely lousy at doing; he would have gotten an “F-Minus” in recruiting if it were a college course as he simply hated doing such and didn’t want to do it.

Which manifested in the lowest recruiting class rankings in program history.

Which Foster and whoever he hires or retains on his staff absolutely must do an 180-degree turn on.

Preferably starting today.

  • BE OUTGOING, PERSONABLE, AND ACCESSIBLE TO THE STUDENTS, THE FANS, AND ESPECIALLY THE ALUMNI AND THE BOOSTERS

Again, Kelly was lousy at this.

While I can only speak for myself, the now ex-UCLA coach gave me the impression of someone who just plain didn’t give a care as far as interacting with Bruin Nation, particularly the alums and the boosters.

I knew he had the reputation of being strictly an X’s and O’s guy who simply wanted to coach and was uncomfortable with schmoozing or interacting with the fan base, which is fine;

Except for the fact that schmoozing and interacting with the boosters and alums in particular, especially in this Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) era, is now a significant part of a head coach’s job.

A good, outgoing, accessible relationship with Bruin Nation will be crucial to Foster and his staff if they want to have any chance at the support for the team – and attendance at the Rose Bowl increasing – improving.

In other words, much like in recruting,

Foster and his staff must enact a 180 degree approach from Kelly.

The bottom line of what I think about this hire…

I like it!

At least for now and going forward.

Unlike seemingly too many of my fellow Bruin Nation members, I won’t expect anything great this coming fall.

In fact, if those Bruins win six games and get to a bowl, Foster will deserve major consideration for Big Ten Coach of the Year if not actually win that honor.

As such, I expect no more than three or four wins in 2024.

But I do expect the program to grow after that.

I’m certainly looking forward to how this former UCLA football legend does in what is his first head coaching job.

Another important part of Foster’s new job, which he has long been fully aware of…KEEPING THIS BELL BLUE.