Ex-UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel calls out Mora over 'soft' comments
Former UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel let loose Wednesday, a day after current Bruins boss Jim Mora said the program was "soft" when he inherited the team in 2012.
"The country thinks UCLA is soft because of their baby blue colors," said Neuheisel, who coached the team from 2008-2011, on his radio show.
"All (Mora) did was paint the walls black and wear black on the sideline and thinks that's tough. I've been in the locker room. There's all sorts of stuff about Sun Tzu and the Art of War and pain. He takes the team to Navy SEAL training. Congratulations. I'm glad you had the money to do it. But don't talk about toughness with my football team. I'll go to war with any of (my former players)."
The Bruins posted a 21-29 record over Neuheisel's four seasons, though significant financial constraints on the football program at the time limited his off-field resources.
Neuheisel was also peeved to hear - through Mora's account - that athletic director Dan Guerrero agreed with the assessment that the Bruins were "soft" under his leadership.
"Jim Mora has done a nice job at UCLA, but to hear Dan Guerrero say that we were soft? That makes me bristle because Dan Guerrero never came to practice. He never came to my office in four years. Not one time did he ever come and be a part of what was going on out there," Neuheisel said.
In Mora's first four years at the helm, the Bruins are 37-16, and have won at least eight games in all four seasons. Still, Mora said numerous times that his team needs to get bigger and play more physical to become an elite program.
- With h/t to CBS Sports