BruinSportsReport.com - Experts on Mora

December 15, 2011

UCLA Press Release
Special to BruinSportsReport.com

Football experts are singing the praises for new UCLA head coach, Jim L. Mora. Learn what such greats as the winningest coach in UCLA history Terry Donahue and others are saying about the new Bruin head coach.

UCLA head football coach 1976-95; worked with Jim Mora at the San Francisco 49ers, Terry Donahue: "Jim Mora is an outstanding football coach. He possess a great work ethic and a very sound understanding of fundamentals and strategy, and he brings a strong background of success to the job. His energy level and ability to motivate players will serve him well in his new position as UCLA's head coach. With as many people as Jim knows, and as well liked as he is, he will put together a strong teaching staff of assistant coaches. Jim is a very personable guy and a fired-up coach. I am happy for him and wish him well at UCLA."

UCLA All-American and College Football Hall of Fame offensive lineman, Randy Cross: "I've known Jim since my days in Westwood when his dad was an assistant coach. Jim brings an energy and love for life and football that I believe will be infectious, will make him a force in recruiting and will be reflected by his football team. The Bruins renewed commitment to football is in its infancy and I look forward to the coming months as Coach Mora's Bruins begin to take shape.

"The new pac 12 will be college football's fastest-paced and wide-open conference offensively while continuing its rich history of defensive excellence and a demand for dominance at the line scrimmage. Getting UCLA to the top of the Pac 12 will mean leaps of improvement in all those areas. In a nutshell, that is the challenge facing Coach and his new staff, a challenge I believe he is man enough to face."

NFL Hall of Fame running back, Marshal Faulk, who worked with Mora at the NFL Network, Faulk: "Jim will do UCLA well. Not only have I worked with him but I have played against teams that he has coordinated and coached. He cares about his players on and off the field and that is the embodiment of what UCLA Athletics are all about.?

NFL quarterback, who played for Mora in Seattle, Matt Hasselbeck: "The hiring of coach Mora is a really good addition for UCLA. He was a lot of fun to play for and brings tons of energy to practice. Having played both for and against him, I have a great deal of respect for Jim as a coach. Although he has a defensive coaching background, he has a great understanding of the quarterback position and what it takes to be successful. I look forward to watching UCLA next season."

UCLA linebacker, late 80's, and worked with Mora at the San Francisco 49ers, Sean Howard: "Having working with Jim Mora while I was a young personnel assistant at the San Francisco 49ers under Terry Donahue, I can say that his competitiveness, tenacity, energy, and ability to connect with players will be influential right away. Jim's football acumen and general philosophy to "stay aggressive" will apply to both sides of the ball. His character, as well as his extensive NFL background, will appeal to today's recruits as well as to their parents. Remember that Jim has over 25 years of experience in the evaluation and advising of athletes from all walks of life and regions throughout the country and I believe that will be a tremendous asset in recruiting."

Hall of Fame wide receiver, who worked with Mora at the NFL Network, Michael Irvin: "When you look at the landscape of collegiate sports today, the one thing that is axiomatic is the need for a coach that not only understands the X's and O's of football, but just as important is the ability to communicate to the young men that he has been entrusted to build and lead. Through my days playing in the NFL, working in broadcasting and, just recently, working alongside with Coach Jim Mora at the NFL Network, I have come to know him well and he exemplifies all the qualities that are essential for success."

NFL safety who played with Mora in Atlanta and Seattle, Lawyer Milloy: "First and foremost, it is evident that Coach Mora comes from a football family. He knows the X's and O's as well as any coach in the business. He wants to win games as much as his players and would suit up and get out there if he could. His enthusiasm and energy are second to none. He will do a great job for UCLA at developing players into great football players, but also young men, which is so important these days. He has the morals and the values needed to succeed at both of those things, and jumpstart the program there."

UCLA defensive back (1981-84) and Mora's play by play partner this year on Fox, Ron Pitts: "I have known Jim Mora for 20 years - from battling against each other in college (UCLA v Washington, circa 1981-82) to talking game plans in pre-game warm-ups when Jim was the secondary coach for the San Diego Chargers and I was just getting starting as a Fox broadcaster.

"Some people know the game, some people grow up in the game - Jim Mora has done both. You don't take an NFL team to the championship game as a rookie head coach unless you've got something special. Like me, Jim has grown up in the business. He knows his X's and O's and he knows talent. He also knows every coach in the Pac 12 like the back of his hand. UCLA hasn't seen this kind of energy and attitude in a long time. Jim Mora is a perfect fit at the perfect time for UCLA."

NFL Hall of Fame cornerback, who worked with Mora at the NFL Network, Deion Danders: "Jim will have great success at UCLA because he is a smart coach and players will gravitate to his personality. He's an innovated play caller and understands the great tradition of the Pac 12 Conference."

NFL Hall of Fame defensive back who played for Mora when he was the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, Ron Woodson: "Jim Mora is an outstanding football coach, who, thanks to his father being a coach in the league, he truly grew up in the NFL. He is a great coach and great teacher. All great coaches are great teachers. When he was my coach with the 49ers, I certainly learned a lot from him, and I'm very thankful."

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