After back-to-back upsets, the UCLA clash with New Mexico felt like a must-win for DeShaun Foster and his Bruins. Oddsmakers had them as 15.5-point favorites. Instead, the Bruins faithful watched a nightmare unfold when the Lobos stunned UCLA 35-10, and walked away with a $1.2million payout per the game contract between the schools.

The loss only deepened the storm clouds around Foster. The second-year head coach, now sitting at 0-3, has seen his team outscored by 25+ points twice already this season. A year after going 5-7 in his debut, the pressure has turned into hot-seat chatter. In a post-game conference, Foster admitted that he is feeling pretty low with the performance from the team, and looks forward to fixing things in two weeks’ time. When asked if he’s still the right coach for the program, the head coach said, “Most definitely. Because I can get these boys to play.” 

In the latter part of his post-game remarks, DeShaun took responsibility for the losses and gave a strong statement that they will be back, just like last year, with discipline. “Everything that happens can fall on me.” DeShaun Foster said, “I’m the head coach. It can fall on me. You don’t have to try to word things differently. I’m the head coach. But what I do know is that eventually this team is going to play with discipline. It’s going to happen. It’s eventually going to happen.”

He vowed UCLA will eventually turn things around, just as they did last year when a mid-season surge salvaged some pride. Last year, the Bruins were on a losing streak in the first half of the season; however, they came back with three consecutive wins, finishing the season with a competitive record of 5-7. “Pretty sure we didn’t think we would go on a run last year either when it happened. One thing that is going to happen is that those guys who are in the room are going to continue to believe, and eventually it’s going to turn around.”

Still, patience is thin, and speculation is rising about what happens if the Bruins don’t show signs of life before December. Foster’s buyout drops to 60% if the Bruins decide to move on from him by the end of December. 

Nico Iamaleava’s gamble is not aging well

Foster isn’t the only one under fire. Five-star QB Nico Iamaleava, a transfer from Tennessee, has stumbled out of the gate. In three starts, he’s managed just 608 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs, plus 139 rushing yards, hardly the production expected from one of the nation’s highest-paid players.  His performance in the first three games put his transfer deal to debate.

After the third loss, the QB also addressed the media, backing his head coach and taking the responsibility for the loss. “I totally believe in Coach Foster.” Iamaleava said, “He gives me so much belief to get in the building and go to work. He gives me that ‘want’ to go out there and practice, and practice hard. We’re doing him a disservice by not performing for him. He’s telling us everything we need to hear, he’s telling us everything we need to do, and we’re not executing as players. It all falls back on the players.”

DeShaun and his squad will have an open week before facing Northwestern on September 27, in Week 4 of the season. UCLA has little margin left and no more room for excuses. Will UCLA fight back and return to the winning side? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.