Brehaut and Baseball
Another storyline over the summer was Richard Brehaut playing baseball. Some felt that he needed to devote 100 percent to winning the quarterback job. After all the reasoning was, that is the sport he has his scholarship in, but UCLA head coach, Rick Neuheisel gave his permission for Brehaut to try his hand in baseball.
Brehaut was a very good baseball player in high school and was even getting looks at that sport as well. During the lunch, Neuheisel was asked if there were any positives that Brehaut could take from the diamond to the gridiron.
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"Anytime you are in a competitive endeavor, you can learn things," Neuheisel said. "But I'm not sure that wondering if it's a curve ball or if it is a fastball that it's going to help him wondering if it is a signal high or two high defense.
"I told Richard, listen, you have to do what your heart tells you to do," Neuheisel said. "I'm telling you that the thing that is keeping you from being a great player is understanding what goes on over on the defensive side of the football and how you have to respond to that as a quarterback.
"If you don't spend the requisite time doing that it is going to be harder for you," Neuheisel said. "Richard is unbelievably optimistic that he can do both.
"We are going to coach him hard, now," Neuheisel said. "I love Richard Brehaut. It is not anything personal. He has to know that the quarterback at UCLA has to know everything. The quarterback can't be a guy who knows 80 percent of it.
Click "I don't think he incapable, in any stretch," Neuheisel said. "I just think Richard is enjoying college and he is enjoying everything. Here to view this Link.
"I don't mean to paint Richard as a bad guy," Neuheisel said. "I think he's a terrific kid and I think he has played really well at times. I just think there is more in the tank and it is my job as the quarterback coach now to extract it."