As usual, we’ll get right to this week’s interviews and see what’s been getting said at this week’s UCLA football press conferences. I’m just going to share this week’s videos here all in the same place to make it easy for you to watch them if you haven’t already. The videos in this article are courtesy of UCLA Athletics on YouTube, unless noted otherwise.
Coach Bob Chesney
On Monday, Coach Chesney spoke about various aspects of the Michigan State game and. One of things which stood out was his explanation about the strength of the running backs and how other units had to catch up to those guys. Chesney said:
I think that they’re they were this way from the beginning. I don’t think, you know, we just start in the winter conditioning and in the weight room, you know, that was a group that we looked at and just said, man, they’re strong, they’re explosive, they work really, really, really hard. Uh, I wish everybody on our team could be like them, you know. It’s almost to that level, you know, and then and then you watch the rest of the team because that that’s really like you’re batting a thousand in that room on guys that push weights, that are physical, that are tough, that bring it every single day.
Even the guys that aren’t playing a lot of snaps for us, you go watch them in the weight room and you work watch their work ethic and you know when when it’s their time they’re going to be able to
do something with it. That’s a complete room. It’s different. You know, some other rooms don’t have that. They do.
So, I don’t think it’s something where they had to catch up to this team. I think it was more of we all had to catch up to them just because of how good they’ve been from the beginning of us arriving.
On Tuesday, Coach Chesney addressed the possibility that some other program might try to poach him. Chesney spoke about how much he is enjoying life at UCLA. He said:
Oh, no. Message to them that I, this is, I said it before, this is the greatest place in the world to play football. I think it’s the greatest place in the world to coach football. I think, you know, I am extremely blessed to be here.
My family loves it here. I love it here. I mean, it’s November almost and look at us out here. So, I truly love it.
And again, the vision that I have for this place as an outsider looking in is all things that is being met with that same energy, a plan moving forward, an idea of chasing greatness and not being afraid to to consider this big-time college football and then to start building the program that way. So, very excited about our future and how things roll.
Clearly, he understand that UCLA is a special place and he subtly conveyed that he is just getting started.
He was also asked about some of the details from Tuesday’s practice. For each, he referenced “the standard” and how they are trying to meet that standard every moment of every day.
Coordinators: Dean Kennedy and Colin Hitschler
Dean Kennedy spoke about topics like the growth he has seen from Ty Dieffenbach since the Oregon game. Kennedy explained:
I think the biggest thing is has really been has been the pocket awareness. He’s done a good job of that, right? He’s done a good job of taking care of the football.
I think also the second piece of that is starting to understand like the command piece and that’s where you see and you watch him at practice. He’s walking around like he’s the king, which he is, right? And that’s how you’ve got to do it at the quarterback position. I think that’s such a huge piece is that his confidence in it bleeds into other people.
He also spoke a lot about the development of the offensive line.
Defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler admitted that preparing to face each of Nevada’s quarterbacks is challenging, but necessary because they don’t know for certain who will start for the Wolf Pack. “When you don’t know who’s playing quarterback, you kind of have three slightly different plans,” he said. “And the guys, to their credit, have really taken to the work of of understanding that.”
Players: Jaivian Thomas and Donavyn Pellot
Jaivian Thomas spoke on a variety of topics including how the backs addressed adversity after a couple of fumbles last week and how they push each other to be the best they can be.
He wrapped up responding to a question about how they will deal with a situation where Wayne Knight may not be able to play. He downplayed any concerns about that. Thomas said:
It’s going to be the same for us like the same it will be when he’s out there whether he is it or not like the standard doesn’t change no matter who’s out there you know so whether it’s a freshman out there like the standard is still the same in the room.
Of course, Donavyn Pellot was asked about his big interception from last week’s game and he spoke about it at length, but what was more interesting to hear was his explanation of how Coach Chesney set the standard when he arrived and he may have also revealed what Chesney has been referring to when he says they have to make the next jump. Pellot detailed:
Coach Chez talked about when he first got here like he’s not going to lose, like we’re not going to beat ourselves and do things that losers do. That was like the first thing he kind of said when he got here, that we’re going to not do what losers do and that’ll get us to a certain point and then when we can start doing what winners do, that’ll get us past that point.
Bonus Videos
Jaivian Thomas was one of the guests on this week’s Bruin Insider Show and we learned quite a bit more about him during the conversation. For instance, he has already completed his undergraduate degree in Sociology. Thomas also looked a little at life after football and spoke about what he wants to do afterwards as well as the why behind it. Thomas told a story:
My freshman year...I don’t know if a lot of people even know about this. My freshman year when we had played Oregon, we were in Oregon. I was carried out on a stretcher. It was just a lot for me mentally. I was young. So, it took a toll on me mentally. I almost stopped playing ball because of it, but it was something I started really looking into and I’m grateful to have the people that I did around my side and stuff like that and they just helped me keep the right mindset and that’s what made me really get into the mental healthi side of it. I feel like I wanted to look in and help people, not even just athletes, but help people in general that that doesn’t know what they’re actually going through or doesn’t know how to handle what they’re going through.
Ever since Coach Chesney arrived, I’ve made a lot of comparisons to Coach Wooden in terms of Chesney’s approach and what’s important to him. This week, we got another glimpse into that and what he looks for in potential players. Chesney put it this way:
I think it just comes from regular interactions. I think it comes from the time you spend on the phone, FaceTimes, but then ultimately in person when they get there. You see how they interact with other people. You see what energy levels they’re bringing to it.
And truly for me, it’s like, does this guy love life? Yes or no? Football is the easy part, right? And that’s all mostly people talk about. I want to really see and feel them when they’re here and see if this is a guy I want to spend the 12 hours a day or 14 hours a day or 16 hours a day, whatever we’re doing with here. Who do I want to spend these with and be around and have representing our program?
As we’ve tended to do each week, we conclude with “The Bruin Tape” to hype you up for today’s game.
Go Bruins!!!
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