PASADENA — Shock? Awe? Disbelief?
Words failed to describe UCLA’s stunning start against No. 7 Penn State.
Twenty-seven points and a 20-point lead at halftime; the Bruins were in fever dream territory as they waltzed into the Rose Bowl locker room with grins on their faces for the first time all season. Happy Valley left with their mouths frozen agape.
What did the Bruins do to transform what had been slated to be a nationally televised mockery into an upset 42-37 victory Saturday?
“Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!”
The name the fans had been shouting hoarse in the stands, Jerry Neuheisel, had been waiting for his moment his entire life. He was just a boy when his father, Rick Neuheisel, became head coach at UCLA. He grew up dreaming of blue and gold – becoming a backup quarterback for his father’s alma mater, a college career that included an against-all-odds comeback victory against Texas in Jerry’s World in Arlington.
More than a decade later, just like when his teammates hoisted the long blonde locks-wearing quarterback after the Bruins’ upset of the Longhorns, it was the UCLA faithful celebrating their man of the hour.
Promoted from tight ends coach to the offensive play-caller, Jerry Neuheisel four days later turned the Rose Bowl into Jerry’s World. Swaths of students, in Pasadena for the first time this season with school in session, screamed for him.
The unlikeliest of circumstances – a midweek mutually parting of ways with offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri on Tuesday evening – led the do-it-all assistant coach to create a new offense to face one of the best defenses in college football.
Jerry Neuheisel’s zippy, high-tempo offense – a group that entered 132nd of 134 teams in points per game – carved up Penn State and its highly touted defense.
UCLA (1-4, 1-1 Big Ten) outgained Penn State 285-92 in the first half alone, 446-357 overall. The Bruins collected 22 first downs and finished 10 of 16 on third down.
Nico Iamaleava had his much-awaited star turn. The redshirt sophomore quarterback passed for an 11-yard touchdown to Kwazi Gilmer to make it a 7-0 lead, connecting with Gilmer again for a 43-yard pass, in double coverage, and eventually running the ball in for another score to make it 24-7.
Twenty-seven NFL scouts and executives sat in the press box to see Jim Knowles, whom the Nittany Lions (3-2, 0-2 Big Ten) made the highest-paid defensive coordinator in the nation, dominate against the Bruins.
Instead, they watched as Jerry Neuheisel turned UCLA into first-half world-beaters.
Create a running game? He did it. The Bruins averaged 5.5 yards a carry in the first half as Iamaleava used his legs for plays such as 22- and 20-yard keepers, and all three running backs helped extend drives.
When Penn State clamped down on UCLA with a blocked punt touchdown to cut the lead to six, Iamaleava weaved his way through green grass and missed tackles for a 52-yard scamper to set up a one-yard touchdown run of his own to replenish the lead to 34-21 with 2:55 remaining in the third quarter.
On a 3rd-and-7 pass play from the seven-yard line, it was Iamaleava who dove for the end zone to finish a nearly eight-minute drive to push UCLA to a 42-28 lead in the fourth quarter.
Even when Penn State had a chance to tie with just over 30 seconds left, defensive back Scooter Jackson slammed Penn State quarterback Drew Allar, on a 4th-and-2 fake jet sweep, to the ground for a three-yard loss.
The Rose Bowl crowd erupted. UCLA’s escape from what some predicted would be a winless season was secured.
Rick Neuheisel, who now serves as a television analyst, joined the CBS broadcast as his son led the Bruins downfield for score after score.
The proud father chuckled. “He looks like he’s having fun,” he said.
He was right. Jerry Neuheisel was carried off the field, just like he was 11 years previous as a Bruins quarterback. UCLA was having fun, turning apathetic football into a never-forget moment at the Rose Bowl.