College Football: UCLA AD Guerrero Makes a National Joke out of UCLA Football

UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero petitioned the NCAA for a bowl bid waiver as soon as he found out that UCLA would play in the inaugural PAC-12 Conference Championship Game. Because of the possible outcome of Saturday’s game between the Bruins and the Oregon Ducks, Guerrero was afraid that his 6-6 team would not qualify for a bowl game per NCAA rules should they lose and fall to a 6-7 record for the 2011 season.

Congratulations Mr. Guerrero, UCLA won their petition Wednesday and in the process further embarrassed the UCLA football program and PAC-12 football… well at least the South Division.

This is not the story book ending PAC-12 Commissioner Larry Scott had hoped to achieve for the first season of PAC-12 football. UCLA has the indignity of having to get a waiver to be bowl eligible after playing in the conference’s first title game.

How embarrassing is this for the PAC-12 and Larry Scott?

Before PAC-12 fans get upset, yes, University of Southern California had a fine year and represented the South Division well with a 10-2 season. Truth be told, Lane Kiffin deserves a couple of votes for Coach of the Year for his efforts with this year’s Trojan’s team.

With no post season bowls to play for due to NCAA sanctions over Reggie Bush’s violations, Kiffin guided the Trojans to what would have been an appearance in the PAC-12 Conference Title Game to take on No. 8 University of Oregon, a team USC beat 38-35 two weeks ago.

Kiffin would have been one game away from possibly playing in the Rose Bowl against a probable Big Ten opponent but USC’s 2011 accomplishments matters not, instead 6-6 UCLA is representing the PAC-12 South.

The Bruins are now one game away from playing in the Rose Bowl but is letting the world know that they do not think they can beat the Ducks thus the reason for petitioning for a waiver… right?

To make matters worse and perhaps even more confusing, UCLA fired their head coach Rick Neuheisel on Monday. The PAC-12 Conference Title Game will be Neheisel’s last game as the Bruins head coach.

Why would any AD in their right mind fire a coach before the end of the season when said coach could truly embarrass said AD by winning?

To clarify the situation, the Bruins are in the PAC-12 Championship Game, regardless of their record, one game away from a possible BCS Rose Bowl berth, and they fire their head coach. Why would UCLA’s AD risk the proverbial egg on his face situation if Neuheisel beats Oregon on Friday?

Oh yeah, that’s why Guerrero petitioned for the bowl waiver, he does not believe UCLA has a chance against the Ducks.

What happens if the Bruins do the unthinkable and beat the No. 8 Ducks?

Guerrero would have lame duck interim head coach Mike Johnson, the team’s current offensive coordinator, leading the Bruins into a BCS bowl game thanks to Neuheisel’s efforts. Think of all the positive media attention that would get UCLA and their program.

With all that is on the line, could Guerrero not have waited until the end of the season to fire Neuheisel? Why create further distractions before the Bruins final two games?

By the way, did you know that Neuheisel is an UCLA alumnus? “Thanks for the memories Rick.”

Through it all one can only assume that the Bruin players are tickled with all of the support given by the athletic department for their efforts during their embattled season. In their own little protest to Neuheisel’s firing, the players carried their terminated head coach off the practice field Wednesday.

To be fair to Guerrero, UCLA has more than underachieved over the past four years under Rick Neuheisel. The Bruins are 21-28 during Neuhesial’s tenure and have only made one bowl appearance – 2009 EagleBank Bowl.

For those of you that don’t remember UCLA’s EagleBank Bowl bid that year, the 6-6 Bruins accepted the bid because Army, the usual tie-in for the EagleBank bowl, was 5-7 thus not able to accept the bid.

Because Guerrero knew the right thing to do was reward the players for their hard work, he petitioned the NCAA for a bowl waiver. Making sure the football team gets to play in a bowl game because of their hard work, not for the bowl money, the 2011 Bruins appear to be headed to the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco not the Rose Bowl, at least not if you ask UCLA’s AD Dan Guerrero.  

Another fine ending to a football season for the mighty Bruins!

Commissioner Scott, there’s always next year. 

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