Published: Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Neuheisel expects rude welcome in Eugene
Associated Press
UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel figures he'll get quite a reception in Eugene, Ore., when the Bruins play the Oregon Ducks this weekend -- boos, catcalls and maybe even a "Slick Rick" sign or two.
"I anticipate it just because we've been typecast in our roles, and I've got the black hat," Neuheisel said Monday. "It wouldn't shock me, maybe even disappoint me if it weren't that way."
Neuheisel has a history with Oregon dating back to his days as coach at Colorado and UW.
"It goes back to 1995 when I faked a punt, probably ill-advised, late in a bowl game," he said. "I was a first-year coach -- making no excuses -- but it was probably a bad decision and drew their ire."
The Buffaloes were on their way to a 38-6 victory in that Cotton Bowl meeting with the Ducks.
And after Colorado's 51-43 victory over the Ducks in the 1998 Aloha Bowl, Neuheisel snapped off a remark that sparked more resentment.
"I guess Mike (Oregon coach Mike Bellotti) had been in the press conference saying they thought they had the better team, and I said, as Al Davis says, 'Scoreboard, baby.'
"I probably wasn't mature enough to handle it the way I should have."
Then after four years at Colorado, he became the coach of the Huskies. In 2002, Neuheisel and the Huskies drew the ire of Oregon players and fans after a large celebration at Autzen Stadium following a 42-14 Husky win.
Of course the biggest reason he's so hated in Eugene: He's 4-1 against the Ducks overall.
|