Tim Skipper is nearly absolutely going to be any individual’s head coach subsequent season.
As he guided a beforehand winless staff to a third consecutive victory on Saturday, two questions surrounding UCLA’s wildly fashionable interim coach circulated inside the Rose Bowl:
What are the probabilities Skipper is made the Bruins’ permanent coach if he retains this up? And, in what now looks like a nice curiosity, what was Fresno State pondering in not holding him after final season?
The second query comes with simpler solutions.
During a latest interview with Paul Loeffler, Fresno State’s radio play-by-play announcer, it turned evident that a sample of giving up second-half leads in 2024 was the greatest motive the Bulldogs didn’t retain Skipper after he guided them to a 6-7 document that included a loss in the Potato Bowl.
Loeffler recalled a 21-20 setback in opposition to Hawaii through which two vital penalties prolonged drives for the Rainbow Warriors, who rallied from a 13-point deficit with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
“To me, that was the turning point,” Loeffler stated. “Had that game gone Fresno State’s way, I think Tim Skipper probably would be the coach today.”
The Bulldogs would go on to lose to Air Force, which at the time was 1-7 and had not overwhelmed a Football Bowl Championship staff till the Falcons prevailed with a 36-28 victory over Fresno State.
Skipper remained so beloved amongst gamers that they chanted, “We want Skip!” in the locker room after the Bulldogs rebounded two weeks later to beat Colorado State and achieve bowl eligibility. But a chance for an additional breakthrough was misplaced in the ultimate regular-season recreation when Fresno State scored solely three factors in the second half of a 20-13 defeat in opposition to UCLA — and coach DeShaun Foster — at the Rose Bowl.
In an attention-grabbing departure from the method UCLA has allowed Skipper to bolster his employees following the exit of Foster and coordinators Ikaika Malloe and Tino Sunseri, Skipper couldn’t substitute himself in his earlier function as linebackers coach or coach Jeff Tedford — who additionally labored carefully with the quarterbacks — with additions to his Fresno State employees.
“There are a lot of things that go into a season that he didn’t have the luxury of doing, so I think that colors how you gauge his success,” Loeffler stated. “But you won’t find anyone who says anything bad about him.”
Certainly not at UCLA, the place Skipper’s reputation rivals that of any coach on campus.
He’s energized his gamers, instilled the self-discipline that was lacking below his predecessor and concocted some inventive recreation plans. He’s additionally supplied a steadying presence with a calm sideline demeanor that reinforces his gamers’ perception they’ll win it doesn’t matter what occurs in a recreation.
Could it’s sufficient to make him UCLA’s everlasting coach?
It stays a excessive threshold even after a feel-good begin that has included victories over Penn State, Michigan State and Maryland. If the Bruins received the relaxation of their video games, there can be no alternative however to disband the teaching search committee and rent Skipper.
Skipper might nonetheless make a compelling case with a 4-1 end that included a victory over both No. 2 Indiana or No. 1 Ohio State plus a conquer rival USC. In that state of affairs, he would have confirmed that he might maintain success in far-from-ideal circumstances whereas beating elite groups (even when the victory over Penn State has misplaced appreciable luster in the wake of the Nittany Lions’ four-game shedding streak).
Even if the Bruins go simply 3-2 the relaxation of the method, qualifying for a bowl recreation after an 0-4 begin, Skipper would deserve an interview to elucidate how he would deal with the components of the job — fundraising and recruiting — he hasn’t had a lot of a probability to point out. To his employees’s credit score, they’ve continued to pursue highschool prospects amid an unsure future, offensive line coach Andy Kwon spending a number of minutes visiting with San Juan Hills High offensive lineman Cooper Javorsky on the discipline earlier than the recreation Saturday.
Regardless of how issues end up, Skipper seems to have ensured himself of a profitable future due to a chance that’s going to be value way over the $875,000 that UCLA is paying him for 3½ months of work.
Anthony Frias II runs the ball throughout the UCLA Spring Football Showcase in May.
(Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)
If the Bruins’ dad and mom nonetheless pay them for good grades, mother and pa higher get ready to succeed in deep into their wallets.
Quarterbacks: A-. Forget about the two interceptions and misplaced fumble. Nico Iamaleava received this recreation together with his gritty return from a knee damage.
Running backs: A-. Once buried on the depth chart, Anthony Frias II turned a present-day John Barnes together with his two big runs.
Wide receivers/tight ends: B. Mikey Matthews, who made a pivotal landing catch, wasn’t recruited by Chip Kelly, which tells you all you want to learn about Kelly’s recruiting.
