Hope is in the air again. Once left for dead after a 0-3 start, UCLA football suddenly looks alive. Plus, when Urban Meyer starts talking about your “pissed off” attitude, you know the tide’s turning fast. The Bruins are 2-1 under interim HC Tim Skipper, and much of that resurgence has Jerry Neuheisel’s fingerprints all over it. The OC, the son of UCLA legend Rick Neuheisel, has quietly turned the Bruins’ playbook into a story of redemption.

In a Good Morning UCLA reel posted on October 17, Jerry Neuheisel spoke straight from his heart when asked what fans can expect. “You should expect a show,” he said ahead of UCLA’s matchup with Maryland. “We need every Bruin who can be at the game, be there early, be loud. And let’s go see if we can get a win this weekend.” He ended the talk with a one-liner. “Remember, it’s always a great day to be alive and be a Bruin. Go Bruins.” It has been weeks since Bruins fans heard conviction and swagger from their coaching staff.

Jerry Neuheisel’s story feels poetic. From throwing passes as a Bruin QB to calling plays in the Rose Bowl, his rise mirrors UCLA’s revival. “Jerry’s been waiting for this opportunity for a while,” TE Hudson Habermehl said. “It’s kind of a weird situation for him to get the opportunity, but he’s ran with it.” 

Against Penn State and Michigan State, the Bruins ran for a staggering 507 yards, close to half their season total. QB Nico Iamaleava, once a national punchline, is now Westwood’s golden boy. This sudden energy shift also started with the man running the show and the message he sent at 30,000 feet.

Tim Skipper placed a message on every seat on the Bruins’ team flight to Michigan. “Are you a one-hit wonder?” It wasn’t subtle, and it wasn’t meant to be. UCLA had just stunned Penn State 42-37, and everyone wondered if it was a fluke. The team responded by demolishing Michigan State 38-13. That quiet plane stunt turned into the spark that caught Urban Meyer’s attention.

Urban Meyer and the “pissed off” comment

“When I first read that I got kind of fired up for the coach,” Urban Meyer said. “To me, that’s motivation, or a coach understanding the mindset of a team… UCLA does not have bad players, they’re proving that now.” For a man who built dynasties out of discipline, the former coach knows what he’s talking about.

He wasn’t done praising Tim Skipper’s Bruins. “The highest level you want your team, or the mindset, is a team that’s playing with a little edge,” he said. “They’re a little pissed off, they’re playing with a purpose.”

That phrase hits differently in college football. It’s what separates contenders from cautionary tales. Moreover, it looks like UCLA has finally found its edge. Jerry Neuheisel’s offense has balance, rhythm, and a sense of identity, something they missed at the start. Tim Skipper’s defense has grit. They’ve pulled the Bruins back from the brink, turning a team once written off into one the Big Ten has to take seriously. But this isn’t just about two victories. 

With Maryland (4-2) up next, the Bruins know the road ahead won’t get easier. Indiana, Nebraska, Ohio State, and USC still loom. But right now, the mood in Westwood is electric. Because for the first time in a long time, UCLA football isn’t just hoping to compete. They’re expecting to win. As Urban Meyer put it best, “pissed off” football just might be their new identity.