Foster aims to bring ‘excitement’ back to UCLA

Feb 13, 2024, 08:18 PM ET LOS ANGELES– DeShaun Foster was a freshman running back in 1998, the last time UCLA won a championship game, played in the Rose Bowl and remained in contention for a nationwide title.As the new

head coach of the Bruins, Foster wishes to get his university back to that level.

“My whole life I have actually hit the ground running,” Foster stated during his introductory press conference Tuesday. “I can be found in as a freshman and I played big-time ball early. Very first bring in the NFL I went 67 lawns, touchdown. That’s what I do. I’m gon na hit this ground running. I’m gon na get whatever going, and this group is gon na win games.”

What success appears like for UCLA under Foster might well come down to attending to the interest deficit that established under Chip Kelly, who resigned Friday and then was hired as the offensive coordinator at Ohio State.Although Kelly won 25

games in his last three seasons in Westwood, including 2 routs of crosstown competing Southern California, he struggled to drive donations for name, image and likeness payment through the program’s cumulative at the same time participation at the Rose Bowl cratered.Editor’s Picks 1 Associated Foster stated he planned to begin meeting donors Wednesday, while stressing that

UCLA football would become a destination once again in a region not doing not have for entertainment alternatives.”You’re going to see the enjoyment, we’re going to bring back the enjoyment,”Foster said.

“You understand, individuals utilized to love pertaining to the Rose Bowl games, filling the arena. It was jam-packed when I played therein. It didn’t matter who we were playing. We’re gon na return to that. “Athletic director Martin Jarmond acknowledged that filling up the coffers would be important in creating an environment where

Foster can succeed. The 44-year-old Foster has actually never been a head coach or planner, and Jarmond wants to have experience and mentorship around him.Jarmond anticipates Foster will employ a minimum of one present or previous head coach to his personnel.”You can’t have a first-time head coach and not

offer the facilities and assistance to assist him achieve success, so we’re gon na strengthen that up,”Jarmond said.After playing 6 seasons in the NFL with Carolina and San Francisco, Foster returned to UCLA as a volunteer assistant in 2012. He spent the previous 7 seasons as running backs

coach, remaining on personnel when Kelly took control of after the 2017 campaign.In addition to assisting develop players picked in each of the past four NFL drafts, Foster was called one of the much better employers on a personnel not precisely renowned for grinding at the high school ranks.Foster stated that would change, with him leading the charge.Jarmond duplicated worried the characteristics of Foster that were in contrast with fans’knocks of Kelly, using words like “energy “and”cravings. “And while he refused to go over the specifics of Kelly’s departure to a now-Big 10 competitor following public flirtations with numerous NFL groups for their offensive planner jobs over the past two months, Jarmond specifically discussed in his initial remarks how much Foster appreciates UCLA.”He welcomes UCLA, he embraces these players and our university’s neighborhood and we’re all going to do whatever we can to accept him and support this program,”Jarmond said.The preliminary returns reflect as much. Foster was swarmed by former colleagues for photos after the news conference. Jarmond stated no current players have actually gotten in the transfer portal given that Kelly’s exit.Running back Joshua Kelley, who played for the Bruins in 2018-19 under Foster and has actually invested the previous four seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, sees the UCLA neighborhood welcoming its new coach and giving him every opportunity to prosper.”I think he’s really ready for it,”Kelley stated.”When he talks with donors, alumni, recruits, they’re all going to believe in his vision, his strategy due to the fact that he commands respect

.”