TRUE BLUE CELEBRATION - MY REPORT & THOUGHTS

This past Saturday night I was at the Wooden center on campus for the True Blue Celebration, a big dinner/auction/fundraising thing for the UCLA athletic department. I went as part of the Alumni Band, as we were the entertainment for the evening. I had never been, so I decided to check it out...

Turns out that I am SO glad I did. We started playing outside for the patrons coming in, when new football Coach Rick Neuheisel shows up. What a guy! Charismatic, friendly, and entertaining, he conducted us in a rendition of "Sons"! After the encounter I was like, "I like this guy!" I was supporting him as our new coach anyway, but now I REALLY am...

After a bit we went inside to relax, check out the displays, and eat. When i went into the room where all of the auction items were, I was asking people, "Pardon me, but is this heaven?", because that's where I felt like I was. What with all the signed jerseys there, posters, balls, and what not. Plus, I kept running into all these Bruin celebrities, but more on that a little later.

After we in the alumni band ate. we started playing again for the folks at around 7:00. SUCH A BLAST!! No less than THREE celebrities conducted us in different songs: Lisa Fernandez, Marques Johnson, and Rafer Johnson! INCREDIBLE!! Then the forum began, led by James Washington (who I got to chat with, great guy), that included ex-coaching great Terry Donahue and no less than FOUR ex-Bruin quarterbacks: Neuheisel, David Norrie, Wayne Cook (who I got to meet - again, great guy) and Cade McNown. They talked about what they went through being recruited to UCLA and their experiences when they first became Bruins. Great to see!

Then the auction started, and that's when I - and we - really saw Rick Neuheisel in his element. Can that guy work a room! He was all over the place, exhorting people to bid for stuff like sideline and vip passes to football games, golf games & lunch with different coaches, things like that. Again, great to see! Needless to say, much $$$$$ was raised for the athletic department. It was a great night, so much so that I said to my friend, "Remind me to do this again next year..."

After meeting Neuheisel, I have this to say: WE NEED TO SUPPORT THIS MAN AS OUR NEW BRUIN FOOTBALL COACH!! Mind you, we may have a bit of a rough start, especially in light of the fact that we have no offensive line. As such, I keep telling people that if we win 7 games this Fall, Neuheisel should be coach of the year. I will be happy with the Las Vegas Bowl this season, but let me make myself perfectly clear: When Neuheisel gets his own players, WATCH OUT!! We will be dominant agin in football as we were in the 80's, and the downfall of troy will truly be at hand.

That is why I will be upset if people start to rag on Neuheisel after losses this year. If anyone needs to be given a chance and a break, and not needlessly criticize when the team is down (which is fairly likely this upcoming season), this man does. It may take a little while, but he'll get it done! Being at that True Blue Celebration and encountering this new coach has certainly left me charged for the football season. Can't wait!

GO BRUINS!!

TRUE BLUE CELEBRATION - MY REPORT & THOUGHTS

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