Offensive line: B. The Courtland Ford penalties are regarding, however these guys’ enchancment has been spectacular.
Defensive line: B-. Maryland’s average success in the run recreation was a small step again for a group that continued to carry its personal.
Linebackers: A-. In addition to piling up tackles, JonJon Vaughns recovered a fumble and made 1½ tackles for loss.
Defensive backs: B+. These guys helped UCLA tally 12 go breakups and at last received a late interception when Scooter Jackson made a huge play.
Special groups: B+. Nobody remembers a missed 56-yard discipline objective if you make the game-winner.
Coaching: A-. Even with some barely conservative selections, Skipper & Co. proved they’ll make the proper calls when wanted in a tight recreation.
Showcase showdown
Skyy Clark celebrates a basket in opposition to San Diego State.
(Gregory Bull / Associated Press)
UCLA’s basketball exhibition victory over San Diego State on Friday revealed a lot of positives and a few worries.
First, the good things: UCLA’s backcourt needs to be one of the finest in the nation. The tandem of Donovan Dent and Skyy Clark checks a lot of packing containers. Dent confirmed a capability to get to the basket and end or draw fouls, which was necessary as a result of he made all 10 free throws. Clark displayed a powerful all-around recreation that includes steals, a crossover transfer resulting in a three-pointer and a putback dunk.
Making a spot begin for the injured Eric Dailey Jr., switch guard Jamar Brown confirmed his vary by drilling every of the three photographs he took from past the arc. Sophomore guard Trent Perry seemed a lot extra assured than he did as a freshman, including 10 factors and 5 rebounds whereas making 5 of six free throws off the bench.
Defensively, the Bruins confirmed flashes of being elite, significantly throughout a 17-0 run to start out the recreation through which they flustered the Aztecs on one possession after one other. UCLA additionally made 20 of 23 free throws (87%), placing it in Reggie Miller territory as a staff.
The greatest concern popping out of the recreation was publish play. Xavier Booker (5 factors, 4 rebounds) didn’t make a lot of an affect in 26 minutes and Steven Jamerson II (scoreless with three rebounds) traveled late in the recreation when he had wonderful place to go in for a dunk.
Coach Mick Cronin stated he needed his facilities to mix for 12 or extra rebounds per recreation, which looks like a doable quantity if Booker continues to work on his transition from energy ahead. A much bigger query will likely be whether or not Booker and Jamerson can defend in opposition to top-level frontlines. There was no reply on that entrance Friday as a result of San Diego State was lacking 7-footer Magoon Gwath.
The Bruins subsequent face UC Irvine of their ultimate exhibition on Oct. 28 at Pauley Pavilion.
Olympic sport highlight: Women’s soccer
Emma Egizii controls the ball in opposition to Iowa on Thursday.
(Ross Turteltaub / UCLA )
A staff that was struggling to attain cast a breakthrough at the excellent time.
Having been shut out in three consecutive video games, the UCLA ladies’s soccer staff posted a 3-0 victory over No. 5 Iowa on Thursday, giving the Bruins their second multi-goal shutout of the season in opposition to a top-five staff after that they had additionally downed Stanford, 2-0.
Emma Egizii, Kara Croone and Grace Shank scored for UCLA, which tallied its season excessive in targets.
On Sunday, the Bruins (10-4-2 general, 6-2-2 Big Ten) stored the momentum going with a 3-0 victory over Nebraska on senior day.
Opinion time
Can UCLA preserve its enjoyable journey in soccer going with an upset of Indiana on the highway?
Heck sure, these guys are unstoppable
No, the Hoosiers are simply too good
Click here to vote in our survey.
Poll outcomes
Last week, we requested, “What’s the threshold for giving Tim Skipper the permanent head coaching job?”
After 793 votes, the outcomes:
Winning 4 of six with a victory over USC, 54%
Winning 5 of the subsequent six, 20.7%
The job ought to go to another person, 14.3%
Winning out and reaching the Big Ten title recreation, 11%
In case you missed it
Nico Iamaleava overcomes injury to help lift UCLA to comeback win over Maryland
UCLA showcases its potential on defense in exhibition win over San Diego State
‘One of the coolest things.’ Jerry Neuheisel and Noel Mazzone reunite to jumpstart UCLA
‘I love what I’m doing’: UCLA’s Tim Skipper focused on winning, not taking credit
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Do you could have a remark or one thing you’d prefer to see in a future UCLA e-newsletter? Email me at [email protected], and comply with me on X @latbbolch. To order an autographed copy of my e book, “100 Things UCLA Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die,” ship me an e-mail. To get this text in your inbox, click here.