Skipper was a great stabilizer for UCLA

On the first day he met with reporters, Tim Skipper’s eyes bright, his voice confident and his demeanor cheery, the UCLA interim coach kept pushing up ever so gently on the balls of his feet.

- By BEN BOLCH

GINA FERAZZI Los Angeles Times TIM SKIPPER, center, leads the Bruins onto the Rose Bowl field before their Nov. 8 game against Nebraska, which they lost 28-21.

It was an early metaphor for someone who continually elevated everyone around him.

As the Bruins prepare to announce their new coach, Bob Chesney, it’s important to recognize the job that Skipper did in stabilizing a program that was at a historic low before he took over.

The Bruins weren't just losing games under DeShaun Foster but appeared mentally deflated, as if they didn’t want to be on the field. Skipper immediately changed that, injecting relentless enthusiasm and making his players remember what had drawn them to this game in the first place.

Success wasn’t instantaneous, the Bruins losing to Northwestern in Skipper’s debut after taking over for Foster, but there was a clear belief and sense of purpose in the second half.

Everything came together the next three weeks. A revamped staff that included Kevin Coyle as the new defensive coordinator and Jerry Neuheisel as the new offensive coordinator helped everyone press the reset button.

And what emerged as part of that reboot was special.

The season highlight came on a glorious afternoon at the Rose Bowl, starting with fans’ chants of “Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!” as the Bruins scored on their first five drives on the way to a 42-37 victory over then-No. 7 Penn State.