Stunning UCLA win is a family affair for the Neuheisels

Two former Bruins quarterbacks — father Rick and son Jerry — relish a huge upset.

- BY BEN BOLCH

FORMER UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel with his son, Jerry, who like his dad played quarterback for the Bruins.

(CHRIS FOSTER Los Angeles Times)

On the field was the son and rookie playcaller, trying to revive a winless team.

In the studio was the father and college football analyst, trying to hold it together.

The latter pursuit became harder the closer UCLA came to pulling off what might go down as the upset of the year.

Finally, when the Bruins made a defensive stop to complete a stunning 42-37 victory over No. 7 Penn State on Saturday at the Rose Bowl, Rick Neuheisel fully unleashed his emotions in what became a family affair involving son, Jerry, in front of a national audience.

"Get him down! Get him down!" Rick bellowed on the CBS broadcast before thrusting his arms into the air in triumph. “Yeeeaaaah!”

A day later, still processing the absurdity of it all, Rick recalled what it felt like in that moment, a former UCLA quarterback-turned-coach at his alma mater cheering on the son who was a former UCLA quarterback-turned-coach at his alma mater.

“It was just raw emotion, good fun,” Rick told The Times by telephone Sunday afternoon. “I just wanted the game to end because it was so fun for so long and I just didn’t want there to be this hardship, you know, that goes along with not quite getting it done.”

GINA FERAZZI Los Angeles Times UCLA offensive coordinator Jerry Neuheisel is fired up after a play.